Inspiring and insightful conversations with the world’s most influential thinkers, creative minds and leaders on topics shaping today’s cultural narrative.
Bridging Cultures, as this year’s theme, shines a spotlight on cultural diversity, the rising influence of new creative forces on the global zeitgeist and contemporary pop culture's ability to transcend borders and distances
Schedule/Speakers may be subject to change, please check the ComplexCon Hong Kong app for the latest update
Saturday, 23 March 2024
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Once rare, Collabs are now part of contemporary culture; not restricted to any category, partnerships now come in every shape and form, from fashion to food to furniture. To discuss how collaborations have impacted and enhanced creativity, how they’ve evolved, and how they differ across cultures, Brendan Dunne speaks with three trail-blazing designers from around the world, spanning streetwear to high fashion, and discusses their experiences and approach to collabs as well as creativity. Jason Mayden (Chief Design Officer of Jordan Brand), Feng Chen Wang (award-winning Chinese-born, London-based designer), and Jeff Staple (longtime culture setter, multi-hyphenate designer/consultant/collaborator) come together to chop it up.
en
3:00 - 4:00 pm
The godfather of contemporary streetwear and cultural icon Hiroshi Fujiwara comes to ComplexCon Hong Kong for the first-ever Fragment University given outside Japan. Fragment University is a highly exclusive course on ideation, non-verbal marketing, collaboration, and more. Fujiwara brought hip hop to Japan, brought Fragment Design to the world, and is now bringing his knowledge and expertise to Hong Kong for an enlighted lecture on "Collaboration Theory".
jp
4:30 - 5:30 pm
Straight from the Sole Collector Studio to ComplexCon Hong Kong, Full Size Run is here for a live conversation with Eric Kot, actor/ director/ musician/ designer/ entrepreneur and one of Hong Kong’s OG cultural influencers. Sitting down with Eric, we have three of our favorite hometown hosts: Horace Leung, creator and visionary behind Hong Kong streetwear brand Home Kong; JBS Brian, actor and member of Hip Hop group 24herbs; and actor and writer, Sunny Sun. Tune in and chill with us as we chat about recent trends, culture, and what are the freshest and best recs.
ca
Sunday, 24 March 2024
12:30 - 1:00 pm
Today’s current content creation boom, paired with greater access to our favorite performers, has given fans an intimate, up-close-and-personal entrée into their lives; we meet a leader in this behind-the-scenes craze. Ray Ng speaks with Ian Lim and Achille Issenjou, co-founders of SAVOIR-FAIRE! and pioneers in the current phenomenon of capturing the real lives of artists. With special guest, Complex LIVE! performing artist, Korean-American hip-hop and R&B phenomenon and Ian and Achille’s recent collaborator, pH-1, we take a deep dive into the true life of an artist, get behind the camera to explore the dynamics of documentarist and subject, and find out what it’s like to build a career from a passion for music and pop culture.
en
1:15 - 2:00 pm
Behind the sneakers, t-shirts, and collabs are the business fundamentals and legal contracts underpinning them. Kenneth Anand, former head of business development and general counsel of YEEZY Apparel and author, professor, and co-founder of Sneaker Law, and Jared Goldstein, experienced attorney and author, professor, and co-founder of Sneaker Law, know essentially everything and all there is to know about this. Together they’re bringing their unrivaled expertise and knowledge to ComplexCon Hong Kong for an inside look into the business behind culture (and sneakers!).
en
2:15 - 3:00 pm
K-Culture isn’t just on the rise, it’s already here. With the almost-sudden and meteoric arrival of South Korea on the mainstage of global urban culture, Donnie Kwak chats to three of the visionary creators who have led the charge; Thug Min, one half of the designer duo from premier South Korean streetwear brand Thug Club, Sambypen, one of the country’s leading contemporary artists and creator of the eye catching installation at ComplexCon Hong Kong, and Junghoon Son, the Virginia-based designer behind the hot fashion brand VandyThePink, join forces in discussing what is on the horizon for K-Culture and how it’s impacting the world.
en / kr
3:15 - 4:00 pm
We turn the tables on our Complex OG Host, Brendan, and put him in the hot seat. Three of Asia’s most sneaker-obsessed personalities (amongst other talents!), Wadism from South Korea, XiaoPiHai from Malaysia and hometown boy, Sunny Sun, sit down with Brendan to compare notes, discuss what’s hot (and what’s not), what they’re liking (and dissing) in the world of sneakers... a not-to-miss moment for sneakerheads everywhere.
en
4:15 - 5:00 pm
Every cultural movement begins with a group of people who share a specific interest and a desire to challenge the existing norms. This panel, led by Adrian Lai from Newman Group, the Official Web3 Partner of ComplexCon HK, along with Ray Chan, (the OG meme lord of 9GAG and Memeland), Yat Siu (aka Mr. Metaverse from Animoca Brands), Stephen Fung (International Filmmaker), and Farokh (the sensation NFT Guru from Rug Radio), aims to explore the potential impact of Web3 on culture, the arts, and creativity. It will also examine what lessons Web3 brands can learn from their Web2 counterparts to encourage real mass adoption. The goal of this panel discussion is to inspire a broader audience to embrace Web3 and contribute to the shaping of new subcultures.
en
5:15 - 6:00 pm
An entrepreneur, designer, creative director, and all-around fashion icon, YOON has worn many hats: co-founder of AMBUSH®︎, jewelry designer for Dior men, and Nike Global Women’s Curator since 2023. YOON joins us at ComplexCon Hong Kong for GOAT Talk, a live show to crown her all-time greats.
en
Brendan Dunne
The head of sneakers at Complex, Brendan Dunne has been writing about sneakers for over a decade. He is a veteran of Full Size Run, Sole Collector's sneaker talk show that became a weekly event for industry insiders and everyday consumers, and a cohost of the Complex Sneakers Show. Brendan brings a critical eye and a furrowed mustache to a scene that is too often content not to question.
Feng Chen Wang
Feng Chen Wang, the Chinese-born, London-based designer, graduated from the Royal College of Art, London in 2015 and has gained a dedicated following with her style that blends traditional Chinese craftsmanship and technicques with her signature deconstructed asethetic. Feng debuted at New York Fashion Week for Spring Summer 2016, earning a nomination for the LVMH Prize. Following her move to London fashioin week, her A/W 2020 collection was a finalist of the International Woolmark Prize. In 2022, Feng Chen Wang designed the official uniform for the flag bearers of the Beijing Winter Olympics, before moving to the official Paris Fashion Week calendar for S/S 2023. Known for her innovation, she has collaborated with brands such as Nike, Converse, Crocs and more.
Jeff Staple
Jeff Staple is a creative visionary whose design work encompasses graphic, fashion, footwear, and lifestyle. In 2022, Jeff celebrated the 25th anniversary of founding STAPLE, the pioneering NY-based streetwear brand. A master of Collabs (with Nike, adidas, PUMA amongst others), collaborations with Staple Pigeon have often resulted in supporters snatching everything up in seconds. He is perhaps best known for the "Pigeon Dunk", the sneaker that caused riots on the streets of New York when it was released in 2005. From a humble start bootlegging custom t-shirts, Jeff has built an entrepreneurial empire that spans fashion, media, entertainment, and technology.
Eric Kot
The Godfather (or 'Kot'father) of Hong Kong Street Culture, Eric Kot Man-fai, is a man of many talents: radio host, singer, actor, director, designer and trend setter... A pioneer of the youth culture scene and the street culture in the Hong Kong, he introduced the A Bathing Ape brand to the city and went on to create his own streetwear brand, '4A LIKE BLACK' that has seen global collabs with major brands such as New Balance amongst others..
Sunny Sun
A modern-day Renaissance man, Sunny Sun studied fashion and theatre arts before finding his passion of being in front of the camera, starring in the block busters, The Crossing, No More Bets, and Dust To Dust. Born in Hong Kong, he studied Fashion Business at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education because of his interest in the textile industry, and later transfered to Chinese Culture University for stage performance with Department of Theatre Arts. Now as a successful movie actor, he not only keeps surprising the public with his outstanding acting performances, he woes them with his unique trend insights and style too.
Ian Lim
SAVOIR-FAIRE!, an independent media platform & agency focused on creating authentic visual and narrative representations of artists’ lives. Following their recently released pH-1 documentary, similar upcoming projects include Phum Viphurit, MILLI, grentperez, Joe Flizzow, Kamaal Williams amongst others. The founders’ photography portfolio spans from live performances of Travis Scott, Central Cee, Red Hot Chili Peppers, DaBaby, and Slash; behind-the-scenes captures of Futura, NIGO, Lupe Fiasco, Pino Palladino; to intimate portraits of Jaden Smith, Rakim, DJ Clark Kent, Thundercat, Common, and Just Blaze.
Achille Issenjou
SAVOIR-FAIRE!, an independent media platform & agency focused on creating authentic visual and narrative representations of artists’ lives. Following their recently released pH-1 documentary, similar upcoming projects include Phum Viphurit, MILLI, grentperez, Joe Flizzow, Kamaal Williams amongst others. The founders’ photography portfolio spans from live performances of Travis Scott, Central Cee, Red Hot Chili Peppers, DaBaby, and Slash; behind-the-scenes captures of Futura, NIGO, Lupe Fiasco, Pino Palladino; to intimate portraits of Jaden Smith, Rakim, DJ Clark Kent, Thundercat, Common, and Just Blaze.
pH-1
As a founding member of H1GHR MUSIC record label, pH-1 has proven himself as an elite lyricist and a leading voice in Korean hip-hop. Shortly after being introduced to the South Korea music scene through Jay Park, pH-1 moved to Seoul and joined H1GHR MUSIC. Today, he is one of the top streaming solo artists in South Korea with a dedicated international fanbase. He made his debut in 2017 with the EP, The Island Kid, and added his debut album, HALO, in 2019 and his mixtape, X, in 2020. In addition to a string of chart-topping single releases, including “Homebody,” “Nerdy Love” featuring Yerin Baek, and “365&7” featuring JAMIE, pH-1 has collaborated with Korean and international stars like, TXT, UMI, Jay Park, Chungha, Epik High, KANGDANIEL, Keita, Whee In, P-Lo, MILLI, CHIKA and many more. pH-1 counters the public's misconception that he’s just a nice guy through his last two albums, BUT FOR NOW LEAVE ME ALONE, and POP OFF, creating his most personal and experimental projects to date, detailing his vices and how they contribute to his anxiety.
Kenneth Anand
Kenneth Anand and Jared Goldstein are the authors of “Sneaker Law,” a disruptive and educational book about entrepreneurship, business, and law- and widely referred to as the “sneaker industry bible.” It’s the only book that teaches you “all you need to know about the sneaker business,” covering areas like reselling, design, starting your own business, counterfeits, law, licensing, collaborations, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, and more.
Since its release, ”Sneaker Law V1“ is now required reading for thousands of students in law, business, and design schools across the US. “Sneaker Law” boasts its own national legal competition and conference, a training module within Complex’s Sneaker Essentials program with New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and has been taught to hundreds of at-risk youths in Chicago’s inner-city to develop entrepreneurial skills and stay off the streets.
Since its release, ”Sneaker Law V1“ is now required reading for thousands of students in law, business, and design schools across the US. “Sneaker Law” boasts its own national legal competition and conference, a training module within Complex’s Sneaker Essentials program with New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and has been taught to hundreds of at-risk youths in Chicago’s inner-city to develop entrepreneurial skills and stay off the streets.
Jared Goldstein
Kenneth Anand and Jared Goldstein are the authors of “Sneaker Law,” a disruptive and educational book about entrepreneurship, business, and law- and widely referred to as the “sneaker industry bible.” It’s the only book that teaches you “all you need to know about the sneaker business,” covering areas like reselling, design, starting your own business, counterfeits, law, licensing, collaborations, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, and more.
Since its release, ”Sneaker Law V1“ is now required reading for thousands of students in law, business, and design schools across the US. “Sneaker Law” boasts its own national legal competition and conference, a training module within Complex’s Sneaker Essentials program with New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and has been taught to hundreds of at-risk youths in Chicago’s inner-city to develop entrepreneurial skills and stay off the streets.
Since its release, ”Sneaker Law V1“ is now required reading for thousands of students in law, business, and design schools across the US. “Sneaker Law” boasts its own national legal competition and conference, a training module within Complex’s Sneaker Essentials program with New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and has been taught to hundreds of at-risk youths in Chicago’s inner-city to develop entrepreneurial skills and stay off the streets.
Donnie Kwak
Donnie Kwak is an experienced content creator whose work encompasses video, digital, and print media and covers a wide range of topics, from music to pop culture to sports. During his 13-year career at Complex, Donnie booked Kim Kardashian’s first-ever magazine cover (Feb/Mar 2007) and in 2013 created the show Desus vs. Mero. Before returning to Complex in 2020 as GM, he was the East Coast Bureau Chief at Bill Simmons’s website The Ringer, where he hosted the Ringer FC podcast on soccer. He has also worked at ESPN, Vibe, and 88 Rising.
Donnie lives in Brooklyn with his two cats, Tony and Tasha.
Donnie lives in Brooklyn with his two cats, Tony and Tasha.
VandyThePink
VandyThePink, established by Virginia-based, South Korean-born designer Junghoon Son, is a creative expression of the designer’s personal experiences—a collection of core memories and influences he has gathered like souvenirs throughout his life. He tinkers and toys with them until they become the playful and bold designs the brand has become known for. With support from artists like Jay Park and New Jeans, and collaborations with brands including MCDONALDS HK and CLARKS, Son’s playful and bold footwear and apparel can enliven anyone’s daily rotation. After three consecutive years of participating in Complexcon LA, VandyThePink is excited to take part in the first Complexcon HK with a special collab!
Brendan Dunne
The head of sneakers at Complex, Brendan Dunne has been writing about sneakers for over a decade. He is a veteran of Full Size Run, Sole Collector's sneaker talk show that became a weekly event for industry insiders and everyday consumers, and a cohost of the Complex Sneakers Show. Brendan brings a critical eye and a furrowed mustache to a scene that is too often content not to question.
Sunny Sun
A modern-day Renaissance man, Sunny Sun studied fashion and theatre arts before finding his passion of being in front of the camera, starring in the block busters, The Crossing, No More Bets, and Dust To Dust. Born in Hong Kong, he studied Fashion Business at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education because of his interest in the textile industry, and later transfered to Chinese Culture University for stage performance with Department of Theatre Arts. Now as a successful movie actor, he not only keeps surprising the public with his outstanding acting performances, he woes them with his unique trend insights and style too
Stephen Fung
Stephen Fung is a international filmmaker who made his acting debut in Forbidden Nights(1990.) Since then he has starred in more than 40 films in Asia. He is continuing his role as director, and combining his love of cinematic storytelling and Web3. Backed by the Everest Venture Group – the same entity invested in Dapper Labs, Animoca Brands, The Sandbox, and Yuga Labs – Fung has tapped into one of Media Asia’s biggest IPs, Infernal Affairs, for the Departed Apes. 8,027 Departed Apes NFTs make up the Web3 cinematic experience.
YOON
YOON co-founded Ambush in 2008 with Verbal and soon expanded from jewelry to fashion, shoes, and more; and has become one of the trendsetters in the fashion world today with numerous collaborations with brands such as Nike, Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, sacai, Levis, Rimowa, UNDERCOVER, OFF-WHITE, Moët & Chandon and many more. YOON has also been recruited by French luxury brand Dior in 2018 as a jewelry director for Dior Men. Under Yoon’s avant-garde design concept, bold gold and metal jewelry mixed with themes referencing American and Tokyo street fashion styles remain consistent.