Boyy meets girl

And to what does she attribute its desirability? "Customers are attracted by its buckle with a masculine shape, as well as its fine quality," she says, adding that Boyy produced a special bag in celebration of I.T's 30th anniversary last year. "It also offers mid- and mini-size versions of its Karl and Bobby bags, in addition to its seasonal details of colour blocking and fabrications (such as shearling and PVC), which is fashion-forward and maintains freshness for customers." Karl 24 has been Boyy's best-selling product in Hong Kong over the last three years. Boyy has also started producing shoes and sunglasses, and is considering other categories, but won't rush into them until the time feels right.

And why should it? Boyy's sales reached US$22 million in 2018 – from a brand that's still independently run, has no internal PR strategists and does more or less what it pleases. The brand runs four boutiques in Thailand and one in Copenhagen, and Dorsey and Kongman are eyeing Hong Kong and the Middle East. So far, everything has been self-funded.

"Hong Kong is very high on our list, but it's not so simple," says Dorsey. He explains that being a 100% independent brand means large corporates want reassurance that the label is affiliated with a big fashion conglomerate or distributor. "We encountered this hurdle in Bangkok when we first started putting down our footprint," he says. "It's a challenge we're familiar with and have succeeded with. It just takes time."