Hong Kong’s transformation from a modest port town into a bustling international metropolis is reflected in a range of longstanding local brands that have helped shape its commercial and cultural landscape over the past century.

One of the earliest contributors to this evolution was Garden Bakery, founded in 1926 by Singapore-born Cheung Tze-fong and his brother-in-law. Established during a time when Western goods were desired but often unaffordable for Hong Kong’s mainly Chinese working-class population, Garden Bakery aimed to offer better-quality baked products. Its flagship “Life Bread,” introduced in 1960 to provide affordable nutritional value to low-income families, remains a recognizable household staple in the city. The brand marked its centenary in May 2026 with a pop-up exhibition in Mong Kok and a collaborative streetwear collection with local lifestyle labels Aim Higher Club and Gocorey.

Another heritage name is Yuet Tung China Works, established in 1928 as Hong Kong’s first large-scale hand-painted porcelain factory and still the last of its kind. The firm specializes in guangcai, a traditional porcelain painting technique originating from Guangzhou. Its finely crafted china has historically been favored by Western customers, including European royal households, and continues to supply luxury hotels such as the Four Seasons and The Peninsula. Fourth-generation manager Joseph Tso Chi-chung has credited the company’s endurance to the city’s “Lion Rock spirit,” reflecting the dedication of its craftsmen.

The textile sector also played a pivotal role in Hong Kong’s rise. Lee Kung Man, founded by Fung Sau-yu who relocated his cotton garment operations to Hong Kong in 1940 amid Japanese occupation in mainland China, became known for durable undershirts famously worn by Bruce Lee. Meanwhile, Kowloon Dairy and Camel, both launched in 1940, became household names in food and consumer goods. Kowloon Dairy grew into a major player competing with international brands like Nestle and Vitasoy, while Camel’s vacuum flasks, designed to keep beverages hot or cold in a city with limited access to running water in the mid-20th century, became iconic. Camel remains a family-run business, now updating its classic floral designs to appeal to modern consumers.

The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong from 1941 to 1945 saw the city’s population drop dramatically and brought widespread hardship. Recovery began swiftly after World War II, marked by the founding of Cathay Pacific in 1946, a carrier that has since gained global reputation. The population surged by 1951 as refugees returned and new arrivals fled mainland turmoil.

In this postwar boom, Red A was established in 1949 by Shanghai-born Leung Jhi-hung, becoming a leading local plastic manufacturer. Known for its red lamps found in Hong Kong’s wet markets and durable household goods such as buckets that helped during the 1963-64 water shortages, Red A grew into the largest plastics producer in the city servicing both consumer and industrial markets.

The flourishing garment and textile industries of the 1950s and 1960s produced internationally recognized brands like Crocodile Garments and Goldlion, founded in 1952 and 1968 respectively. Another distinct brand from this era is Twemco, which has specialized since the 1960s in fully automatic flip clocks with patented perpetual calendar systems. Despite international acclaim and appearances in films like Wong Kar-wai’s "Chungking Express," Twemco remains a small, media-shy operation based in Tai Kok Tsui.

Together, these brands illustrate Hong Kong’s complex development—blending traditional craftsmanship, postwar resilience, and modern innovation to forge a unique metropolitan identity.