This film from NOWNESS China is part of their ongoing Hometown series, which observes the phenomenon of Chinese fashion designers returning to the country of their birth after having studied, worked or gained experiences in the West. In this episode, Manchit Au, founder and creative director of womenswear brand Ricostru, talks about returning to Guangzhou after years of working and studying in Milan.

Being the first Chinese designer appointed by Giorgio Armani, Au would go on to become a member of Milan Fashion Week. Reflecting on her time studying in Europe, the designer observes: “I was studying in Milan and I was in a state of insanely absorbing knowledge. After graduating and creating a brand, this knowledge translated into a unique design and aesthetic language for me." In Au's heart, Guangzhou is the vessel which contains her fantasies and inspirations.