From Downsizing to Rebuilding: What 2025 Taught Me

With my plate so full these days—balancing deadlines, new directions, and everything in between—weeks and months have flown by faster than ever. I finally ran out of excuses to delay putting my reflections on paper. Writing them down is my way of grounding myself, of staying centered amid so many paths pulling me forward.

By now, our old facility has been closed since November 2024, and the new factory we opened in June 2024 is truly standing on its own. Our team has embraced the changes with resilience and quiet pride. I’ve taken a deliberate step back to look at the journey we’ve been on—this reflection didn’t come easily or quickly; it took time for everything to settle.

In November 2024, we officially closed our previous factory – a decision I had been carefully planning since 2023. It wasn’t without tension. My China partners, together with my father who founded the business and was retiring, struggled to understand why I was intentionally downscaling operations, knowing it would cut profits by more than 50%.  

Over the years I had steadily built the factory into a fully self-sufficient entity, separating it from our Hong Kong and China offices. Then, during Covid, when the uncertainty of our planet’s future hit hard, I made the final moves: letting go of the automation lines in favour of skilled labour only, releasing our China sales licence back to my China partners so they could pursue direct business on their own terms, and cutting off the loaning facility. It was a clear trade-off – they now stand fully independent, just as we do.

Many businesses faced painful losses when new tariff policies kicked in. We were fortunate to escape the worst of it. Our Chinese branded customers, noticing the direction we had taken, began channeling their sustainable and conscious garment orders to the factory, keeping the factory’s business steady while our HK and China office continue our research for more responsible sourcing materials locally.

Just recently, I shared this story with a group of secondary school students. One asked how much less I was earning now. Another asked if I was being unfair by cutting jobs. By the end, they understood: when you deliberately reduce scale and volume by more than 50%, profits drop by well over 50% too. That’s the reality.

Yes, the numbers fell sharply—and yes, some workers lost their jobs as we downsized. That was the hardest part, and it still sits heavily with me. But we chose this path knowing the alternative could have been far more brutal: a sudden shutdown when orders dried up, leaving everyone without time to adjust. Many factories around us faced exactly that. By acting early, we gave people space to prepare, retrain, or move forward—however difficult the transition.

It’s inevitable, it’s a trade-off, it’s a matter of time. All of it was taken into consideration.

But today, we no longer measure success by what we earn. We measure it by what we didn’t lose—and by what we’ve gained: a lighter conscience, knowing we’re no longer feeding fashion’s second-most-polluting footprint; the quiet shift we’ve seen in how my China partners and office now approach their daily work; and the sight of our China partners standing fully independent and strong. Most personally, we gained Anthora Collection—the slow fashion line I founded in 2023 from the black deadstock fabrics left behind when customers went bankrupt during Covid. What could have been waste became limited-edition wardrobe basics: rare, thoughtful pieces made only when materials allow, plus made-to-order options in responsible fabrics for those who want something truly intentional.

That kind of growth—the kind money can’t count—is what matters most to me now.

My conscience is lighter, yet I’m also realistic – I still need to make a living. Hong Kong’s garment merchandising sector was heading toward contraction anyway, much like manufacturing once shifted from Hong Kong to China, and later offshore. I simply chose to take control and move ahead of the curve, investing my time and energy where I believe it matters most.

After walking them through all of this, I turned the question back to the students:  
“I think I’ve helped you understand my choices… but do you think what I’ve done has actually helped the planet?”

They answered together, without hesitation: “No!”

They were right.

That raw honesty is exactly what keeps me going. Since March 2025 we’ve released 15 episodes of The Conscious Cut, and we’re excited to restart the conversations again very soon. Right now, I’m also deepening my understanding by taking a course with HKU Business School on value-added ESG—looking at the bigger picture and how we can create real, lasting impact. Because education is where change truly begins.

We need smarter AI tools to cut waste without raising costs or losing efficiency, and genuine materials that can honestly replace fossil-based ones. And we’re already taking steps in that direction.

We’re using 3D programs to streamline pattern making and sampling, building simple tools for faster data entry and cross-checking, freeing our team from repetitive tasks so they can focus on more creative, meaningful work. While these are expected applications of AI, we’re pushing further—exploring how it can help us rethink processes at a deeper level. And beyond tools, we’re experimenting with real innovation in products.

One exciting step we’re taking right now is collaborating on a new phygital fashion brand led by Olivia Lee of LIVVIUM, together with co-founder Zoha Khan and partners including Imersive and Genu.n. We’ve brought separate ideas together into one cohesive “live” shirt.

We’ve produced 120 limited-edition phygital t-shirts—real pieces made from 100% recycled cotton, packaged in dissolvable Invisible Bags proven safe for the environment. Each features an NFC chip hidden behind an individually numbered limited-edition patch for authentication, digital updates, and DPP information; a printed QR code label that replaces irritating polyester neck tags and links directly to the product landing page; and an interactive AR catch code that brings the shirt to life via apps like Snapchat.

These aren’t concepts—they’re tangible examples of fashion that’s more connected, accountable, and kinder to the planet.

Closing that chapter in 2024 wasn’t about ending something – it was about clearing space for exactly this: tangible experiments in more responsible, transparent, and connected fashion, from Anthora’s slow basics to these phygital innovations.

Here’s to walking this path with clearer intention in 2026 and beyond.

Hoiki Liu  
Founder, Anthora Collection  
CEO, Skyrex International Ltd. & Nicetones Ltd.  
Host, The Conscious Cut