A building of Nan Fung Cotton Mills that was converted into warehouses in 2008. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Vanessa Cheung Tih-lin had always wanted to be a veterinarian — a dream that brought her an undergraduate degree in molecular and cell biology.

Although creating something like The Mills had never crossed her mind during childhood, it was through the course of her upbringing, bit by bit, that she gradually uncovered her interest in seeking connections and building relationships in the community through place-making design projects.

“My desire to create The Mills was inspired by my grandfather,” Cheung reveals. “I’m ever so grateful that I was able to experience first-hand the hard work and dedication that went into the textile and manufacturing industry.”

In the 1950s, Hong Kong was one of Asia’s biggest textile exporters and, in the 1960s and 1970s, more than half of the city’s population worked in the garment manufacturing industry.

Through research and the interview process for The Mills, Cheung observed that the sense of pride and ownership of factory workers back in those days can hardly be found anywhere among today’s generation.

After joining the family business, she learned that three of the original textile mills were kept as warehouse spaces, which she regarded as a huge waste of resources.

“I thought they could be used in a more meaningful way, especially after learning about how deeply they have impacted the workers and their families, the neighborhood and Hong Kong,” says Cheung. 

Coupled with a rather pessimistic sentiment at the time, she envisioned reigniting the spirit of The Mills into a place of inspiration across all generations. 

“Looking back at my early memories with my grandfather inspired me to transform the former factories as a way to reflect upon our family origins, embracing our heritage and, more importantly, give something back to the community.”

Combining heritage with innovation, Cheung believes that part of the vision of The Mills is to create a new business model for real-estate projects for the future of whichever industry sustainably — something can be achieved through having an open mind to observe and collaborate. 

Cheung’s curiosity about origin has been fueling her passion in building relationships and linking up with the community.

The Mills happened to be part of her heritage with a greater history and impact in the industry and Hong Kong that gave her a starting point.

She says she has always been passionate about art, culture, community building and innovation, and she founded The Mills to inspire both the younger generation and Hong Kong’s intellectual development.

“Reinforcing and even intensifying my passion are the many talented entrepreneurs, innovators and artists I’ve met along the way, who constantly make me believe in the promising future of the techstyle industry,” Cheung says.

“We hope The Mills, as the first-of-its-kind multi-disciplinary institution in the field, will continue to support different industry players and an overall sustainable development of the industry.”