The Art of Gift Selection

Image Courtesy of Seville Chow

Even Seville Chow, whose expertise lies in curating items that anticipate consumers’ future desires, recognizes the formidable challenge of choosing the perfect gift. However, Seville believes that the key to overcoming this difficulty lies in the art of thoughtful consideration.

Gift-selecting can be a daunting task and she always tries to understand the needs and desires of the recipient and surprise them with a gift. However, this is precisely what makes gift-giving challenging.

In her role, she can be seen as curating items that consumers will want to purchase in the future. To excel in this task, it is essential to possess not only the sensitivity and impeccable taste of a trend-savvy curator but also the ability to analyze consumer buying psychology and habits through data and sales records. This comprehensive approach enables buyers like herself to better cater to consumer needs, ultimately driving successful commercial outcomes.

Is it accurate for those outside your profession to perceive your role as someone who “foresees consumers’ desires and curates products accordingly”?

SC : You can say that. I think it is important to have both the art and the science for this job. Besides possessing a buyer’s sensitivity to trends and mindset to taste, we also need to examine our client’s purchasing behavior by looking at the scientific data and sales history to ultimately cater to our clients’ needs and derive sales commerciality.
Have your friends or family ever mentioned that it’s difficult to choose a gift for you because you’re always step ahead of the market, staying up-to-date on the latest trends and innovations?

SC : Yes, they did complain it’s difficult to pick a gift for me as they think I have high standards in taste and travel so extensively I often will come across unique items from different parts of the world. To get around this, they will thoughtfully address my interests in wellness and gift me spa treatment vouchers and meaningful books.
From your perspective as an experienced fashion professional, what is more important about a gift: ensuring it serves the right gift or effectively conveying the wishes?

SC : For me personally, I like to understand the receiver’s needs and wishes and through the gift, hope to bring him/her happy surprises.

Deciding upon a gift can be tricky, I usually figure out what wish list items he/she might love by observing the receiver’s personality and lifestyle, and recalling likes and dislikes he/she mentioned previously through conversations.

But I think ultimately whether the gift serves a purpose or not, gifting in itself already conveys caring and well wishes for the receiver and that’s all that matters.
Could you share the story behind the most touching gift you’ve received in recent years? What made it special to you?

SC : 10 Philosophy books from my friend majoring in Philosophy. I once asked him to recommend some Philosophy books and the next thing I know a package of 10 books arrived at my doorstep and it is a curation of different philosophers and writers.

I was very touched my friend not only paid attention to our conversation, he also took great care and thought into finding books suitable for me and shows how much he cares about our friendship.
Could you tell us about the story behind the most meaningful gift you’ve ever given and what made it so special?

SC : The most meaningful gift I have received was a collage of photos with my friend that captioned the journey we spent together. It brought back lots of memories, both good and tough times, and this became a treasure in life.

As to whether a photo collage is a suitable gift or not, I think it really is subject to individual taste and needs. In my case, it brought back very precious memories from our growing years. Maybe in another situation, innovative designs, a beautiful cardigan or a souvenir during your travels might bring more meaning. At the end of the day, whatever brings more value and joy to that person can be considered a special gift.
Do you have any personal skills on discovering the preferences and needs of your loved ones when choosing a gift for them?

SC : I can say I do have the skills. I notice when I visited my nieces’ place that they have a whole collection of unicorn figures, so during a recent visit to Amsterdam, I happened upon a store and bought three rubber unicorn duckling for them. They’re overjoyed, needless to say.
As we approach the end of 2023, many ladies are considering buying themselves something special. Lane Crawford offers a great selection of fashion items at the end of each year. You must already be well-versed in these fabulous products. Are there any items from Lane Crawford’s exceptional and thoughtfully curated fashion collections that have caught your interest? What aspects of these fashion pieces do you find appealing?

SC: we have many interesting, curated products. From Alaia bags because it has such a heritage, Barrie cozy cashmere knit cardigan and matching pant set, Scottish brand that has such a heritage in knitwear and yarn; and is under the Chanel brand group. If you know your receiver sizes, I would also recommend wintery boots from Marsell, Ann Demeulemeester that have the riding boots aesthetic but with an edge in design and it goes well in most styling from skirts and pants; or Alberto Fasciani, originate from riding boot makers, offers a chic and classy timeless design. We have brought in series of new accessories brands like hats, scarves and jewelry esp. for the wintery festive season, do check out our online site or at our store of all our curations.
After the past three difficult years, people are still skeptical about the general environment, and their consumption habits have undergone shifts. What are your thoughts on consumption during this unique period? For example, when making purchases now, should one prioritize practical and necessary items or indulge in the long-lost joy of shopping? We would appreciate your perspective on this matter.

SC : It is considerable to be practical and functional, however, if you ever come across a special unique item that has a great story telling, with craftsmanship and design details that you can keep for ever and pass down to … It is ok collect this special piece with special meaning to you. In the end, it’s all about quality vs. quantity.
Considering the diverse consumption habits among consumers, do you anticipate any adjustments in Lane Crawford’s fashion section regarding sourcing and new product release strategies for the upcoming year?

SC : Clients’ habits and lifestyle choices are changing and Lane Crawford is also evolving to ensure clients needs and taste are addressed without compromising our company luxury image and standards.

LC’s main philosophy is luxurious multi-brand offerings. Our aim is to offer clients luxurious and aesthetic multi-brand choices when they visit us either online or in person. And in this post pandemic era, clients gradually prefer greater comfort and functionality while still keeping their sense of style. So this year we will continue the quiet luxury trend, at the same time, fashion sneakers are still in high demand.
Could you recommend a few gifts that, in your opinion, could bring emotional warmth to women as year-end treats for themselves?

SC : Yes agreed! Year end is definitely a good time to reward oneself for a hard year’s work. I will suggest South Cape, our lifestyle golf wear and atheleisure wear Lucky Marche for a more leisurely style. For a happy festive mood, the glamorous and fun Judith Leiber hairpiece and accessories will be perfect for parties.