Tatler interviews Hong Kong-based eyewear designer, René Chu, the brains behind Revé by René
Take an insider’s look into the lives of some of the most interesting and prominent characters with Tatler’s new interview series, Up Close and Personal With...
From business accomplishments to guilty pleasures, few topics are off-limits as we get up close and personal with Hong Kong’s Tatler community.
In this column, we sit down with eyewear designer and founder of Revé by René, René Chu, who launched her eponymous label in 2015 after feeling defeated by not being able to find sunglasses that inspired her. In just five years, the Los Angeles Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising alum has caught the attention of over 30 retailers, bringing her designs into boutiques throughout the world and onto the faces of entertainment industry royalty, such as Beyoncé and Gwyneth Paltrow.
A designer that has truly found and excelled in her niche, Chu will not rest on her success and continues to create and be inspired. “I love sunglasses. It’s the only fashion accessory that both reveals and conceals at the same time,” she says. With bold and daring designs in quirky shapes and colours for both men and women, her collections have something for everyone.
Here, she discusses seeming unapproachable, her terrible acting skills and her love for spaghetti aglio e olio.
See also: Up Close and Personal With: André Fu, Hong Kong's Popular Interior Designer and Architect
What does Hong Kong mean to you?
Home. Hong Kong is interesting in that it is so fast-paced and ever evolving, yet offers moments of nostalgia.
Describe your business ventures in one sentence.
Individualism. My brand has always been about self-expression, having fun and customisation.
What is a common misconception about you?
At times, I give others the impression that I am not the most approachable person. That’s what my friends told me after getting to know me: that was the first impression they had when we first met.
