§ 001. Memo | Creative Brainstorm + A.Aspiration Meandering: Monochrome Group Hong Kong.

This is it. The Mothership.
As long as I remember being entirely independent was an ultimate goal, even before I could fully grasp the concept of it. Building something, cooking in ones own sauce, being self-sufficient was embed in my up-bringing. Evidently creating a company is the only ultimate choice for an ambitious mind.
My first company was opened in Paris, France, straight out of college. I failed miserably. It was my first encounter with severe government bureaucracy, business bank account openings and a master class advice from my first audit accountant: — ”Don’t follow any Pension Schemes! Live Your Money Now!” And that exactly I did. But after few manoeuvres and business deals I ought to believe that 2008 crisis wiped out my non existent business model. It was time to move on.
After traveling around Europe and changing few jobs, the time has come to get back in Business. The Idea for the second venture was to focus on a more provincial setting in order to bootstrap and minimize the costs. The selection fell on a city of Budapest, Hungary. This time I didn’t open the company from scratch, I bought an old existing company with a relatively familiar name in manufacturing circles. And I love manufacturing, as a matter of fact that is what i always wanted to do! Clothes Manufacturing! After all textile industry ignited Industrial Revolution. And in a long run I aspire to be a fashion designer and dress up people worldwide.
Not an easy task. Competition is fierce, market is monopolised, consumer is tasteless, sizing is a nightmare. Despite these obvious headaches, Eastern Europe still has an enormous potential for clothing manufacturing. What it lacks though is an industry itself. Where do my advantages of an affordable workforce and a cheap industrial real estate lead, when the closest country with creative and technologically advanced textiles at a reasonable price is in-fact Spain? I send my rolls of fabrics by air or DHL services, so the delivery would cost more than the whole previewed turnover. I send by cheap cargo, the materials would only arrive in snail-slow manner after the whole trend on them had long expired. Fashion moves fast these days. To maintain our operation costs low, we need an industry support behind us. We need governments fighting for their SMEs.
We fought very hard, built a productive team, launched our brand with inspiring designs, even started receiving positive reviews from the press, but the recession wave covered us entirely with its tides again. And up until this moment FYI, I am still finalising that Hungarian company closure proceedings, those things take time, while paying out the last remaining restructured debts. Closing a company is always a much bigger headache than opening one. But all-in-all there are no regrets, only great experience. And the time has come to become larger than life. My next step was to move to the Centre of the World. Hong Kong here we come.
Hong Kong is the best place in the world for doing international business. It is a financial hub, which is surrounded by high quality lifestyle, world manufacturing plant AKA China is next door, and all that attracts wisest minds. Now it becomes more and more progressive for the startup scene. Its has its own fallbacks too here, but its another story for another chapter later, but in comparison with what the World can offer, Hong Kong is definitely the Centre of the World.
It all came by accident and unexpectedly, but I can proudly declare that Hong Kong did open me few doors to society and this Planet Earth when I first arrived there. So after my small spinoff in Middle East, which is also another story, that deserves a separate chapter later on, upon my second arrival to HK, I opened yet another company for my operations. I used business agencies who helped me out with the legal declarations, office rentals, and other bureaucratic services. I was lucky enough to catch the last sliding doors closing on the easy offshore HK bank account openings. Now its a hectic matter and banks simply refuse talking to any company with foreign non-HK resident shareholders, due to enormous external and “Political” pressures, but that again is another topic for another time, that concerns current HK drawbacks only. But I have learned something in my life so far, that there is always a solution to any problem if you put your mind and dedication to it. So here I was, my company was opened for business, again. Third trial, trinity. Third time’s a charm.
Monochrome Group Hong Kong was born in 2015. It is a Trading Company by license. It actively operates in Hong Kong, Mainland China, United Kingdom and Hungary markets and Internationally Online. #MGHK is its reference initials and it has 3 major focus point activities:
- Fashion Department: operates 2 fashion brand projects (AD ASTRA / KOMETA.A).
- Wine and Water Department: operates 5 ha vineyards, produces and distributes premium quality wines, fruit liquors and pure mineral water in Europe and Asia.
- Media Department: operates 1 media channel (SELF MADE ASIA Podcast).
Each one of these departments has its challenges, but also exciting elements and inspiration to make the projects better and improve. Each project will be properly reviewed and presented in detail later on via my upcoming Memo Series. But so far it seems like a good start and there is a pure selfless intention to continue and grow.
What I have learned is that paperwork and internal structure are very important, bureaucracy has to be updated and kept updated at any given moment, otherwise neglected problems and piles of paper notices escalate until intolerable situation. Secondly it is almost impossible to generate any progress without funding, slow steady influx of funds to cover essentials and fill in the gaps. But most importantly funds are required for having a motivated team of partners, contributors and supporters. A human asset is incredibly important. Properly delegated team can do wonders, as long as team members are on the same page and share the same values as the company. Luckily enough people in Hong Kong are capable of dreaming big and thinking globally.
The company, regardless its product or financial state, has to define its core values and blindly develop those values and aspirations into a reality.
And for conclusion some few last thoughts on never giving up:
- Don’t think — know and act.
- Always be prepared so you have the freedom to act on instinct.
- Don’t be motivated by money or anything external.
- Never be satisfied.
- Always be in control.
- Be true to yourself.
- Never let off the pressure.
- Don’t be afraid of the consequences of failure.
- Don’t compete with others. Make them compete with you.
- Never stop learning.
- Success isn’t enough — it only increases the pressure.
- Don’t get crushed by success.
- Completely own it when you screw up.
- Let your work speak for itself.
- Always work on your mental strength.
- Confidence is your greatest asset.
- Surround yourself with people who remind you of the future, not the past.
- Let things go, but never forget.
- Have clear goals.
- Respond immediately, rather than analyzing or stalling.
- Choose simplicity over complication.
- Never be jealous or envious of someone else’s accomplishments.
- Take the shot every time.
- Don’t get caught up in the results of your success. Always remain focused on what got you those results: the work.
- Think and act 10X.
- Set goals that far exceed your current capabilities.
- Make time for recovery and rejuvenation.
- Start before you’re ready.
- If you need permission, you probably shouldn’t do it.
- Don’t make exceptions.
Good luck making it all finally happen.
Evgeny Avetisian | random quick thoughts on Twitter.

