Hypebeast Community Center: Office H

Give us the Office H elevator pitch.

We’re a commute-first brand. Rather than calling ourselves "outdoor," we prefer the term "out-of-door"— it’s about thriving in that messy space between cubicles and crags.

The Five W’s

Who shops at Office H?

Our core consumers are urban professionals aged 19-35 in first-tier cities. They're community-oriented young workers who enjoy active social lives. You might find them rock climbing with friends after work, unwinding at local bars, or rushing home to recharge.

What is Office H’s main message?

We want to promote an active lifestyle to society, becoming "after-work athletes" and embracing "funky outdoor."

When did you launch Office H?

We were established in 2021.

Where are people wearing Office H?

Interestingly, our consumers aren't just artists, small business owners, college students, and teachers. We've even got a surprising number of young workers within the Chinese government.

Why was Office H created?

It all started simply because I love the outdoors. While I admired the functionality of traditional outdoor brands, I couldn't stand their boring cuts and color palettes. That was until I realized I should just make my own damn shell jacket!

Can you tell us more about the meaning behind the name 'Office H”?

For the naming, we took inspiration from [Japanese Filmaker] Kurosawa's Office K. I figured that since we're making clothes inspired by corporate drudges, why not start with "Office?" The H comes from my surname's initial.

Your collections often combine office attire with performance gear. Can you tell us how you arrived at this unique blend of styles?

My designs always revolve around corporate drudges and yes, that includes me. The soul-crushing routine, the high-pressure grind, the frantic commutes in sweltering subway cars, the sudden downpours ... every little thing piles onto our exhaustion. I want to inject function and joy into our dreary workwear by borrowing from outdoor gear’s ingenuity.

Office H garments usually exaggerate volume and shape rather than prints and graphics. Is this a conscious choice?

I’ll admit — I’m not great at prints. But during college, I minored in inflatable architecture, and I became obsessed with manipulating lines to create intelligent patterns. It’s all about achieving a better fit for the wearer while playing with bold, unexpected silhouettes.

Your early collections were more minimal and neutral than your most recent collections. Can you share more about what drew you to more colorful and playful designs?

I'm obsessed with vibrant colors! I always joke with my team about becoming "the brightest climber at Everest Base Camp" or "the most eye-catching commuter in the subway." I love stuffing oversized silhouettes with high-saturation hues, then refining them with just the right functional details.

How did climbing become a central theme in your brand?

Our team is full of young climbing enthusiasts, and I’m a self-proclaimed "newbie" with twelve years of experience. I’m addicted to the sense of accomplishment climbing brings, and I love how the gear in this sport is brutally functional. Take chalk bags — they have giant openings for easy access. Or climbing pants — built for abrasion and stretch, so they’re tough yet flexible. Even our brand logo evolved from this mindset: it’s inspired by a chalk bag’s climbing pocket, with an elliptical shape that nods to simplicity and utility.

Do you have any activities or hobbies outside of Office H that also inform your design perspective?

As a National Second-Grade Athlete of China [CWNS three-level training program], I'm obsessed with all kinds of sports. Basketball, cycling, high-altitude trekking, and rock climbing fill nearly all my free time. While I love the sports themselves, I'm equally fascinated by the specialized functional apparel each one demands.

Do your roots in Shanghai inspire the clothing you make? Or do you draw inspiration from other places?

We're rooted in Suzhou — a city close to Shanghai yet worlds apart in lifestyle, much like New York and San Francisco. Having lived in both American cities, I thrived on New York's relentless energy, but it was San Francisco's fusion of nature and tech that truly captivated me.

Are there any other brands in the Shanghai community that people should know more about?

Of course! I’m surrounded by incredible brands like Roaringwild, ATTEMPT, and CDou. They’re all powerhouse Chinese brands in their own right.

What are some of your favorite Office H pieces? Can you tell us why you love them?

My all-time favorite piece is our AW24 waterproof down jacket. I wore it through Tibet's coldest days—at 5,000 meters altitude, in -20°C temps, I still felt ridiculously warm and (let's be honest) looked damn good. Isn’t this exactly what clothing should deliver?

Are there product categories that you see Office H expanding into one day?

Now I want to venture into eyewear. I wear Lindberg every day—their stuff is just next-level brilliant.

Would you ever design a climbing or hiking shoe? Who would be your dream collaborator?

This has been my long-term vision. A partnership with KEEN would be ideal, as someone who field-tests their footwear year-round, I deeply respect their hybrid approach to urban/outdoor design.

Is there anything you can share about your next collection? Where’s Office H going next?

Nothing too fancy—we’re still all about making functional yet fun clothes for the modern office warriors.

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