Snuggle and Stitch: How Textiles Shaped Hong Kong Childhoods

Description

In a world dominated by screens, CHAT’s fresh family-friendly exhibition instead considers what is inherited, what is lost and how materials carry values across generations.

During the 1950s children and teenagers made up nearly one in every two people in Hong Kong, and looking back at these objects reveals the resourcefulness, intimacy and tactile richness of growing up before digital saturation.

Curated by Bruce Li, Snuggle and Stitch explores textiles spanning the 1930s to the 2020s, tracing how materials shape culture, memory and everyday life. From heirloom garments and home-sewn clothing to mass-produced toys and artisanal dolls, the exhibition reflects shifting social conditions, family structures and ideas of care.

Alongside displays, interactive play corners reinterpret nostalgic games such as Toss-a-Pouch and String-a-Web, inviting visitors to experience old Hong Kong’s simple childhood pleasures.