The Mills, formerly known as Nan Fung Textiles, was one of the most productive spinning factories in Hong Kong and witnessed the city’s manufacturing heyday in the 1960s. The structure is comprised of three buildings developed between the 1960s-1970s. In 2014, Nan Fung Group began an extensive architectural conservation to preserve the historic make-up of the buildings to become The Mills, transforming the structures into a destination for innovation, culture, creativity and community.
The end result of the revitalisation process is a distinct, contemporary space with historical significance, housing collective memories. Columns have been reinforced by inches of thick steel and the dramatic 13 metre-high skylight ushers sunlight into the central atrium. The walls, left untouched, are dotted by the green paint used by many factories in the 1960s and serves as a reminder of the ‘can-do’ spirit of Hong Kong’s industrial era.
The Mills is now a home for tourists, artists and makers. For local artisanal F&B and experiential shopping such as the world's first consumer facing G2G (Garment to Garment) textile recycling system, there is Shopfloor; for history and art, there is CHAT; and for techstyle entrepreneurs, there is Fabrica.