Everyone agrees its a joy to have a box or drawer filled with pretty ribbons. Whenever I wander into a specialty ribbon store I am driven to grab a handful of sweet brocades and classic grosgrains. But how do you use them in your home? They can be hung side by side as parallel decorations or use them as trims for bed linens and curtains. They transform a simple brown parcel into a work of art. I’ve even hung smaller paintings with stronger ones.

Nam Cheong Street and Yu Chau Street in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon are a top tip for decorative ribbons. Hashimotoya, G/F Shop A, 110 Nam Cheong Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, + 852 3173 5678, is a great shop to pick up satin, cotton and velvet ones. Flying Dragon, G/F Shop D, 213 – 217 Yu Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon + 852 2708 2528, is good for grosgrain and taffeta. I sometimes get Wing Fung Industrial to print special messages on ribbons – things like Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday and Bon Voyage. Wing Fung Industrial, Shops A & B, G/F 201-207 Yu Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon +852 2278 8255.