Cecilia Lai has been interested in crafts since the age of ten. She worked in the media industry after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion and Textile at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. After a few years, she turned to develop her craft of weaving. Barnard Chan was exposed to modern woodworking from childhood as his father was in the carpentry business.

The duo co-founded Breakthrough Art Studio in 2015 to focus on the exploration and research of traditional weaving crafts, and the cultural and creative industry. They are developing as a local brand of weaving tools and weaving workshops. Based on their in-depth study of Southeast Asian textile culture, they have developed a comprehensive and structured curriculum to make the craft of weaving and the culture behind it more accessible to the public. They believe the exploration of crafts is a never-ending journey, and each complements one another. Thus, the two are keen to explore the craftsmanship of natural materials and the possibilities of mixed media.