Celebrity Life

Hong Kong's ever-changing dining scene is constantly evolving.

So much so, that it can get a little difficult to keep track of it all, let alone remember to book and try the new restaurants that have caught your eye. From brand new concepts to fresh venues and additional locations, here is our guide to seven of Hong Kong's most promising new restaurants to try right now.

Well, what are you waiting for...

The post Startup Life: Wil Fang of Cookie DPT on Baking it Before You Make it appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

In the next instalment from our series Startup Life, Iva Bravic Millereau tells us about her globetrotting journey to Hong Kong via Shanghai, Moscow, Miami, Canada and Croatia. We find out more about what it takes to run a successful business, the importance of wellbeing and her plans for the future.

More than ever, we’re looking to focus on our wellness -- the fragility of our ecosystems and our health. And early 2020 saw the launch of Hong Kong’s latest wellness brand, RE.VITYL™ by Croatian Iva Bravic Millereau and New York-based Rashia Bell have focused on bring natural products using elemental energies to the market with healing crystals, plant oil products and stylish silk accessories.

Name: Iva Bravic Millereau

Profession: Co-Founder & Managing Director

Industry: Wellness and E-commerce

Inception: 2019, Product Launch May, 2020

Company size:  4

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With a masters degree in fashion, Russian-born Londoner Liana Kazaryan had never imagined she would end up working with food, let alone become the Founder and Brand Director of superfood restaurant Avobar. Yet here she is, with two restaurant venues in London and Hong Kong.

Following a series of pop-ups, Avobar opened its first location in London before making its Hong Kong debut in 2019 in Tsim Sha Tsui's K11 Musea. The concept, as I'm sure you've guessed, is dedicated to the fruit fuelling a multibillion dollar industry: the avocado and offers an all-avocado menu. Having expanded from one food capital to another, Avobar is the health-conscious food business that also gets the popularity vote. Ahead, we catch up with Kazaryan to find out how she achieved that and how she plans to sustain it.

Name: Liana Kazaryan
Profession: Founder and Brand Director of Avobar
Industry: Food and beverage
Start up since: 2018

[caption id="attachment_206393" align="alignnone" width="1431"] Liana Kazaryan of Avobar | Photo: Jade Sarkhel[/caption]

Tell us about Avobar.
Avobar is an all day superfood restaurant with a menu inspired by the ultimate superfood -- the avocado! We are bringing vibrancy to healthy eating with our creative and nutritious dishes.

What’s behind the name?
The name reflects the ‘mono ingredient’ concept of the avocado bar, where each dish contains the hero ingredient in some way.

Tell me about your best and worst day at work?
Best days are those that flow. Guests are happy, the team is at their best, ideas click and everything seems to be working in synergy.
There are no worst days as long as we’re moving forward. I accept all challenges as a natural part of the process.

[caption id="attachment_206401" align="alignnone" width="1650"] Avo Beef Bun at Avobar Hong Kong[/caption]

What do you do when you’re not at work?
Eat some more! I love travelling; making time for friends and loved ones is important to me; and I try to squeeze in some ‘me’ time which sometimes means working out, other times listening to a fascinating podcast about anything from wellness to neuroscience, or getting lost in something creative that I’m into at that moment.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?
I would go back to every time I ignored my intuition and followed it.

What is a normal work day like for you?
A normal day in London starts and finishes with communication with Hong Kong. I try to reserve the earliest and latest hours of the day for all the emails, phone calls and questions for Avobar in Hong Kong. The middle section varies day-to-day, which is what I love about my work: it is rarely monotonous.

[caption id="attachment_206402" align="alignnone" width="1411"] Avobar Hong Kong is located in K11 Musea[/caption]

What advice would you give to someone looking to start up?
I always say: it starts with self-awareness. Are you driven and passionate enough to be married to your project? If so, the rest is figure-out-able.

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing what you do now?
I would still have a start up, perhaps to do with fashion or property in an innovative way.

As a child, what did you aspire to be?
I fluctuated between a fashion designer and a dancer.

[caption id="attachment_206403" align="alignnone" width="1495"] The many benefits of avocados include boosting heart and digestive health[/caption]

What has been your biggest hurdle? How did you overcome it?
I have quite an empathetic nature, so learning that letting go of the people that do not fit or aren’t fully onboard with the company’s vision and values sooner rather than later is beneficial for both parties, took a minute.

How hands-on are you?
As the founder and brand director, I am involved in every aspect of Avobar operations. At the same time, I trust and give space to my team towards decision-making.

Why is Hong Kong an important market for you and Avobar?
Hong Kong is notorious for its food scene and it is indeed incredibly vibrant, so it was always an exciting prospect to enter this market. People here are open and enthusiastic about new and original ideas and we feel lucky to have been welcomed so warmly.

[caption id="attachment_206404" align="alignnone" width="1653"] The Orange salmon is just one of many Instagram-friendly dishes at Avobar[/caption]

If you were to invest in another start up, which would it be?
Whatever offers to help people in an innovative way.

How do you define success? Do you consider yourself successful?
A sense of purpose and fulfilment is certainly a part of the definition of success for me. Feeling like you came out from the process a changed person, as well as having contributed to other people’s lives in any positive way is also a part of the definition. Every day feels different, but I do consider myself successful when I check in with my definition of success.

What are your goals for 2020? And in the near future?
2020 has already revealed itself as the year for adaptation and flexibility. We are taking this onboard and diversifying into creative projects at Avobar that I am very excited to share when the time is right. A collaboration with a well-known and well-loved brand close to (Hong Kong) home is coming in the summer.

The post Startup Life: Liana Kazaryan of Avobar on Superfood Success appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Samuel Chan is a well known name amongst parents in Hong Kong. Why? Because he’s the name behind education consultancy Britannia Studylink, one of Hong Kong’s busiest and fastest growing start-up companies. Established in 2013, the company has attracted attention from various funds looking to tap into its growth and has won numerous awards, including Hong Kong Brand Development Council's 2017 Top Service Brand Award as well as the 2019 Premier Hong Kong Brand Award, becoming the first education centre to achieve this.

Coming from a humble background and ironically not performing very outstandingly in his educational years in Hong Kong, Chan attended a summer camp in the U.K. at the young age of nine which proved to be a pivotal moment in his life. Opening his eyes to the differences between the attitudes and systems in education between Hong Kong and the U.K., and setting the momentum for the rest of his academic career in the U.K., the young entrepreneur attended Gresham’s school and then went on to study at the University of Nottingham and University of Warwick.

[inline-quote author="Samuel Chan"]"I feel if I had to sell any financial product, I wouldn’t be the best at it as I don’t know enough. I might know more than the clients, but I have no full picture as to how the financial market works – I mean, who does? But for U.K. education, I am a benefactor of it, it changed my life forever, I think I can do a bloody good job introducing it."[/inline-quote]

Previously, school selection for residents of Hong Kong has been very transactional, with very little efforts put towards finding the right school for each child. Chan decided instead to educate parents by discussing topics that weren't previously talked about, such as why they should look beyond league tables before applications and what questions should be asked when school shopping. The market in turn responded very positively – parents’ attitudes towards education changed with the establishment of his company, resulting in the development of Britannia Studylink from a one man band sending a dozen of kids to school in the U.K. to what it is now -- two offices in Hong Kong working to send over 800 pupils to the U.K. each year, making up almost half of the Hong Kong market.

[caption id="attachment_205745" align="alignnone" width="725"] Oundle School, an independent co-educational boarding and day school in the town of Oundle in Northamptonshire, U.K. that Britannia Studylink works with[/caption]

What brings him the most satisfaction, however, is not helping students get into the best universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, but rather helping pupils that were perhaps a bit like him when he was a boy, discouraged by the education system in Hong Kong.

[inline-quote author="Samuel Chan"]"To see them go to the U.K., make a change, thrive, and return a better person is much more satisfying for me than placing an already bright young pupil into a top institution"[/inline-quote]

The post Behind the Success of Samuel Chan’s Education Consultancy appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Completely coincidental to the events happening in the world today, it would seem that Vincent Fong has launched his material science company, Raze Technology, in a period when self-care, personal hygiene and domesticity are now quintessential means of survival. A pioneer in the metamaterials field, the Hong Kong CEO has created one of the first light activated sanitising sprays designed to kill 99.99% of bacteria, viruses, odours and mould for home use. Having just launched two months ago, 7,000 bottles of this reactive formula has already been sold. We speak to the man behind the self-sanitising agent on how he built his business and the way he is reshaping the household products industry.

Name: Vincent Fong

Profession: CEO

Industry: Material science

Start up since: 2018

Company size: 18

Tell us about your business. What do you do?

We are a material science company that has developed a long term disinfectant coating that can effectively decompose virus, bacteria odour, mould, and VOCs [volatile organic compounds] with light energy. We believe that material science can be the key that opens doors to solving our world’s most demanding problems. So we transformed our technology to a functional product that creates a better everyday life.

Since the virus outbreak, we have applied our technology to Hong Kong transportation. We’ve covered 4,200 buses, 18,000 taxis and 2,200 mini buses with our Raze coating and seen a huge reduction in germs --protecting the driver and passengers alike. We are very excited to use our technology to improve the lives of others. Global governments from UAE, China and Italy are also reaching out and in discussion of adopting Raze for their public transport.

Tell me about your best and worst day at work? 

After being an entrepreneur for over a decade, the “best or worst” is no longer meaningful since that can change very frequently --even on an hourly basis. But overall, I enjoy my work very much even when things are not moving smoothly. You have to remember that building a company is a process and that’s the part I enjoy most.

What do you do when you’re not at work? 

I enjoy reading anything from scientific journals to science fiction. I also try to stay active with boxing and taking my dog on hikes on the weekends.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?

There are too many things to list; it ranges from recruiting, time management to investment. One thing in particular is that we only focused on our B2B service first. We then realised that we needed to build a consumer brand to develop trust and brand equity. Rather than pushing businesses to use our service, consumers would help us pull businesses to use our technology. We always wanted Raze to be associated with hygiene and wellness, we just didn’t realise a faster way until later.  But all these mistakes were critical in helping us grow to where we are now, so I would not have changed these missteps.

What is a normal work day like?

I reserve the morning for solo planning to review the list I write up at night, after that a short team meeting and breaking up to smaller unit meetings. Then I divide the day to work on operations, recruitment and partnerships. This structure allows me to dive in on the nitty [-gritty] details of the business while being able to constantly reflect on the bigger picture.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start up?

Don’t think that a brilliant idea will pop up in your soul searching journey. Just get started and go with the flow, then adjust and pivot, and more importantly consider people, people, people.

What would you be dong if you weren’t doing what you do now?

Probably working in someone else’s startup.

As a child, what did you aspire to be?

As a child, I aspired to be an astronaut – but as you can tell, that did not happen!

What has been your biggest hurdle?

Patience. I have major ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder] and want things to move at 100 miles, at all times, but that doesn’t work in deep technology. These innovations take anywhere from three months to 10 years to develop. Then there’s the process of building a team and getting everyone to work together. All of these things require a great deal of patience so it’s a skill I’m working on everyday.

How did you overcome it?

Be humble to appreciate science as science instead of a business. I overcame this by studying physics and chemistry from my CTOs [chief technology officers] and realising how little I know. This helped me understand that everyone comes from different backgrounds; what may be obvious to some, may not be to others.

Why is Hong Kong an important market for you?

Hong Kong is a global hub for both international businesses and China expansion. Proving the technology in Hong Kong opens many doors on a global scale. It’s also where I was born. So it’s cool to see the Raze stickers inside of taxis, protecting those I grew up with.

If you were to invest in another start up, which would it be?

Hard to pinpoint one specific one, but I am very involved in the food technology venture through The March Fund. They invest in early-late stage companies developing transformative biotechnologies, machine intelligence, and sustainable nutrition solutions for consumers and the agriculture-food supply chain.

What are your goals for 2020? And in the near future?

The economic landscape for 2020 will be very tough due to the Coronavirus global impact. From capital source to consumer purchasing power, many things will be substantially reduced. For Raze, we are fortunate enough to be classified as one of the preventative solutions, and we have grown to be the biggest public transportation preventative player and global government units have reached out to have Raze applied in their buses, taxis and trains. I believe 2020 will be a year of growth. My goals in the near future would be to grow Raze into improving home hygiene systems globally.

How hands-on are you?

I am very hands-on in certain areas that I thrive in such as marketing and sales, but very hands off when I am not the expert such as manufacturing and R&D [research and development].

How do you define success? Do you consider yourself being successful?

Success is an evolving definition for me. Currently, I believe success is the ability to apply your network, knowledge and passion into solving global issues that can benefit the lives of others. I do not consider myself successful for every year I look back and realise how foolish I once was and would hope this trend continues.

The post Startup Life: Vincent Fong of Raze Technology on the First Self-Santising Disinfectant appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Born out of a passion for fashion, luxury and good deals (we're right there with you!), French entrepreneurs, and husband and wife duo, Delphine Lefay and Diego Dultzin Lacoste started OnTheList. The members-only concept is where flash sales meet high-end lifestyle brands for a unique shopping experience. Now in their fourth year since the launch, they have a huge 7,000 sq. ft. showroom in Central, over 150,000 members, and countless brands on the roster. We decided to catch up with the couple to find out how it all started and how they're doing now.

[caption id="attachment_192459" align="alignnone" width="1013"] Delphine Lefay and Diego Dultzin Lacoste started OnTheList in 2016[/caption]

Name: Delphine Lefay and Diego Dultzin Lacoste
Profession: Co-founder & CEO / Co-founder & CFO
Industry: Retail and e-commerce
Start up since: January 2016

Tell us about your business. What do you do?
OnTheList is a pioneering concept of members-only flash sales, offering members exclusive access to luxury brands at discounted prices, for a limited number of days. Members are invited by an e-mailed barcode to a specific location for the 3- or 4-day event. The company offers brands a sustainable option to clear past-season merchandise; turning old inventory into opportunity whilst simultaneously paving an additional channel to a wider consumer market.

What's behind the name, OnTheList?

It’s all about the concept of community and exclusivity. As our Flash Sales are for members only, the company name of OnTheList is linked to it. You need to register as a member to enter the in-store or online flash sales, so [in other words, you need to] officially get “On The List”.

Tell me about your best and worst day at work?

Our best day was back in 3 August 2016 when we had our 13th pop-up of Dr Martens Flash Sales. The company website crashed at midnight because too many people were trying to register as an OnTheList member. Then on the morning of the pop-up, there was a long queue with thousands of members waiting outside for the store to open. That was the first time, but not the only time. But it did prove that our business model would succeed!

During the working life, there is a mixture of good and bad news. And sometimes the bad news dominates. But so far (touch wood) we don’t have a day that we would consider as the worst day as we haven’t had any horrible news. On the contrary, we always see the opportunities in every crisis.

[caption id="attachment_192469" align="alignnone" width="985"] Members-only flash sales hosted by OnTheList[/caption]

What do you do when you’re not at work?

We enjoy a social life beyond social media. The support, the encouragement and the inspiration that we get from friends means a lot to us. So we like meeting friends when we’re not at work -- for food, for drinks, and just to be around them.

We are both quite outgoing people, Diego likes playing golf and I enjoy horse riding and yoga, whenever we have time. We also like hiking in Hong Kong and travelling around the world; our last trip was to South Africa during Chinese New Year. However, as we are always together, we often talk about work even when we’re not at work!

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?

Every step counts and we’ve taken each step as a lesson to learn from which ultimately brought us here. -- to where we are now. But looking back at the potential of OnTheList, if we had chance to do it differently, we would probably have sped up the development, and made it faster. For instance, we still had our previous jobs in the beginning, so to do it differently -- we would've quit earlier in order to focus on the business instead. Also, we took another 9 months of pop-ups in Hong Kong before we decided to settle down in a permanent showroom in Central. If we could do it again, we would not waited that long. However, there’s nothing 100% right or wrong, and we will never know what would've really have happened after these considerable steps.

[caption id="attachment_192466" align="alignnone" width="980"] Outside of work, Diego likes to play golf and Delphine enjoys horse riding[/caption]

What advice would you give to someone looking to start up?

1. Just do it! Never wait until it’s perfect, or otherwise you will never get started.
2. Then test it, test again and keep on testing.
3. Talk about it to people around you -- with as many people as possible. Their feedback will help shape your ideas for the better. You will also get inspiration every time you are presenting it.
4. Don’t be afraid of people stealing your idea, the chance is very low! One can steal ideas but no one can steal execution or passion.

As a child, what did you aspire to be?

Delphine: Lots of different jobs! Every six months I had a new aspiration.
Diego: I aspired to be an inventor. Like my great grandpa, René Lacoste [the French tennis player who also invented the tennis ball machine, steel tennis racket and is known worldwide as the creator of the Lacoste tennis shirt].

[caption id="attachment_192467" align="alignnone" width="1058"] The first permanent OnTheList showroom in Central on Duddell Street[/caption]

What has been your biggest hurdle, and how did you overcome it?
Generally speaking, working as a couple is amazing but it’s not easy every day. Everyone has his or her own way of doing things; mutual respect, communication, understanding and cooperation are key in this kind of partnership.
In terms of business, finding the first permanent showroom was one of the challenges for us. As OnTheList is quite a new retail concept in Asia and most of the landlords in Hong Kong don't accept our business model of both retail and events. In the end, it took a lot of time to find this showroom in Central. And even then, we needed to pay 3 months deposit in cash, so we had to raise some funds from friends and family.

Why did you start up in Hong Kong?
We were already working in fashion retail in Hong Kong. We had some problems with our stock and looking for a solution that can help us liquidate the stock, but we couldn't find any here. That’s why we decided to launch OnTheList. Also, Hong Kong is a dynamic city with strong growth prospects and it provides easy and welcoming business factors for a new start up company. The most difficult thing is the rent.

[caption id="attachment_192468" align="alignnone" width="1009"] Bonding with the OnTheList team[/caption]

What are your goals for 2020? And in the near future?
We are always working, looking to move and progress forward in order to manage and motivate our teams as young entrepreneurs. So we try to keep on learning; through reading, training, listening to podcasts. We love it, so it’s always a pleasure to try to be a better manager.
The direction for 2020 is to develop and consolidate our 3 permanent showrooms: Taipei, Singapore and Shanghai. And to pop up in other Chinese cities, too.

Another goal is to develop our e-commerce business in Hong Kong, and then launch it in Singapore, Taiwan and China.

How do you define success? Do you consider yourself being successful?
“Success” for us is a mix of personal and professional success. If we cannot find a balance between them, then we don’t consider ourselves successful. So far, professionally speaking we are proud of what we have built in four years because it has been based on honesty and trusted relationships with our partners, team, and suppliers. We believe that we have built strong foundations. Personally speaking, we have found a successfully good balance between work and personal life.

The post Startup Life: Delphine Lefay and Diego Dultzin Lacoste of OnTheList appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

There is never a dull moment in Hong Kong’s dining scene. But what Vincent Mui realised was as vivacious as the F&B world is, and there was a hole in the industry he wanted to fill. So in 2015, the entrepreneur opened up Test Kitchen – a concept that literally brought the most talented culinary influencers right into the heart of the city.

Though only open for a few short years, his establishment has become one of the most watched (and booked) by foodies locally and abroad. With the likes of critically acclaimed chefs such as celebrity chef and Top Chef contender Kwame Onwuachi (USA), Ray Adriansyah of Locavore (Indonesia), Ben Spalding of The Fat Duck (United Kingdom), Andrew Walsh of Cure (Singapore), to upcoming pop-up crossover with Pablo Lagrange from Argentina, Test Kitchen has been the place to experience and experiment with international cuisines. We chat with Vincent to find out more about the business, along with his triumphs and challenges.

Name: Vincent Mui
Profession: Restaurateur
Industry: Food & Beverage, specifically pop-ups and events
Start up since: March 2015
Company size: Small

[caption id="attachment_190512" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Founder Vincent Mui and Head Chef Devon Hou[/caption]

Tell us about your business. What do you do?
Test Kitchen is a unique dining movement that invites chefs around the world (and occasionally from within Hong Kong) to cook the food they love and share their stories in four of five night pop-up dinners, usually running twice a month. Hong Kong diners are knowledgeable and open-minded about new tastes and experiences; they want to get to know our chefs and understand what drives them and their food.
Our beautiful two-storey street-level shop is located in Sai Ying Pun where we host our pop-up dinners. We also curate private events, including anything from sit-down dinners to cocktail parties. A new sector we are recently focusing on is Catering. We want to extend our culinary team to showcase their brilliant work outside the four walls of Test Kitchen.

Tell me about your best and worst day at work?
My best day at work is when both the guests and our team are really happy with how the event turned out. That can be nailing the dinner service on the first night of the pop-up to finishing a private dinner or catering event where we’ve surpassed all our clients' expectations.

My worst day at work is when the unexpected happens -- a stove breaks down or the oven doesn’t quite work -- you need to scramble to get things resolved immediately.

What do you do when you’re not at work?
I love to drive and every weekend I go out for a spin with my friends, come rain or shine. When I drive, there’s nothing on my mind other than the steering wheel, the 3 pedals, the shifter and the next corner.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?
I actually have no regrets! I’m one of those people who believes that everything happens for a reason. So whether they are mistakes or good decisions, there’s always something to take from it. What matters most is that you are better than you were yesterday.

[caption id="attachment_190518" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Guest chef Pablo Lagrange adding the finishing touches to his dish[/caption]

What is a normal work day like?
Every day I take 30 minutes to think and strategise about what I need to do for the day ahead… and then I get on with it! There are so many elements, everything from liaising with new chefs we're bringing in to cook or dealing with local producers, to working on or finessing private events, or arranging wine pairings that will accompany our menus. There's never a quiet moment!

What advice would you give to someone looking to start up?
Follow your heart, and don’t be afraid of the unknown. My experience has shown that we all come across many different perspectives throughout our journey, and they can all teach us something.

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing what you do now?
I'd likely be working in a regular full-service restaurant. I think my love for this industry will always mean I'm in a place where good food is served and I am empowered to make guests feel good.

[caption id="attachment_190523" align="alignnone" width="1600"] Chef Krzysztof Czerwinski and Chef Phillipa Armitage-Mattin preparing for their four-hands collaboration[/caption]

As a child, what did you aspire to be?
I always wanted to become a race car driver. Maybe one day I'll be in the position to go racing and build a team from scratch!

What has been your biggest hurdle?
Striking a balance between pushing the culinary boundaries to meeting diners’ expectation, with culinary teams coming over to Test Kitchen from all around the world.

How did you overcome it?
Through time and maintaining a constant conversation between guests and chefs.

Why Hong Kong?
I’m born and raised in Hong Kong, my closest family is here, and this is my home. Hong Kong is also obviously an international city and a melting pot of all cuisines. I love how you can get a bowl of beef brisket noodles in a 60 year-old establishment, then go right next door to a hip coffee shop that could literally be straight out of Melbourne.

[caption id="attachment_190525" align="alignnone" width="1280"] A mackerel dish presented at a pop-up dinner[/caption]

If you were to invest in another start up, which would it be?
Technology. I’m the least tech guy going, but I’m fascinated by what it can do, and what it does for the world. It'd be great to be part of it and learn their business and trade by investment.

How hands-on are you?
Very -- and I love it. Especially the push during dinner service, the buzz of working with everyone, creating an event, be it a popup dinner series with an overseas team, a private dinner party for 10 or catering a wedding for 200 guests.

What are your goals for 2020? And in the near future?
To expand Test Kitchen's private events and catering sector, while continuing to invite brilliant international and local chefs to our kitchen, as well as find a way to contribute more to Hong Kong society.

How do you define success? Do you consider yourself being successful?
To be a good husband, father and son. To create a business that I can pour my love into that is both profitable and benefiting those who are involved -- and hopefully being able to inspire a few people along the journey.

The post Startup Life: Vincent Mui of Test Kitchen on His Unique Dining Movement appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

When it comes to one of the most consumed spirits in Hong Kong, it's safe to say that we're all familiar with gin. But no matter how enthusiastic you are about it, you will probably not be as dedicated as Dimple Yuen and Ivan Chang, the co-founders of local micro distillery, Two Moons Distillery. The first of its kind in Hong Kong, the duo craft their own artisanal spirit right here, quickly earning a name for itself as one of the most creative premium gins there are. Think crisp and citrusy aromas from dried tangerine peels, fresh lemon peel and pink peppercorn, along with a sweet, and nutty flavour on the palate from Madagascan vanilla pods and tonka beans. Taking top quality botanicals from around the world to pay homage to the cultural melting pot of this city, Dimple and Ivan have mastered the true spirit of Hong Kong. We speak to the gin connoisseurs to learn more about their craft and how they got to where they are today.

Name: Dimple Yuen and Ivan Chang
Profession: Co-founders of Two Moons Distillery
Industry: Gin Distillery
Start up since: 2019
Company size: 4

[caption id="attachment_184755" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dimple Yuen, Co-founder of Two Moons Distillery[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_184756" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ivan Chang, Co-founder of Two Moons Distillery[/caption]

Tell us about your business. 

DY: Two Moons is the first licensed microdistillery producing premium craft gin in Hong Kong. As we are both born and bred here and are avid gin lovers, we wanted to create a classic dry gin that proudly boasts an Asian flair to represent our roots.
IC: By establishing a distillery in the city that can accommodate [both] customers and visitors, we hope to inspire and share the beautiful craft of distilling with the people of Hong Kong.

Tell us about your best and worst day at work?

DY: My best days are the days I get to distill. It’s a chance for me to tune out from the outside world and it’s just me and our copper still, Luna. I get to be completely immersed in the distillation process without any distractions and I really love that. The worst days would be the ones when accidents inevitably happen and our gin ends up on the floor!
IC: My best day was when I saw the first drop of gin produced from our still, Luna, for the very first time. As it took us two years to get there, it was an incredibly touching and unforgettable moment.

[caption id="attachment_184757" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Copper still, Luna[/caption]

What do you do when you’re not at work?

IC: I love to hike and connect with nature to refresh my body and soul.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?

DY: I wish I learnt distilling much earlier. I had no idea it was such a fascinating craft until I started to learn and appreciate gin.

What is a normal work day like for you?

DY: My mornings start with some admin and prep work before I start distilling around noon. From there, I perform regular quality control checks and monitor the entire distilling process from start to finish.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start up?

IC: Stay curious, be open to constructive criticism and don’t be afraid to share the knowledge.

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing what you do now?

DY: I’d probably be a digital nomad or a scuba instructor.
IC: I’d be continuing my passion in the hospitality industry.

As a child, what did you aspire to be?

DY: I had no idea to be honest!
IC: I wanted to be the best gamer in the world.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

DY: I’m an introvert, so I’m not always comfortable being in front of the camera.

How did you overcome it?

DY: I’m not sure if I have yet, but I try my best. As a female entrepreneur in a traditionally male-dominated industry, I feel it’s important to represent Asian women and that is what drives me to be more out there.

Why is Hong Kong an important market for you?

IC: As we are both born and raised in Hong Kong, we feel it’s important to represent our hometown. Though gin is traditionally perceived as an English spirit, we wanted to show people that we too can make a premium gin by including Asian botanicals.

If you were to invest in another start up, what would it be?

DY: As I used to be a programmer before becoming a distiller, I’d invest in something tech-related for sure.

What are your goals for 2020? 

IC: We’ve got a lot of creative ideas brewing for 2020! Since we are constantly experimenting at the distillery, you can expect some new flavours and distillery workshops in the coming year from us.

How hands-on are you?

IC: Distilling, bottling, labelling and sealing – everything’s all done by hand at the distillery so we are about as hands-on as it gets!

How do you define success? And do you consider yourself being successful?

DY: I’d define success as happiness and constantly achieving new personal goals, whatever they may be.
IC: I’d consider myself successful if I am able to be a positive influence to the people around me and spread a bit of joy and happiness.

The post Startup Life: Dimple Yuen and Ivan Chang of Premium Gin Two Moons Distillery appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

After realising a gap in the market for a sophisticated, fun and stylish winter wardrobe in Asia, Sandy Ip along with three friends decided to take a leap of faith to fill the growing demand with The Ski Project. Though her new business has only been around for just over two years, her curation of slope-side fashion has made quite a name for itself, attracting modern travellers with its collections inspired by style, performance and comfort. Stocked in upscale department stores such as Lane Crawford in Hong Kong and Shanghai and the Emporium in Bangkok, her vision of the ski-set lifestyle has become easily accessible to snow carving lovers on this side of the world.

So, how did a girl with a background and degree in architecture and town planning establish herself to great heights in this niche industry? We stole a moment with the Founding Director herself for her tricks of the trade and what living the startup life means to her.

Name: Sandy Ip

Profession: Founding Director

Industry: Fashion/Lifestyle

Start up since: 2017

Company size: 20

Tell us about your business. What do you do?

Having spent 10 years working for luxury brands, I wanted a change. I started The Ski Project with 3 partners 3 years ago, feeling that there is a lack of stylish and technical slope to city winter-wear for fashion savvy customers in Asia. Our goal is not just to open a retail store but to bring to life the European lifestyle of the “Ski-Set” which at the time was not prominent in Asia. We began the business from Niseko in the winter of 2017. Since then, we have expanded to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok and we will open our all year-round winter to summer vacation wear concept at the newly opened Park Hyatt Hotel Hanazono, in Niseko Japan.

[caption id="attachment_175844" align="alignnone" width="960"] Sandy Ip of The Ski Project[/caption]

Tell me about your best and worst day at work? 

The best days are when we receive returning customers complimenting the style and functionality of the pieces they used while on their winter trip, coming back for more, and referring us to their friends and family. This really gives us a sense of satisfaction as we are providing a solution to something that is missing in the market.

The worst days are when the stress with working on store opening deadlines hit. Sometimes it is not a single person’s job to make things happen, all parties must be aligned and it is hard to get everyone working at the same pace or have the same sense of urgency as you’d wish.

What do you do when you’re not at work? 

Find me up in the mountains in the winter, or by the sea in the summer.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?

Getting more comfortable with the unknown situation. As a Founder, you have to make decisions without knowing exactly what is coming.  But there is no need to stress about the outcome when there is no way of knowing. You just have to get comfortable with the situation and go with the flow.

[caption id="attachment_175847" align="alignnone" width="1125"] Hong Kong fashionista and mother of two, Alison Chan El Azar[/caption]

What is a normal work day like?

I start the day with reading about industry news and checking sales against plan and forecast. I'll also communicate to my team, reply to emails on the go, visit the point of sales, speak to customers and also review plans for the next months to come.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start up?

Be original and don’t copy a concept because others have made it happened. Authenticity is the most important. Stay relevant to what is going on and try not to be too consumed by just making money out of the business.

[caption id="attachment_175849" align="alignnone" width="1125"] Taiwanese-born and Hong Kong-based socialite, Feiping Chang[/caption]

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing what you do now? 

I would still be working in the corporate world of fashion. I actually really enjoyed working in a corporate environment and working with all the different departments. I don’t think I would have the same confidence starting my own business if not for all those years of training.

As a child, what did you aspire to be?

A ballerina when I was a child, and then a fashion buyer when I was a teenager. I thought it was the best job, which takes you to all the most beautiful cities in the world – the fashion capitals – New York, London, Milan and Paris. It wasn’t until later did I find out that it is more about number crunching and being a geek at excel spreadsheets. I have an Architecture and Town Planning degree from University, so it is funny how I ended up doing what I do now.

[caption id="attachment_175850" align="alignnone" width="960"] Sandy Ip of The Ski Project[/caption]

What has been your biggest hurdle?

The biggest hurdle would have to be the economic and financial situation in Hong Kong right now. This has taken the industry completely by surprise and there is nothing you can do about it.

How did you overcome it?

Luckily, we are still performing according to plan as we have diversified our point of sales to other parts of Asia this year.

[caption id="attachment_175851" align="alignnone" width="1119"] Loui Lim, the chairman of Genting Group[/caption]

Why is Hong Kong an important market for you?

People often ask me why I would start a luxury skiing retail concept in Hong Kong -- a city without any immediate ski slopes. The fact is, through this project, we have met so many people who are so passionate about the winter lifestyle. They are very open-minded and curious about the newest edits every year which made it very enjoyable to create this connection with them and it pushes us to create more elements within our curation.

If you were to invest in another start up, which would it be?

A drone that can withstand the adverse weather and can follow you around on the slopes taking video and pictures as you ski. Or a heated phone case, so your phone doesn’t freeze at sub-zero temperatures. These are the two things I wish I have with me when I am skiing.

[caption id="attachment_175848" align="alignnone" width="1042"] Singaporean socialite Arissa Cheo[/caption]

What are your goals for 2020? And in the near future?

We plan to expand on The Ski Project footprint – bringing the best winter edits to modern travellers.

How hands-on are you?

100%! I have a 360-degree role from merchandising, branding, marketing, social media, logistics, accounting to retail design and retail sales and operation.

How do you define success? Do you consider yourself successful?

I think part of being successful is building a brand from scratch and following your passion – it gives you a real sense of accomplishment. However, I do believe that it is best not to be give yourself too much credit when times are good, and not too much stress when times are tough. Stay humble, focus on growing the business and keeping it alive is key.

The post Startup Life: Sandy Ip of The Ski Project on Luxury Winter Apparel appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

If you've been on Queen's Road Central recently, you may have noticed a stylish, pink, new clothing store on the ground floor of H Queen's. (Or perhaps you already knew that popular Singaporean fashion brand Love, Bonito has made its first ever appearance in Hong Kong as a pop-up shop.) Known for its well-fitted, stylish and accessible womenswear, Love, Bonito is a relatable brand made for the 'everyday woman' and offers a wide collection including everyday essentials, workwear, maternity clothes, bridesmaids' dresses and more.

Not surprisingly, the brand is also run by women, and here to launch the pop-up store was one of its co-founders, Rachel Lim. We caught a moment with the lovely lady to discuss what Love, Bonito is all about and how the startup life is treating her.

[caption id="attachment_155814" align="alignnone" width="1376"] Love, Bonito collections include everyday essentials, workwear, bridesmaids' dresses and more.[/caption]

Name: Rachel Lim
Profession: Co-founder of Love, Bonito
Industry: Fashion
Startup since: 2005 (unofficially as BonitoChico), and officially as Love, Bonito in 2010

Tell us about your business. What do you do?

It’s a business created by real women, for real women. We understand the issues, needs and concerns that women have, and hope to bring women together through fashion. Love, Bonito creates pieces for women going through different journeys: she could be a graduate looking for her first job or a new mum getting her first taste of motherhood. We also understand that women have different body types and shapes, so we create a wide variety of styles and designs to try our best to cater to different women. It’s thoughtful fashion for every woman: our size range accommodates anyone from anywhere between UK sizes 4 to 14.

What’s behind the name Love, Bonito?

Originally we were [a fashion blogshop] called BonitoChico, meaning 'pretty boy', because chica (meaning girl) didn’t sound as good. But when we became more serious in the business, we found that the name had already been taken and we changed it to Love, Bonito because it reads like a sign-off -- “with love”.

[caption id="attachment_155807" align="alignnone" width="1391"] Lim demonstrating Love, Bonito's modular fitting room concept, which was created for women who shop and try on clothes together.[/caption]

Tell me about your best and worst day at work? 

The best days are when I can sit down and brainstorm with the Love, Bonito team. When we brainstorm, during the ideation process and when we get creative is my favourite aspect of the business. As for my worst days, I would say it’s when I have to do back-to-back finance meetings. Finance numbers can be draining.

What do you do when you’re not at work? 

To destress from work, I exercise. I don’t have time to go to classes, so I will YouTube some yoga or HIIT workouts. I’ll also spend time with friends and family. I’ll host them at home and eat comfort food with them. And I try to sleep! I usually only have about 5 hours sleep on average.

Outside of fashion, we also host workshops in our event space in Singapore and Malaysia. We have this space to bring women together to discuss all sorts of topics -- from how to dress better for your body type to women’s issues and finding mental stability. We want to give women a chance to share, learn and grow together.

[caption id="attachment_155813" align="alignnone" width="1451"] Lim talking at the “DO IT LIKE A #WERKINGWOMAN" event presented by Love, Bonito on 2 March 2019.[/caption]

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?

There are some lessons I wish I’d learnt earlier. As people, we all have our own gifts that we are meant to hone. I wish I had known that earlier on. If I did, I would not have been comparing myself with others and instead, understood that we are all different, and that it’s OK.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start up in the fashion industry?

Know what you stand for and stay true to it. We are in a very competitive market which is very, very saturated. So you need to have a good, complete brand with its own niche; you need to be very clear about what makes you unique.

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing what you do now?

A talk show host. I dreamed of being one and I still do. I’ve always loved working with people and learning through them. But ultimately, I just want to be in the business of bringing women together, which is what Love, Bonito is all about, so I’m right where I want to be.

[gallery size="full" ids="155810,155811,155812"]

As a child, what did you aspire to be?

I wanted to be a teacher. But I gave up school to focus on starting the business!

What has been your biggest hurdle and how did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge has always been the mental battle you have being an entrepreneur. If you can overcome your mind, you can overcome anything. But it can be very lonely. You have such a huge responsibility, which can also be daunting and overwhelming at times, but you have to push through. You have to look at the company as a whole and push the boundaries.

Why is Hong Kong such an important market for Love, Bonito? 

We realised early on that we had traction in Hong Kong. So we monitored and tracked the behaviour from data, and here we are. We also noticed that there is a gap in Hong Kong for a brand that women here truly relate to, a brand that thinks and cares about the everyday woman. So we brought that ethos over to Hong Kong.

[caption id="attachment_155828" align="alignnone" width="1382"] The pop up store is on the ground level of H Queen's in Central.[/caption]

What are your goals for 2019? And in the near future?

I had a goal at the beginning of the year to read two books a month, so 24 books annually. I’m a bit behind with that. But the year isn’t over yet!

As for the business, we just completed the rebranding, pushed out new product lines and now the Hong Kong pop-up, so our focus is really on that. We’ve had a great response so far and have had to restock already in just a week.

Which books would you recommend to read?

1) Grit by Angela Duckworth [a New York Times bestseller and pioneering psychologist] is a book I’m currently reading.

2) Start with Why by Simon Sinek [who also gave a TED talk about “How Great Leaders Inspire Action”].

How do you define success? Do you consider yourself successful?

Success for me is knowing who you are and your purpose. There is a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote I love -- “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment” -- and I really think that understanding your purpose can be very powerful. I used to belittle what I had, compared it with others and questioned it. But when you stay true to who you are and are secure -- that’s success. I’m still growing and it’s a journey; I’m very intentional now and working on being the very best version of myself.

The Love, Bonito Hong Kong pop-up is open at H Queen's until 31 October 2019.

The post Startup Life: Rachel Lim, Co-Founder of Women’s Fashion Brand Love, Bonito appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Avid oenophiles will have likely heard about the Coravin already: a device that allows you to drink wine without ever having to uncork the bottle. Now there’s a newer, and even cooler, iteration: the Model Eleven, which made its Asian debut in Hong Kong recently. It’s the brand’s first connected and fully automatic device that links to an app called Coravin Moments. Not only does it enable wine lovers to create a virtual cellar, but it also displays them all on a flavour map, while offering curated pairings with food, music, moods and movies, too.

But perhaps what you don’t know was how it all began. With a background in nuclear engineering from MIT and a career in medical technologies, Coravin’s inventor and founder, Greg Lambrecht, was merely trying to meet his wine-drinking needs when his pregnant wife was unable to join him. Read on to find out just how Lambrecht’s startup life began, what he learnt along the way and the incredibly sound advice he has for others.

Name: Greg Lambrecht
Profession: Founder & Inventor of Coravin
Industry: Wine
Start up since: June 2011

Tell us about the business. What does Coravin do?

When I founded the company, I wrote the mission statement on a sheet of paper and it said, "Any wine, any amount, any time, without having to think about when you’re going to drink from that bottle again. Independent of closure, still or sparkling. Faster, easier and more fun than opening a bottle." That’s still our mission statement. This is what we’re trying to achieve and I’d say we’re about 80%* of the way there. Model Eleven being a big leap forward for us.

*On top of the wine access system, Coravin offers accessories for screw cap wines and an aerator that immediately adds air, allowing your wine to breathe as you pour. The brand has yet to achieve access to sparkling wines.

[caption id="attachment_151349" align="alignnone" width="1654"] The Coravin Aerator immediately mixes air with the wine as you pour.[/caption]

What’s behind the name, Coravin?

The first name for the company was Wine Mosquito. It was named by my eldest son who was three years old at the time and helped me with the testing. During the launch, this great CEO I had hired said, “We can’t call it Wine Mosquito. People hate mosquitos!”. We talked for a while and I started to recall my Latin, which I studied in high school -- I really am that geeky! So, cor is Latin for "heart" and for me, Coravin is about getting to the heart of wine.

Tell me about your best and worst day at work? 

One of my best days at work was launch day [of the first product] in New York, July of 2013. To actually take an idea written on a page, to a prototype, to the testing that validates it works, to building the team, to raising the money, to putting the initial product together. That feeling, the elation you have being at that point was incredible.

The worst day... well, I did a blind tasting for [British wine critic and writer] Jancis Robinson, who has one of the best palates in the world. I contacted her and she asked, “What bottles do you have?”. So I laid out 30 bottles of wine on the floor, took a photograph and sent it to her. She told me the row and column of 2 different wines. I grabbed them and flew out to London. It was pouring down with rain and I show up at her house, completely drenched with my bag of wine.

We do the blind tasting [an experiment to prove Coravin does not adversely affect the wine] and she says, “It’s glass 1 and 3, or it’s 2, 4 and 5 -- they’re not oxidised but they taste different”. No one else had gotten it right before. I thought, “We’re screwed!” Next, she tried the other wine and said they’re the same and chose wrong. At this point, she typed so much on her keyboard and then looked up and said, “You know you brought the wrong control bottle for your first wine.” I had brought two different vineyards! Same year, same producer, but different bottlings! First I was a failure, and now I’m an idiot. Thankfully, she wrote about the idiot in her article.

[caption id="attachment_151348" align="alignnone" width="1323"] A Coravin prototype.[/caption]

What do you do when you’re not at work? 

I’m a distance runner. I run mountains -- Pike’s Peak [the highest summit of America’s Rocky Mountains] and the Boston Marathon, too. Running keeps me sane. The beautiful thing about running is it’s time on your own and you can focus on one thing. I usually pick a topic before I start my run, and I think about that for however long I’m running. That peace of mind that comes from it, it’s almost like meditation.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?

We’ve made mistakes, every company does. But I would say two things. Firstly, we should have started earlier. I knew that it worked in 2008 -- why didn’t I start the company then? Secondly, I thought being CEO was the most important role, and therefore I had to have it. It wasn’t until a good friend of mine, and an investor, asked, “Are you sure your talents are best utilised that way? You’re creative, you invent, you set the vision, you’re passionate and you sell. But do you like managing the day-to-day operations and the core team?” And it was just the most insightful comment. I stepped back from being CEO and became Chairman and Founder of Coravin. It was in this avenue that I’ve been able to create. Had I been CEO, I probably wouldn’t have.

[caption id="attachment_151346" align="alignnone" width="1417"] Lambrecht with an engineer on the Coravin team.[/caption]

What advice would you give to someone looking to start up?

The one sin is running out of cash. It’s game over when the cash is gone, so always make sure you have it. And try to have cash before you need it, because raising money when you’re out is the most deluded thing you can do. You should raise twice as much money as you think you need. You’re underestimating, and things are going to go wrong.

Also hire well. Great people make great companies. Great ideas fail with bad people. If someone isn’t working out, do not hesitate to terminate. If you don’t, it will bring down the team and your business. You cannot tolerate that. As a startup you don’t have the extra time. It’s not personal; they just aren’t the right person for the job. Move fast!

If you can, raise money from people that have the same incentives as you have. Because the more aligned they are, the better the future will be. The difference can cause conflict, so try to gauge the true incentives of investors to make sure they are aligned.

As a child, what did you aspire to be?

My grandfather was a famous weapons designer. First for the German military and then when he was captured by the Americans, for the United States. And he came to me when I was 11 (he passed away when I was 12), and said, “I’ve built enough weapons, you should work on medicine or power. We’ll never run out of our need for either.” That set the tone for my career. I started in nuclear physics and plasma physics, then I worked on medicine. But the core of my thinking was: how do I positively impact the lives of as many people as I can? That’s why I didn’t become a doctor [but rather] invented medical therapies: because they can be used on hundreds of thousands of people, not only one at a time. With Coravin, if they recognise what it can do for them, it can really change their lives. It’s a positive influence and I want to do that as much as possible.

[caption id="attachment_151345" align="alignnone" width="1370"] Coravin Model Two and Model Two Elites.[/caption]

Why is Hong Kong such an important market for Coravin?

There are more ‘better wines’ being poured in Hong Kong on a daily basis than any other city in the world. I wanted to be in a place where there was a large variety of wine, and where people are willing to drink wine from anywhere.

It’s also a ferociously competitive environment, and one of the things I learnt early on is, if you want to learn how to be successful, you need to be in a competitive environment. If you are around the best people in the world, you will raise your game. We have learned so much from this market already. Our manufacturer for Coravin is here in Hong Kong, too. She's one of the best in the world for consumer home goods.

If you were to invest in another start up, which would it be?

One of the things I’m looking at is distributed agriculture, which is moving the growing of food into the house. It’s happening in New York and Boston, and I think it’s almost there. It will measure and track everything, while tuning elements for the plants’ growth automatically. It’s a really cool concept.

What are your goals for 2019?

It's still to make the wine experience faster, easier and more fun. Model Eleven is the beginning of that, and with the software, we can keep making it better. 2019 is the year that we advance the Coravin Moments app.

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Do you consider yourself successful?

Not yet. We still need to reach people. I measure success as the volume of wine poured through Coravin relative to the volume of wine consumed on an annual basis. And we are tiny right now. I don’t hope to be 100%, but I’d love to be 20%. If I can get to that, then I’ll consider us successful.

Coravin Model Eleven is available in Hong Kong at selected stores including Watson's Wine and Enoteca.

The post Startup Life: Greg Lambrecht of Revolutionary Wine System Coravin appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

In 2017, sisters Ash and Lynn Kim founded their eponymous fashion label, The Ashlynn, a brand designed by and for strong women who dream big and crush goals. Their international background -- spanning Los Angeles, Saipan, Osaka, Como, Shanghai and Hong Kong -- has fostered their appreciation for new adventures and seeking beauty in every place they go. Inspired to share their feel-good vibes, big sister Ash set aside her career in fashion brand marketing to take on the challenge of spreading empowerment and confidence to women around the world, while little sister Lynn took on the role of marketing their collections, values and positive messages. We spoke to the two young entrepreneurs responsible for shaping the Korean fashion scene about what it’s like to build a business from scratch.

Names: Ash Kim and Lynn Kim

Profession: Co-founders of THE ASHLYNN

Industry: Fashion Retail

Startup since: March 2017

Company size: 3

[dual-images right-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Untitled-design-431.jpg" left-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Untitled-design-430.jpg" right-caption="Ash" left-caption="Lynn"]

Tell us about your business. What do you do?

Ash Kim (AK): I started a fashion brand called The Ashlynn with my sister Lynn in 2017. I design womenswear -- dresses, jackets, skirts -- and we also started a second label called Self-love by The Ashlynn last year.

Lynn Kim (LK): I do the branding side for the company: photo shoots and lookbooks, the logo and packaging.

Tell us about your best and worst day at work? 

AK: My best day is when I’m full of new design ideas and have no distractions so I can focus on my creative process. It's the most fun part of the work! My least favourite day would be when I have to deal with all the admin and logistics side of things -- I’m not an Excel person!

LK: Since I'm a full-time architect, I don’t have daily duties at The Ashlynn like Ash does. I work on big projects such as seasonal photo shoots -- it's always fun to prep for them with moodboards and props. My least favourite moment was when I didn’t have extra battery with me for my film camera!

What do you do when you’re not at work? 

AK: Since most of my work days are very fast-paced and action-driven, I like to lounge and chill with my boyfriend, friends or sister when I’m not working. A vital part of that includes having a good meal and drinks.

LK: Working out is my number one way to destress. I also like learning new things.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?

AK: Nothing! I was far from perfect or even fully prepped but I just dove in head first and was learning throughout the journey. I made mistakes but also achieved things beyond expectations. I would still do the same if I were to start this business again and better yet, I would try to remember how I was fearless and adventurous in the early days.

LK: I don’t regret anything! But if I had watched more YouTube tutorials on photo shoots, it would have helped ease my mind at our very first shoot.

What is a normal work day like?

AK: I check the online orders in the morning, then I go through all the emails including PR loan requests, run fabric market errands, check shipments, meet with the agency, vendors and retailers, and of course update our social media -- I pretty much touch on all aspects of the business on a daily basis.

LK: I am always on the go. I have meetings in different parts of the city and I’m constantly working on my laptop.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start up?

AK: Trust your gut but also do a lot of research. Benchmarking is really a powerful tool to start with, but always remember why you really wanted to start this business in the first place and why the audience needs it. And make sure you’re also having fun along the way.

LK: If you have passion for something, follow and pursue it. It’s extremely rewarding to be a part of The Ashlynn and to watch my sister come closer and closer to fulfilling her dreams throughout the years.

What would you be dong if you weren’t doing what you do now?

AK: I’d probably still be somewhere in the fashion industry. I was in brand marketing when I worked in Hong Kong a few years back and I really enjoyed it. But I have always been intrigued by working at cool lifestyle startups too.

LK: I am still pursuing architecture as my full-time career and being part of The Ashlynn brand on the side. I’d probably devote more time into architecture if it weren’t for The Ashlynn.

As a child, what did you aspire to be?

AK: A lawyer (I did attend law school for a year), a news anchor, a diplomat -- more intellectual endeavours. I have always loved fashion but thought it would just be a hobby of mine, not my future profession.

LK: An artist, computer programmer, doctor and architect.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

AK: As with most other startups, financing is challenging in the early stages. And starting a business on small savings was definitely not easy.

LK: That my time is limited with a full-time job so I always feel like I don’t have enough time to do everything that I want to do or achieve.

How did you overcome it?

AK: Limited resources led us to become more self-sufficient and efficient, such as shooting lookbooks ourselves. We took on the role of the photographer, makeup artist and stylist, and even built the website ourselves.

LK: I have improved in my time management skills and learned how to make decisions quickly and efficiently.

Why South Korea?

AK: Lynn and I lived in Hong Kong for four years. I started my career in fashion in Hong Kong but later moved back to Korea for family reasons. I knew that this was the time to venture out to do my own thing. Seoul is a great city to start a new business, especially in fashion as the fashion industry is so developed here.

Why is the Hong Kong market important for the brand? 

AK: Hong Kong is such an international hub and despite its physical size, it has huge presence in the fashion world. That is why all the major brands have flagship stores in Hong Kong. We also did a small popup in Hong Kong and it was great experience to learn what works for the international audience! I would love for The Ashlynn to be more present in Hong Kong soon.

LK: Hong Kong has such a range of customers all in one place: Hong Kong locals, mainland Chinese, expats, tourists from all over the world. That alone is a huge plus for a brand to gauge its relevance in the market!
If you were to invest in another startup, which would it be?

AK: I would invest in more lifestyle products and services that enhance our lives. We all need to work on ‘choosing’ happiness and it’s great to have products and services that help with these choices.

LK: Somewhere in sustainable architecture.

What are your goals for 2019? And in the near future?

AK: My goal for 2019 is to actually have more fun doing business as this is my third year since The Ashlynn launched and I've noticed that I get too attached to numbers and results. I want to refocus on why I started the business and how I want to live my life -- to have fun and be happy.

LK: My goal is to live more healthily and to have a balanced life. I also want to help Ash bring the brand to a more global market.

How hands-on are you?

AK: I am 100% hands-on as we are a small team. My sister has a full-time job as an architect. So, I am my brand.

LK: I play the part of a special projects team. I come in when the new season starts and assist with creative needs.

How do you define success? Do you consider yourself being successful?

AK: I am very successful in the sense that I am doing what I love and that is a huge blessing. And the business is also growing so I am super grateful.

LK: I am a perfectionist by nature so I’m good at pushing myself for more. But looking at where I am now -- with a good job and also being a part of a fashion brand with Ash -- I would say I am succeeding too.

The post Startup Life: Ash and Lynn Kim of Korean Fashion Brand The Ashlynn appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.