Today, standing with more than 70,000 followers on Instagram and over 40,000 followers on TikTok, Shivani Dukhande is a long way from clocking in at 9am. Having amassed millions of views, Shivani’s social media plays host to a love of Hong Kong and a community of viewers both in Hong Kong and around the world, all eager to discover a different side of the city.

Through the hidden gems, food challenges and lighthearted family videos, Shivani showcases not only her love for Hong Kong but also evidence of a creator who is more than a one-trick pony. “When I first started working, I was in affiliate marketing at [online beauty retailer] YesStyle, focusing on Korean beauty. It was numbers-driven, and I would always look at the social media team and think, “That’s where I belong,” she tells Sassy Hong Kong. That instinct proved to be the catalyst for her career in content creation. But in 2020, just as Dukhande’s TikTok presence was gaining momentum, the platform was banned in Hong Kong, forcing her to pause and rebuild an audience — for the second time around and from scratch. But what initially felt like a setback ultimately became the turning point. 

Read on as Shivani opens up about the realities of being an influencer, the decision to leave behind a conventional career path and the exclusive hidden gem she’s revealing only to Sassy Hong Kong!

Read More: Toast & Slasher Life In Hong Kong — In Conversation With Nomkakaii

How did you get into social media?

At YesStyle, I moved from affiliate marketing to working in social media, and that’s where my passion really took off. We had a lot of creative freedom there, which still sticks with me today. What I enjoyed most was the strategy behind it — looking back at videos to see which performed well and which didn’t. After that, I worked at CASETiFY in influencer marketing, where I got to see the other side of the spectrum. I saw brand briefs, how brands work with creators and how content is shaped to fit influencer partnerships, which inspired me to try it for myself, with the content I was already making on the side.

What kind of videos did you make?

I was creating my own content while I was at CASETiFY, and as I was growing on TikTok, it got banned in Hong Kong, which left me demotivated, so I completely stopped creating content for a while. When TikTok first started, it felt like a secret — not many people really knew what you were doing there, so it felt like you were testing the waters and reaching a whole new audience you probably never thought you’d meet. It was such a great platform for me to experiment and try out new ideas.

Then, Reels were introduced on Instagram, and I wanted to try and see if my content would work there, and to my surprise, it actually did. So I started making Reels about Hong Kong, creating content around the city, which was a fun way to connect with audiences and share interesting things.

How did you get over the anxiety of people seeing your content?

Once you get on Instagram, your friends and family can all see it. At first, it was a little nerve-wracking, but there’s been a lot of support, and I get a lot of good feedback for my content, which I’m so grateful for. When people come up to me and say they love my content, or even if they just send a message, it really helps motivate me.

Was there a specific moment when you were working your nine-to-five, and you just knew you wanted to do your own thing?

I think I’ve always wanted to kind of do my own thing, and when the videos started doing well, it felt like an opportunity to quit my nine-to-five [job] and go full throttle into it. When I was doing it on TikTok, I didn’t really have much time to nurture it, but I had seen others taking TikTok seriously and growing their channel. So I thought, if I want to keep creating content, then maybe I have to leave and do my own thing.

How did you feel quitting a traditional 9-to-5?

Initially, I was really scared. It felt like there were two paths, and you can pick one: a nine-to-five job or working on your own. But then I realised if I try this and it doesn’t work out, it’s not the end of the world. I can always go back to working at a nine-to-five job. But at least I tried.

Your parents seem pretty supportive of your work.

Yeah, my mum loves making videos with me — she’s always been a fun, outgoing person — and I think the videos that we do together, people are really enjoying them. I’ve gained a lot of followers from the South Asian community. I’m excited that people in Hong Kong feel happy to see someone like me showcasing our culture and our traditions, alongside showcasing my life in Hong Kong. It’s like a mix of the two sides coming together, and I love making people feel part of my community.

Read More: 50+ Free Things To Do In Hong Kong

Could you share any highlights since you started doing this?

I think everything has been really special for me. One of the craziest moments when I was still fairly new was when I went to the opening of The World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland. To know that your video means something to someone, especially someone like Disney, is a crazy experience.

Can you tell me about some of the negatives of your job?

I think one of the biggest negatives is that it’s not stable. Hong Kong is a growing market for creators — if you look at places like the UK and the US, they’re quite established, and they know how to work with creators. If you make a video, you know that it’s not going to be taken and removed or used as an ad without consent. Also, in a growing industry, every creator has to face the challenge of sometimes not getting paid.

Do you have any words of wisdom for someone who wants to do what you do?

I don’t know if I’m in a place to give any advice, but I would say it’s important to know your worth, know that the work that you do is of value and make sure that the people you talk to value your work, time and effort. I’d also say, if you are looking to do it as a full-time job, then really treat it as a full-time job. It’s never a bad idea to educate yourself on certain things. If a company is reposting your videos or running them as an ad, there are certain additional requirements for that, so just knowing all those things will help you so much if you’re looking for a content creation career full-time.

Stay in tune with yourself, do what you enjoy and make the content that is authentic to you. Don’t try to be someone else, do what you like and find your niche. I feel like the more original and the more true you are to yourself, the more it’s going to take your content to another level.

Read More: Job Search 101 — Your Guide To Getting A Job In Hong Kong

Would you say that you’re most passionate about Hong Kong or just finding hidden gems in general?

I love exploring. When I was at my job, I would always have a list of places saved where I wanted to go and things I wanted to try, which I would then spend my weekends doing. So when I was able to turn that into my job, it was something that I was super excited about. I love finding unique experiences and discovering things that you wouldn’t really find on Google.

How do you find those experiences and places?

Sometimes it really just takes walking around. A lot of the best discoveries happen when I’m exploring and talking to people. I might find out there’s a private kitchen tucked away on the outskirts of Cheung Chau and think, “Oh my God, I haven’t even tried that yet.” So much of what I uncover comes from wandering around, speaking to locals and being open.

Have you ever tried a place or experience after seeing it online or hearing about it from someone, spent money on it, and then thought, “Oh, that was actually really bad”?

There was one where I recorded the entire thing, but it was so bad. I think it was like a dessert spot or something, I can’t remember, and it was like really hyped up. But when I went there, I thought, “There’s no way that I’m posting that” The quality of the food, the place and vibe — it was just not it.

Do you have any favourite spots in Hong Kong?

The beaches in Hong Kong are great; it’s one of the reasons why I’m so proud of Hong Kong, because we have a mix of city and open space just 30 minutes away. I need to go once a week, because I love just being in open space. I love all the islands too, like Cheung Chau. I always tell people who visit to keep an extra day to go and visit the outlying areas of Hong Kong, because beyond the city life, you can experience a whole different side of Hong Kong.

Can you share a hidden gem with Sassy that you’ve kept hidden all this time?

My favourite spot is this very small Thai restaurant called Thai Nong Khai. They weren’t on Google before, but they are now. It’s one of my favourite spots for good Thai food, so whenever we’re in Sai Kung, we eat here. I also did a video where I tried the most highly rated pineapple buns in Hong Kong, and the Sai Kung pineapple bun is the best; it is unreal. It’s the best pineapple bun in all of Hong Kong.

Thai Nong Khai, Shop 14, G/F, Ko Shing Building, 9 King Man Street, Sai Kung
Sai Kung Cafe And Bakery, G/F, 6-7 Kam Po Court, 2 Hoi Pong Square, Sai Kung

Read More: Sai Kung Neighbourhood Guide

The post Content Creator Shivani Dukhande Is Showing Hong Kong What It Didn’t Know It Was Missing appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

When Trilogy announced its closure in March, the public immediately began speculating what nightlife doomsdayism to attribute the news to. Hong Kong’s impossible rent costs? The rise of ‘sober partying’ culture? Society’s ubiquitous lack of disposable income? Whatever the reason, ‘nightlife is dead’ remains the broader insinuation. Perhaps, but that hasn’t stopped organiser Cocoa Zhou from showing Hong Kongers a good time. 

Last month, Zhou’s inaugural party OPEN by HE.R 鶴 drew hundreds to Chater Road — on a Sunday, no less — to close out Hong Kong Art Week. DJs Tripolism, MĪMĪ x FY, Alex Nude, Ani Phoebe and Zhou herself entertained a packed crowd for seven straight hours of open-air dancing, drinking and mingling, culminating in an urban music festival environment rarely seen in Hong Kong.

 

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An established DJ and producer, Zhou launched the music and party concept HE.R 鶴 in May 2025 as a direct response to her own changing lifestyle. After becoming a mother in 2024, she found Hong Kong’s traditional late-night circuit — one where clubs “rarely get busy until 1:30 or 2am” — increasingly incompatible with her new reality.

After I became a mum, I realised the challenge of finding balance in life. It seemed impossible to be a good wife and mother while maintaining my career as a DJ.

Beyond irreconcilable schedules, a baby at home also kept Zhou from touring internationally, as she was accustomed to. Nevertheless, the DJ refused to compromise on her career and passion, and so began her own venture. Teaming up with fellow DJ Alex Nude, the duo pivoted to a model which allowed them to “curate the crowd, venue and music” they loved abroad, “right here in Hong Kong.”

The resulting concept transforms fine-dining institution Mott 32 into an electronic music haven on Saturday nights. By opening the doors at 11pm (as dinner service concludes) HE.R 鶴 allows guests to transition directly from mealtime to the dancefloor. This ‘dinner-to-party’ model not only caters to a crowd that values a slightly earlier start, but also bypasses the crippling constraints of Hong Kong real estate. That is, by utilising an existing space for a limited window, Zhou capitalises on the restaurant’s luxe atmosphere while avoiding the high-risk gamble (and cost) of opening a new, dedicated space.

 

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A post shared by HE.R 鶴 (@he.r_asia)

Zhou’s decision to host OPEN by HE.R 鶴 on Chater Road was equally intentional. “I wanted to do something interesting; to choose a venue that hasn’t been used, unlike a typical event space,” she notes. After much discussion with friends and experts, HE.R pitched Chater Road to Hongkong Land, her eventual venue partner. “Even their team couldn’t believe we ended up pulling off an event of this scale in a public space,” Zhou shares. 

The logistics were, Zhou admits, a nightmare. Expanding from working with a 400-capacity restaurant venue to a street party for thousands, she recalls sleepless nights and collaborations with “millions of contractors” to build a world-class stage in the middle of Central. Perhaps most brutal, the team couldn’t begin setting up until 3am the night before as earlier would infringe on the street’s public use.

“Whatever you do, going from step zero to one is always the hardest,” she says, reflecting on the challenge of selling tickets to an event no one had ever been to. The progression was a “big jump,” but her motivation was simple: thousands fly into the city for Art Basel, and the streets are flooded with scenesters looking to mingle, network and be seen. In other words, all eyes are on Hong Kong.

I wanted to do something loud that makes a statement, while the world is watching.

An ambitious goal, but one that the DJ unmistakably reached. Standing in the heart of Central, surrounded by the city’s most iconic buildings, one could feel an energy akin to pre-pandemic crowds. This is feedback Zhou received firsthand from her friends, international visitors and even the guest DJs. “They were blown away by Hong Kong, by how stunning the venue was. A part of that is how good a job our team did, but it’s also a testament to how beautiful this city is.” 

 

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As for what’s next, Zhou isn’t content with one-off success. Plans are already in motion to turn OPEN by HE.R 鶴 into a biannual staple of the Hong Kong social calendar, with a potential return in the fall to coincide with the cooler weather. Beyond the city’s borders, the HE.R brand 鶴 is eyeing a global expansion, looking to international hubs where the ‘dinner-to-dancing’ appetite remains underserved.

Needless to say, netizens’ ‘nightlife is dead’ narrative appears to falter in the face of new, music-centred projects — particularly when they accommodate Hong Kongers’ busy, multi-faceted schedules. If we are to learn anything from Trilogy’s closure, then, perhaps it’s that the massive, multi-storey nightclub model was simple a product of a different era.

Today, it’s simply not enough to offer great views and great music. Rather, for a venture like this to be successful, it has to meet Hong Kongers’ altered expectations and experiences. This is exactly why Zhou’s concept has found success: it perfectly toes the line between offering prestige venue’s exclusivity and a community-focused project’s inclusivity. The feat not only suggests that a new era of nightlife is here, but that Hong Kong is ready for it.

Read More: Hong Kong’s Latest Nightlife Trend? Sober-Friendly Coffee Raves

The post Meet Cocoa Zhou, The DJ & Founder Redefining Hong Kong Nightlife appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

Walking down Elgin Street, it is easy to miss Bar Mind 念. While not a speakeasy per se, its black concrete exterior and dark, reflective glass stand in stark contrast to the typical Hong Kong aesthetic, which often lures passersby with loud neons and crowds spilling onto the pavement. Instead, Bar Mind operates on an ‘if you know, you know‘ frequency. The stripped-back, cave-like space might be unnerving at first glance, but once inside, the atmosphere is magnetic — so much so that, as Lo and Wong warn, many find themselves staying until the sun comes up.

This intimidatingly cool aesthetic mirrors its founders: Jo Lo, a veteran of Hong Kong’s elite bar circuit, and Birstacla (Birs) Wong, a creative whose background spans fashion and tattooing. While the pair’s nonchalant personalities are a far cry from the ‘Extreme Extrovert’ archetype so common in F&B, the result is a sense of welcome that feels more authentic than many of the city’s louder establishments.

From the deliberate absence of bottles on display to the hyper-intentional menu, Bar Mind is committed to a ‘no labels’ philosophy. It strips away the industry fluff to focus on the essentials of a great neighbourhood bar: community and mixology. For International Women’s Day, we sat down with Lo and Wong to discuss the mentality behind their craft, navigating the ‘boys’ club’ of global competitions and their vision for the future of the space.

Read More: Sassy Celebrates International Women’s Day 2026

You both come from distinct creative worlds — Jo, you’re an industry veteran, and Birs, you come from fashion and tattooing. How do these backgrounds collide at Bar Mind?

Birs: For me, cocktails and mixology are just another medium for creativity, like making a garment or tattooing. I wanted to start a business that felt more ‘human.’ In fashion, things can feel distant. Here, I can talk to people directly.

Jo: We always wanted a multidisciplinary space. Once we’re settled, we want to host ‘flash club’ tattoo events or display Birs’s clothing. That way, Bar Mind can really be an inclusive community space, as well as a platform for all our interests.

Read More: Hidden Bars & Speakeasies In Hong Kong You Need To Know

I love your ‘meet-cute story’ — you actually met at Room 309, a former hidden bar in Hong Kong. Was it an instant professional connection, or did the bar dream come later?

Jo: We were introduced by a mutual friend there. It started as a relationship first, but as we got more stable, the dream of owning our own bar together became the ultimate goal. It felt natural to combine our styles into a single space.

Read More: The Best New Bars & Drink Menus In Hong Kong This Month

The aesthetic here is quite dark — it’s very cave-like and minimalist. Was this a reaction to the flashy, neon-heavy bar culture we usually see in Central?

Birs: Exactly. I wanted to go against the more campy aesthetic and the trend of loud branding. We don’t even show our bottles on the back bar. We want you to focus on the technique and the story in the glass, not the label on the bottle.

Jo: We definitely argued about the lighting in the beginning! I’m focused on the operations, while Birs is the creative engine. As long as it wasn’t too dark to see the menu, I let her lead.

Read More: Team Sassy’s Favourite Neighbourhood Bars & Local Pubs

Your menu is hyper-intentional, leaning heavily into Cantonese flavours. How do you integrate nostalgic ingredients into modern cocktails?

Jo: We use the Asian palate as our foundation. For example, our ‘A Taste of Home’ drink uses Lapsang Souchong and winter melon tea to bring in a nostalgic sweetness, finished with a salted plum powder rim — it’s a flavour profile every local grew up with.

Birs: It’s about balance. We take those ingredients and make something new, or ‘grown up’ from it. We want the drink to taste like a Hong Kong memory, but reimagined as something sophisticated and unexpected.

Read More: Where To Find The Best Happy Hours In Central

You’ve both competed at the highest levels, like Diageo World Class. What is the reality for women in those high-pressure, often male-dominated environments?

Jo: It’s still very imbalanced. In global competitions, you might see 60 participants, and fewer than 15 are women. Even in Hong Kong, the big bar groups and owners are almost exclusively men.

Birs: Honestly, I just do my own thing. You can’t control what people think or say, so I focus on the work. But those competitions were a huge period of growth for us. When I went to the Global Finals in Sydney, I had to create over ten signature cocktails, and Jo had to help me remember every detail and manage all the prep.

Jo: I was Birs’s chaperone in Sydney, and honestly, it was more stressful than competing myself! It was an intense year for both of us, but seeing each other grow through that pressure is really what solidified our partnership before we opened our own space.

Read More: Rooftop & Al Fresco Bars With Epic Views

You’ve been open for nearly a year now. Have you encountered any challenges in the shift of bartenders to business owners?

Birs: The economy in Hong Kong is tough right now. A lot of people are heading to Shenzhen or mainland China to drink because it’s cheaper. When the business drops, you feel it personally. But I believe the soul of the Hong Kong scene is hard to replicate — people will come back for the quality eventually.

Jo: It’s also just the sheer competition. There are so many new bars opening constantly. It forces us to keep improving. At the end of the day, we’re still working toward our dream of hitting the Top 50 Bars list, but first, we have to make the business work day-to-day.

Read More: Top Hong Kong Liquor Stores & Wine Shops That Deliver

On a typical night, you can see a lot of women — in groups and by themselves — at Bar Mind. Did you intentionally set out to create a safe space for girls or for the queer community?

Jo: We don’t label Bar Mind as an ‘LGBT bar.’ If people know we are a couple, they know. I don’t want to put pressure on anyone with a label. We just want a space where everyone — straight, queer, whoever — feels comfortable.

Birs: We just want to be a great neighbourhood bar. A lot of women feel so comfortable, we see them dozing off on the couches here, like they could stay all night. That’s a great compliment, but maybe some people feel too comfortable…

Read More: These Shisha Bars & Hookah Lounges Are Fire

If someone is visiting Bar Mind for the first time, what is the one drink they have to order?

Birs: The Peach Reverie. It’s a graceful mix of tea, fruit and wine — specifically Merlot infused with jasmine tea, blended with peach tea and vodka. We finish it with a sea salt cheese foam and torched Parmesan powder. It’s a sweet-salty composition that’s light, floral and lingering.

Jo: For me, the 80’s Highball! It’s a lightweight drink that’s traditional with a twist. We start with Dewar’s White Label for an approachable, honeyed Scotch character, then add Lapsang Souchong for smoky depth and winter melon tea for aromatic complexity. It hits those nostalgic Hong Kong flavours in a very intentional way.

Read More: LGBT-Friendly Bars & Clubs In Hong Kong

The post How Bar Mind’s Female Founders Are Making Their Mark appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

On Wednesday, 26 November, 2025, tragedy stuck Tai Po as a fire engulfed Wang Fuk Court, killing nearly 200 Hong Kongers and leaving thousands displaced. In the following days, stories of residents’ and first responders’ bravery have emerged, from accounts of domestic helpers rescuing children to a firefighter’s heroic death. Along with offering our condolences to the victims and their families, we also feel compelled to spotlight these courageous Hong Kongers. Their stories are a beacon of light in the current darkness, and we remain eternally grateful for their sacrifice.

Editors’ Note: Team Sassy stands in mourning with the families of the victims and prays for the recovery of the injured. We acknowledge that the heroism shown on 26/12/25 was widespread and will update these tributes to honour more stories as they emerge.

Read More: How To Help Tai Po Victims — A Guide To Donations & Support

Ho Wai-Ho (何偉豪)

Ho Wai-Ho was among the first teams of firefighters deployed to extinguish the fires at Wang Fuk Court on Wednesday. The 37-year-old, who served nine years in the Sha Tin Fire Station, tragically lost his life while on the scene. His girlfriend of 10 years, who he planned to marry next month, grieved his passing on social media: “My superhero has completed his mission and returned to Krypton. You are my pride.”

Read More: Where To Donate Essential Items & Supplies For Tai Po Fire Victims

Erawati

Erawati, a domestic worker from Dampit, Malang, was caring for her employer’s baby when the fire broke out. She covered the child with her body to protect them from the smoke, but passed away with the baby still in her arms. According to Tri Darmawan, Head of the Manpower Placement Division of the Malang Regency Manpower Office, the child ultimately survived thanks to her heroism. Erawati’s family has been informed of her passing and her body is expected to be repatriated to Indonesia.

Read More: Sassy Supports — HELP for Domestic Workers

Rhodora Alcaraz

The post Honouring Hong Kong Heroes Of The Tai Po Fires appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

With a portfolio of over 500 drawings of toast showcased to her over 300,000 followers on Instagram, collaborations with top spots such as Vivienne Westwood’s Hong Kong Cafe and a Forbes 30 Under 30 listing under her belt, the 22-year-old’s achievements have captivated cafe-dwellers and artists alike.

Glossing over her unique talent and consistent motivation is often what separates the creatives from non-creatives, where outward perception comes second to the art. Kai explains, “Ultimately, what I do is I draw, and the action never changed. But it’s a perception other people have where they say, ‘you’re an artist because you draw.’ But I’m just drawing, I don’t think about what I am on the outside.” It’s an introspection that juxtaposes Kai’s fun Ghibli-esque takes on breakfast and snack foods, and her eyes-bigger-than-her-stomach outlook on life parallels that of the hungry foodies perusing her artwork.

Kai’s drawings mark specific moments in life — not only her own, but the cafes she visits. For a viewer, her art is an acknowledgement of enjoying time spent in a cafe, hallmarking the IG food pics and the little moments in life. “I like to say that anyone who makes and designs their own toast is an artist in their own way — it’s like your own painting and represents your identity,” says Kai.

Read on as the artist delves into her favourite Hong Kong spots, life as an artist and future goals (plus an impending rap career!) 

Read More: A Conversation With Hong Kong Poet & Forward Prize Nominee Tim Tim Cheng

How did it feel to see your work at the Ztory Home exhibition?

I think mostly I was really anxious. I grew up in Hong Kong, a city that can be unsupportive of the arts, so I always feel that pressure. And so the idea was to get big outside [Hong Kong] and then come back. So when I was putting up the exhibition in Hong Kong, I was like, “Is this enough?” Because everything I draw is digital, and I don’t know the scale of things. I printed out all of the toasts, and there was a moment where I kind of removed myself from creation and just saw it as it was, and I think that just made me feel more confident about persisting in something — I’m never going to be betrayed by hard work. That was my first feeling. 

Do you see a lot of improvement from when you first started?

For sure. When I first started, I hated Procreate (editor’s note: a drawing and animation app); that was really the push that got me through. It started from the first drawing, and then it was a seven-day challenge, and then I just kept going.

As I kept drawing, it just got better, and I grew as a person. I met cooking content creators, so I wanted to do something [thematic] like Singaporean food week or Hong Kong flavours. And then it was later on in L.A., I went to Sqirl, and I left a real-life drawing on a napkin to say thanks. And when I was leaving, the waitress was like, “Hey, we’ve seen your drawings, and we just think it’s really sweet what you do.” So it just grew from this thing that I started alone in my dorm room to this thing that became very much an extroverted activity, like a very outward way of interacting with people.

Read More: Hong Kong Artist Lio Sze Mei On Escaping The Real World With Her Art

“People were like, ‘Why are you even drawing toasts?’ I’m like, ‘Because there’s so much to draw!'”

Is there anything specifically that draws you to toast? 

I see toast as a canvas. In different places, people are going to put different toppings on top of it. And I like to say that anyone who makes and designs their own toast is an artist in their own way — it’s like your own painting and represents your identity. Also, during COVID, my mom had an obsession with bread. So when I was a little bit homesick, it made me think of home by drawing toast just because my mom likes it.

Read More: Our Favourite Breakfast Spots All Across Hong Kong

So when you set yourself your own career goals, what does that look like day to day?

Actually, for career goals, I have a Hobonichi journal, which is a Japanese daily planner. On the last few pages, there’s a spread that asks “What are 100 of your goals this year?”And at the start of the year, I started filling in the goals, and I had like maybe 20, but as I went through my experiences, I kept adding to the list. When I put an idea down in the journal, maybe it might not be immediate, but it’s already there, formulating.

It’s brewing, right?

Yeah, and then when I find the best way to express it, I’ll do it. I think my superpower is that I can do things really quickly. Like, the exhibition happened really quickly, and I did my zine in a month. Once I feel that energy and a sudden calling to do it, then I’ll do it.

Read More: Hong Kong Female Founders Share Their Life Lessons

“I don’t really have that work-life balance because for me, work is life and life is work, and I just love it.”

Do you have any specific connections to Hong Kong food? 

I think my connection with Chinese food comes more from spending a lot of time in restaurants. When I was younger, I would just go with my parents to their business meetings and sit on the sides, drawing and scribbling away. I don’t like loud places, but drawing keeps me kind of grounded, and blurs away a lot of the noises, so I think that’s where I have the relationship with food places — not necessarily with food directly, but more the memories made in restaurants. 

Do you have any favourite Hong Kong spots? 

I think Ztory Home has become the spot for me because it’s hard for me to find somewhere I can 100% feel like myself, but maybe because I know the people there, I’m biased. But I’ll say this cafe too. (editor’s note: we’re sitting at Tai On Cafe in Yau Ma Tei.) It’s next to the wholesale fruit market, and I love it. I like to just peruse through the fruit market sometimes, and I really like that part of Hong Kong.

Read More: Your Guide to Wet Market Shopping in Hong Kong

You often describe yourself as a slasher. Does it make you feel a sense of security to have a name for what you do?

I used to get confused about how to introduce myself at events, because if I just say one thing, it’s not very fitting, so I just default to food illustrator, because that’s the most memorable one for a lot of people. You don’t meet a lot of food illustrators in real life, so it always sparks a conversation. I think I tried really hard to find a perfect role for myself, and I realised that I was compromising and sacrificing a lot of things that I was doing, just to fit into a role, and I don’t think it’s a good way forward. So when I found the term slasher, it just relieved a lot of stress for me. 

So, when you think about your future, having all of those options, is that more of a source of anxiety or optimism?

I’m very happy. I’m actually relieved because I recently heard a podcast talking about career depth — it was like a Harvard review thing — and he was talking a little bit about how we attach identity to our careers, and that if we lose our careers, we lose our identity too. Right now, what I want to be is a food illustrator or artist, where that’s what’s most in demand. But if that suddenly fades away, it doesn’t mean that I’m not me, right? And so I think for me it was really relieving, in the sense that I know that I’m going to change and that’s okay. I can also see myself wanting to have different careers, which means that I want to develop myself. In interviews, people ask, “What do you want to do in the future?” And I say, “I want to be a rapper.” And they think I’m joking, but I’m really not. 

Why a rapper?

Partially because what I associate with rappers is this kind of really strong independence and confidence that they have for themselves, and maybe I need more of that certainty that I find in rappers, and that’s why I want to become one. So the way I see careers is that I see it as a current state of myself. 

Read More: Women Redefining Success In Hong Kong With Unconventional Careers

Can you share some goals for the future?

I think my obvious goal is that right now, I want to get to 500k followers on Instagram. I think an increased platform can help me leverage for other projects, and I want to see how far I can push with this social media influencer-like path. I’m a food artist, I’m not a beauty content creator, but I find myself in beauty content creator-like situations, and I want to know how I can best utilise this opportunity. Also, I think I want to put out a rap song or a rap feature sometime. 

You share a lot online: K-pop dance covers, personal thoughts and drawings, to name a few. Is that a cathartic process for you? 

When I started on social media, I didn’t have a lot of friends around me who did art or viewed art seriously. So I went on it anonymously, and I wanted to make art friends, and I’ve been able to find that support system for myself, and that’s what’s been keeping me going back. I also don’t like to have too many photos on my camera roll, so instead I post them so I can save storage. That’s my little hack. And the digital journals are also for me to look back at, so I can visually see what I’ve gone through. There are things that I share that might be vulnerable, but that’s just a part of me that I don’t want to lose. Sometimes, I feel the assumptions that people might have already of me, and I feel so boxed in. I want to be able to tell my own story and not have someone dictate what I’m going to be. 

Read More: Camille Cheng — Three-Time Olympic Swimmer & Mental Health Advocate

Do you consider yourself a foodie?

I’m a really plain eater. That’s my scoop for you. [laughs] I’ve been asked, “Do you make toast at home?” I don’t. That’s my passion for the outside. I think if I made it at home, then it defeats the purpose of my enjoying it outside. At home, I just eat very plainly. I like really clean-tasting foods like yoghurt, apples, and that’s why I love the fruit market. 

The post Toast & Slasher Life In Hong Kong: In Conversation With Nomkakaii appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

Can you tell me a little bit about your childhood in Tin Shui Wai, in the New Territories?

I lived with my grannies who hoarded. I remember being taken to the local McDonald’s for the air-conditioning and to the wet market for grocery shopping. I was told that the parks and the recreational spaces near the nullah, which we call the stinky river, were full of dangers and bad influences. I was always afraid of ghosts and vampires, so I remember being scared by loud engines (which sounded like vampires yawning) and the windows of the local kindergarten I went to.

A lot of films like to depict Tin Shui Wai as this sad satellite city full of migrants, as if the rest of Hong Kong isn’t full of migrants, too. I don’t want to deny this aspect; after all, social welfare could always be improved. But there is also a lot of joy. It’s a super walkable new town. I later taught in an art school, where I met a very sassy and talented student. Now an artist and model, they also lived in Tin Shui Wai.

Read More: Hong Kong Ghosts Stories — Haunted Spaces To Visit

Your great-grandmother and grandmother raised you, bringing Fujian and Indonesian-Chinese heritage into your home. How did their stories or traditions shape your view of identity growing up?

It was confusing. I was the first person in my family who was born and raised in Hong Kong. My grannies struggled to take care of me, my two cousins, my aunt and each other, who all lived under the same roof. Fujian tradition was more prominent in the family. I can still perfectly understand Hokkien, although I can’t speak it. The Indonesian side was brushed under the carpet, but I do remember my great-granny taking me to the local wet market to chat with her friends in an Indonesian language I couldn’t name or understand, and the times when my grannies made meat floss and chilli sauces together.

When I was a kid, I did not understand the tense dynamic between my granny and my great granny. Now I have learned to ask these questions: What is it like for my grandmother to be a mixed-race person, whose dark-skinned, Indonesian mother was a maid sold to China, whose father was a landlord who had to give up his land during the Cultural Revolution? What is it like to be a carer for a mother with dementia, four daughters, an unfaithful and gambling husband and three grandchildren for almost all your life? What is it like to bring your entire family to a new city because you think it is more prosperous and beneficial than your home city? I guess part of me is writing to figure all these out.

You’ve spoken about avoiding Chinese books when you were younger and described yourself as “BYELINGUAL,” caught between English and Chinese. Where do you think this feeling came from?

I wish I had asked myself that when I was younger! I think it came from education and a presumed sense of essentialism that I learned from growing up in a migrant family in Hong Kong. I went to an EMI secondary school in the early 2000s, where I learned most of my subjects in English. The overall atmosphere told us: “If you are good at English, you will succeed. Chinese will interfere with your English grammar. Chinese is less important as it is only one subject.” This attitude is reflected in the fact that there is a full scholarship for prospective English teachers, but not for Chinese teachers. I also grew up being a confused essentialist. I didn’t think I could be both good at Chinese and English. It’s always either-or.

Read More: 14 Uplifting Autobiographies & Memoirs By Remarkable Women

Your poem Girl Ghosts was shortlisted for the Forward Prizes for Poetry — congratulations! In it, we get glimpses of Hong Kong (fermented soy beans, winter melon, porcelain clattering in tea restaurants). How do Hong Kong’s sensory details show up in your writing?

I wrote the poem in the UK, but the ideas came from my conversations with my family during COVID in Hong Kong. I used to think writing about food and family was so uncool. So many Asian diasporic writers have done it before. But I took a Masters in writing, which made everyone submit 60 pages of poems per year, which made me miss home. I was confronted by the realisation that some stereotypes are true and do matter to me. So I tried to add my own twist to the genre, which is to make it less… sad?

The poem also deals with themes of race, gender and family. Do you find that poetry is uniquely suited to express complex aspects of your (or others’) identities?

100%. Poems are a great space for fragments and fractures! Sometimes essays require a thread that our lives can’t, or have yet to form. That said, recently I have been reflecting on how honest we could be in poems, and from which point onwards we don’t need poems, but prose, therapy, sports or a phone call to close ones.

Read More: Hong Kong Female Founders Share Their Life Lessons

You’ve split time between Glasgow and Hong Kong recently. What are some things you miss about Hong Kong when you’re away? Can you share some of your favourite spots?

I miss the ease of being a local person in Hong Kong. It actually takes a lot of energy to constantly audition yourself for new opportunities in a new place and operate in a second language. English used to be an escape for me when I was obsessed with bands from the UK as a teenager; now it’s work. I also miss the accessibility of harbour view and hikes and fishball noodles in Hong Kong. I love the public libraries. They are such free, comfortable spots for work and people watching.

You’re translating Lee Ka-yee’s essays now. How does translating other Hong Kong voices deepen your own connection to the city, especially from afar?

I am so grateful for Ka-yee’s trust. I saw her read her poetry to music a few years ago without knowing it was her. I have been using translation as a way to connect with the Chinese language, to force myself to navigate its differences from the English. But throughout the process, I understand that Hong Kong sinophone writers are also influenced by a lot of translated literature (in Ka Yee’s case, Michio Hoshino, Marguerite Duras, Olga Nowoja Tokarczuk and Rainer Maria Rilke). Hong Kong and other cities are always so porous. I also pride myself on being one of the biggest fans of Post Script Cultural Collaboration, a Hong Kong-based independent publisher. I have loved so many of their beautiful publications. Ka Yee’s book confirmed my love for the press even more.

Read More: What It’s Like Being A Woman In A Male-Dominated Field

Music is a big part of your story. Does your connection to music differ from that you have with translation or writing?

My connection with music is always a regrettable one. I love to sing. I used to learn the bass guitar. I think I lack a certain alignment for me to fully become a musician. But it’s on my bucket list. Translation and writing are part of how I am conditioned: sit in front of a laptop. My mother still thinks I am doing homework when I do freelance work!

Your poems include Cantonese and local references, including political ones. Do you imagine a particular audience when writing?

My first audience is always my future self, and then I hope this self relates to others. The audience is often full of surprises. I thought a person from Hong Kong would understand my references, but they didn’t. I thought a person from Scotland would not understand, but they did. An Egyptian teacher told me that they taught my frog poem to a primary school because the frog is a mythical figure in Egyptian lore.

Poetry has a bit more leeway, as there is less hurry in identifying an audience than a voice. As much as I am trained in Hong Kong and the UK, somewhere, someone else will find connections with you, and you will learn more about the world in that process.

Read More: Hong Kong Artist Lio Sze Mei On Escaping The Real World With Her Art

As you prepare to teach at CUHK, what do you hope to share with Hong Kong’s next generation of writers?

I am excited! I am not sure how many of my students want to be writers. But I think everyone can learn from great writings at the right time. It’s about opening yourself up to what the voice has to say. It’s about listening. I hope I could play a small part in that.

If you could tell your younger self one thing about embracing hybrid identities, what would it be?

I think I would tell my younger self that “it’s not your fault you feel uncomfortable in your own skin. When your inner critic judges, ask yourself if that is really your voice or internalised societal forces.”

Read More: What I Wish I Knew Before Turning 30

The post A Conversation With Hong Kong Poet & Forward Prize Nominee Tim Tim Cheng appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

A three-time Olympic swimmer and seven-time Asian Games medalist, Hong Kong swimmer Camille Cheng is not just a champion in the pool; she’s a fierce trailblazer, role model and mental health advocate. Having recently competed in the Paris Olympics while growing her charity Mind The Waves and preparing for her talk at TEDxTinHauWomen, she’s proven that hard work and passion can make waves in sports and beyond.

Sassy Update: Click here to view her full TED talk! 

Can you tell me a little about yourself, such as your background and your connection to Hong Kong?

Hi! I’m Camille, I’m a three-time Olympic swimmer (competing in Rio, Tokyo and Paris!) with a background in psychology. Outside of the pool, I’ve always been interested in people — and as an athlete, in understanding the power of the mind. I was born in HK and raised between here and Beijing, then attended university in the US for swimming. I’ve been back in Hong Kong for about nine years now and love it!   

Before we get into your life and career, I wanted to ask you some rapid-fire questions about Hong Kong. What are some of your favourite memories of the city? Favourite places to eat? Favourite hang-out spots and places to swim?

That’s so hard! My favourite memory is definitely one from childhood, as every Sunday my family and I would hike up to The Peak together and get an ice cream as a little reward. When my sisters were younger, my dad would push them up in a stroller, so it was really special to watch them grow up and begin walking themselves. 

For my favourite places to eat, I don’t think you can beat a Hong Kong-style breakfast. A HK milk tea is the first thing that I want when I get back to the city and the last thing that I’ll have at the airport! Other favourites are going swimming at beaches in Sai Kung or Shek O. I’m definitely a beach girl. 

What first drew you to swimming, and how has your relationship to the sport evolved since?

I grew up swimming everyday after school, it was just something that I have always naturally gravitated towards and that I happened to be good at! I was incredibly shy as a young girl, but I distinctly remember trying to race some older boys in the pool, which was so out of character for me. So, swimming brought out a different side of me, a competitiveness that I didn’t even know I had. As for how my relationship to the sport has evolved, I’d say that as time has gone on, I’ve realised that it’s not just about the performance. 

Performing competitively requires significant sacrifice. What drove you to pursue professional swimming?

It was never an official plan of mine to become a professional athlete, rather this career organically developed. At first it was just a sport that I was good at, then I realised I could go to university for it, then compete on a world stage, and so on. There are always people who will make comments or try and pressure you to perform or compete a certain way, but I learned quite quickly that if I was going to pursue this, it had to be for me. So, I feel really grateful for how this journey has evolved and the opportunities it has opened up for me. Like any career, there are ups and downs — and it’s not one I can do forever, so I am always trying to be as present as possible, to cherish these moments as they occur. 

You have spoken candidly about the struggles of being a mixed-race athlete. Can you tell us more about how that has impacted you, personally and professionally?

Reflecting on that, a lot of my struggles with my identity stemmed from me being self-critical. For a long time, I felt a certain sense of shame about my relationship to Hong Kong, as I don’t speak the local language. I questioned how that would be perceived by others and wondered if I was entitled to represent a city where I couldn’t fully communicate. But in reality, everyone has fully embraced me (especially my teammates), and even expressed their pride that I am representing HK. So, in a way, I had to overcome those insecurities in myself. I know what Hong Kong means to me, and that’s what’s most important at the end of the day.

And what has it meant to you to represent Hong Kong on a world stage?

It’s been a journey, for sure, but it’s one that makes me so proud. This is a small city, but we have incredible athletes, and I think we’ve proven that. It’s also an incredible opportunity to be an ambassador for HK, because I truly love this city and feel excited about sharing my love for it. I meet people from all over the world, so having that mutual exchange of culture is also really special. 

You founded the mental-health organisation Mind the Waves with your teammates Stephanie Au and Jamie Yeung in 2023. What led the three of you to launch this project?

When I moved back to HK, I realised that I was ‘going through it,’ so to speak. I wanted to explore that in terms of my own struggles, but I also know that so many people were experiencing similar feelings during the pandemic, whether that was loneliness, self doubt or generally questioning the path they are on. I could see that in the questions people asked me — they were never about how someone could swim faster or perform better athletically, but about motivation and stress, or balancing academics and swimming. These were issues that I had to navigate when I was younger, too. 

So, while I had been wanting to begin a project like this for a long time, I wasn’t sure how to dive into it. Later, I had a conversation with my teammates — actually, at the Tokyo Olympics! — about our struggles with mental health, and how we wanted to do something outside the pool, together, to try and break the stigma around mental health. It meant a lot to me to start a project like this with my teammates, as a kind of group passion project.  

 

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A post shared by Camille Cheng 鄭莉梅 (@camillelcheng)

What has it been like for you to advocate for wellness and mental health, particularly for young people?

It’s been such a rewarding journey to watch Mind The Waves take on a life of its own. It’s also been interesting to have others begin to see me as a mental health advocate, as I’ve always been really open and candid with my struggles. But I think having this charity provides a kind of officialness to that, so people feel more comfortable asking me questions about mental health, which is incredible. 

Something really meaningful happened at our charity’s Self-Care Fair: someone came up to me and expressed how grateful they were for the work that I was doing, how I had inspired them to begin seeing a therapist and how that had changed their life. You know, that has nothing to do with swimming, but having that platform has allowed me to share a message that is deeply personal to me.

You gave a TED Talk on the journey to becoming an Olympian. What is one thing you hope listeners took away from your talk?

That you are in charge of how you define success. Your relationship with success is your own, and it’s built up by resilience and connection. 

It can be difficult to recognise our accomplishments in real time. How do you think Little Camille would feel looking at you now, as an Olympian and seven-time Asian Games medalist, preparing to give a TED Talk?

Part of my TED Talk is actually how I should talk to myself about my achievements! Celebrating myself has taken a long time to embrace, but I know that Little Me would be so proud of everything I have accomplished — not just the swimming, but what the swimming has opened doors to. To have built a community, to be giving a TED Talk, to have a platform to share my story, I know she’d be proud of all of these things. 

How do you feel about the future?

 After the Olympics, there’s always a period of reflection. It’s a four-year cycle, so it’s a huge commitment, physically, mentally, emotionally. I know what it takes to get there, and I have to be honest with myself if that’s something I want to commit to. Right now, I’m still weighing out those options while focusing on Mind The Waves, as well as venturing into and learning more about sports psychology. I’m so grateful that I’m able to do not just one, but two things that I love, and I’m excited for what the future holds, even if I’m not exactly sure what it looks like.

Watch Camille Cheng’s Full TED Talk: “Bringing An Olympic Mindset To Life”

The post That Girl: Camille Cheng, Three-Time Olympic Swimmer And Mental Health Advocate appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

For those who’ve always wondered whether “The Bear” and “Burnt” exaggerated the stress of working in a fine dining restaurant, we’ve got your answer. Hong Kong’s own Carmy Berzatto, Chef Chunwan Lai honed his culinary skills working as the Chef de Cuisine at The Hong Kong Club and then as a protégée of Michelin-starred Chef Tom Aikens, and in the midst of the pandemic left the world of fine dining to open his own burger shop.

Sick! Burger first opened in Ma On Shan and now has a second location in Causeway Bay’s Haven Street, which celebrated its first anniversary last month. Even after swapping his plating tweezers with a wide metal spatula, he still brings his fine dining flair to the table, creating his own a house-made ketchup, caramelising onions in Madeira wine and adding a splash of ponzu sauce to elevate his beef patties. Guess you can’t quite take the fine dining out of the chef!

Ahead, Chef Lai shares what it’s really like to work at a three-Michelin-star establishment and the inspiration behind his recipes.

Read More: Top Fine Dining Restaurants In Hong Kong

What made you start your own burger business?

For me, burgers are a comfort food, and that’s something I love. A few years ago, I saw that many burger places were not doing very well and thought there was some room for improvement in Hong Kong’s burger scene. There weren’t a lot of places that did things like homemade sauces, I wanted to put my own fine dining spin on burgers.

We did noticed that you use more luxury ingredients than your typical burger joint.

Yes, we do a seasonal Sick! Truffle burger made with black truffle, chicken liver parfait and sautéed spinach. That one is only available for a few months. We change our menu quite a bit depending on what’s in season.

What would you recommend to first-time customers?

I would say the Sick! Chicken and the Double Sick! burgers are two of our most popular items.

Read More: Where Team Sassy Gets Their Junk Food Fix In The City

Where do you get inspiration for your recipes?

A lot of it comes from my background and culture I would say. The sauce in the Sick! Chicken burger was actually inspired by Hong Kong curry fishballs. Curry seemed to be such a popular and nostalgic flavour for Hongkongers so I wanted to incorporate that into one of my burgers.

How was your experience cutting your teeth at a fine dining restaurant?

There were many tough days because you often have to work 15 or 16-hour days. When I was working at a three-Michelin starred restaurant, I remember being scolded in French. The chef was yelling and grabbing my coat, and I just had to keep sautéing my mushrooms.

People think that’s exaggerated, but it really is like it is in the movies.

You know, that film “Burnt” where Bradley Cooper played a chef? People think that’s exaggerated, but it really is like it is in the movies.

Did you also watch “The Bear” series?

Yes, but just the first season. I found it tiring to watch after work, but I also find it inspiring to watch chefs that are so passionate about food and cooking.

Read More: Michelin Guide 2024 – Hong Kong Restaurants Awarded Michelin Stars

Do you think you’d ever return to the world of fine dining?

I want to, I really do. It’s definitely a goal of mine, but I feel like I’m falling behind. Hong Kong has improved so much in terms of opportunities for Chinese chefs, like my friend William Lau who is the Chef de Cuisine at Whisk. But because I’ve chosen to focus on Sick! Burger, I feel like my fine dining career is at a bit of a standstill. But that’s life, so we’ll see what happens.

Sick Burger (Causeway Bay), 31 Haven St, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 9383 3401
Sick Burger (Ma On Shan), Shop G05, MOSTown, Ma On Shan, 9549 0903, www.instagram.com/sickburger_hk

The post From Haute Cuisine To Flipping Burgers, Chef Chunwan Lai Compares The Two Sides Of His Culinary Journey appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is not new to fine jewellery establishments, local jewellers have gone above and beyond to bring their vision to life and their works are worn by the likes of celebrities and every day people alike. Bertrand Mak, a Hong Kong-based designer and artist, and the founder of art and luxury brand Sauvereign, recently achieved a new feat.

If you’re a cinephile, you would’ve watched Oppenheimer and be aware of Cillian Murphy absolutely Cill-ing it (sorry we had to!) at the awards season. What you may not have been aware of is, the Best Actor awardee donned a custom brooch made by Bertrand Mak at the 2024 Oscars! Ahead, we talk to Bertrand about the inspiration behind his designs, future aspirations for Sauvereign and his reaction to designing a piece for Cillian Murphy.

Read More: Hong Kong Jewellery Shops – Online & Independent Designers And Stores

Tell us about your journey as a designer and how you got started in the industry.

Born into a family of professionals, I never imagined I would ever pursue entrepreneurship, least of all in creative. Whilst I was climbing the corporate ladder, my natural propensity to always challenge the norm did not go down well with my immediate superiors.

When it reached a point where I was constantly unhappy, I decided I had to take back control of my life, and there was no other way except creating my own company.

It led me to partnering with a British footwear label, unknown at the time, and I introduced it to the Greater China market. The defining moment was when I conceptualised using 24-carat gold leaf as a signature, developing a proprietary technique to apply and protect the precious material on various surfaces.

It was during this era that I gradually discovered and sharpened my innate artistic sensibility and obsession with detail. My true ambition was never footwear, but creating precious objects of art, reviving extraordinary and rare craftsmanship. I constantly seek out the world’s finest from diverse realms and bring them into my work – fusing innovation and creativity.

It is from this vision and modus operandi that gave birth to Sauvereign.

What are some of the key influences or inspirations behind your design aesthetic?

My creative process is inextricably tied to my mission to find identity, purpose, intimacy, and meaning. I often draw inspiration from memories and past experiences, connecting them with the present. My parents sacrificed so much to give me a decent education with diverse exposure that has put me in a good stead.

I am fascinated by the preciousness and immortality of gold. I am consistently applying our proprietary gold leafing know-how in my practice, at the same time, constantly exploring new materials and applications to challenge the status quo. Creating is a matter of the heart, I hope what comes from the heart reaches the heart.

Read More: Where To Buy Fine Jewellery In Hong Kong – Diamonds, 18k Gold & More

Cillian Murphy recently wore a custom brooch you designed for the Oscars. How did this project come by?

I had the privilege and good fortune of meeting the renowned stylist Rose Forde in London last December, who was forward-thinking and progressive – interested not only in the usual conglomerates but independents such as myself.

Not long into our conversations, I learned that she dresses Cillian Murphy and was looking for a brooch for him. It was never intended for the Oscars. She asked if I would work on a design and I could not resist, even if Murphy were to end up wearing it on his dressing gown.

Can you walk us through the design process of the brooch? What did it signify and how long did it take to make?

The HS14 Gem Brooch is a one-of-a-kind bespoke object, expressly conceived and created for Cillian Murphy. It embodies the dedication of both J. Robert Oppenheimer and Cillian Murphy to their respective craft – a symbol of artistry, intellect, and integrity.

Style is deeply personal, especially for someone as enigmatic as Cillian Murphy, I knew my design had to be simple but well-considered, subtle yet bold, minimal yet detailed. I played with the fundamental forms that only upon closer inspection reveal depth and complex nuances; it constantly oscillates between the two ends of the spectrum.

Like Murphy, HS14 has a quiet intensity that is strong but silent. I had a week to craft it from scratch, luckily Kari Voutilainen came to the rescue and made the impossible possible.

Read More: “I don’t want to just be known as the cereal girl,” Local Artist Riya Chandiramani On The Inspiration Behind Her Iconic Works

Cillian Murphy is not the first to don a piece of your art, Sauvereign has been worn by the likes of the Royal family and Olivia Coleman, is this something you envisioned when you first started Sauvereign?

Sauvereign was born a few months after the global outbreak of Covid and unsurprisingly times were extremely challenging. Starting a brand is hard enough let alone when the world is falling apart. One must always be prepared for the lucky moments in life, everyone has them, and one must passionately follow one’s beliefs.

I never compromised nor deviated from my core values and vision, even when they were challenged and ridiculed, for myself and Sauvereign. I think the short answer is, I believe in the law of attraction.

What future aspirations do you have for Sauvereign?

Sauvereign and I shall continue to strive for beauty and purity, persevering with substance in our very noisy and complicated world. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, though without a doubt this small moment of triumph has catalysed new ideas and chemistry that I am excited to present in the near future.

We have to keep climbing to prove and inspire, and the proof can only be in the pudding.

What advice would you give to aspiring designers who want to make a mark in Hong Kong’s design industry?

Sauvereign’s presence on Murphy at the Oscars and the very moment he fulfils his destiny is a testament that, with hard work and a bit of luck, it is not unimaginable for an independent brand from Hong Kong to climb to one of the world’s biggest fashion stages.

Read More: “Patience And Persistence Will Make It All Happen,” Rania Hatoum On Following Her Passion For Food & Fashion

To stay up-to-date on Bertrand Mak’s projects, follow Sauvereign on Instagram. 

The post Bertrand Mak On Designing Cillian Murphy’s Oscars Brooch, Future Aspirations For Sauvereign & More appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

In honour of International Women’s Day, we reached out to some of Hong Kong’s most empowering female founders to hear more about their journey. Some of these influential business owners have fought to find a place in male-dominated industries, while others are actively reclaiming and reinventing spaces that have previously been reserved for old-school views on femininity.

Sassy Media Group was built for women, by women so we’re taking the 8th of March as another day to appreciate what our fully female team works to achieve, and to proudly spotlight some of the inspiring woman we’ve had the privilege of working with by showcasing what they bring to the Hong Kong community.

Read More: Here’s What It’s Really Like To Be A Woman Working In A Male-Dominated Field

Claire Yates, Founder of The Lion Rock Press and Roksaan

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
It is no accident that of our team of 12, 10 of them are women. Of our creators, collaborators and consignees, the vast majority are women. Even our suppliers are predominantly women. In a world where diversity and inclusion are increasingly recognised as crucial components of success, for me, hiring, working with, encouraging and supporting women is business critical. Our brands, founded and run by women, embody the strength, resilience, and innovation that women bring to the table.

In order for our small but brilliant team of women to thrive and succeed, we’ve created a highly flexible environment where everyone’s diverse talents, range of perspectives, experiences and skills are valued and utilised to their fullest potential, and each person’s individual circumstances are considered and respected.

We have found that women offer unique insights and approaches that can lead to more effective problem-solving, innovation, and decision-making. Since our customer base is 75% women, this ensures that our business remains adaptable and responsive to the ever-evolving needs of our clients and market.

What’s a quote you live by?
“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life”. As an entrepreneur, it is easy for the lines to blur between your business and the rest of your life. You can get very focused (to the point of obsession) and you need to be actively keeping yourself in check. It is nearly impossible to find the perfect balance however –  it’s a constant work in progress.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
As well as running The Lion Rock Press and Roksaan, I also co-founded an NGO called EcoDrive which tackles the issue of single-use plastic here in Hong Kong. I teamed up with 10 other women from a variety of backgrounds, but what we all have in common is that we are mothers who care deeply about the legacy we are leaving for our children.

We could never have dreamed that we would achieve all we have by helping each other shine and using our connections and influence to make change happen at individual, corporate, industry and community level. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to experience this alongside these incredible women.

Our film “Start Small, Start Now” has been played all over Hong Kong and beyond, and I have spoken in front of LegCo imploring them to bring in a policy to force people to confront their waste. Without the support and encouragement of my co-founders, none of this would have been possible.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
My domestic helper, Belle, left all her hopes and dreams for herself (not to mention her husband and young children) in the Philippines in order to come here to support her children, parents and extended family when times got tough at home. She is a very intelligent woman who spends her spare time going on courses to learn more about the things that interest her and that she hopes will sustain her when she eventually moves back.

Despite the hardships, she works diligently with energy and dignity in my home, allowing me to pursue my own dreams knowing that my children are nurtured and looked after when I’m not there. It must be agony to be trapped in a life you didn’t choose when you know you’re capable of so much more, but she does it with grace and fortitude.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Believe in yourself and your idea – as an entrepreneur, you’re the sole champion of your concept. Make sure you know it intimately and believe in your potential to bring it to life.
2. Use your network and your connections, and don’t be afraid to ask for the things you need, whether that be capital, knowledge, contacts or other resources. You will be surprised at how willing people are to reach out and help you get to the next level. Put yourself out there – if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
3. Have something to say. Entrepreneurs need a strong narrative that people can buy into. What is different about you? How did you get here? What are you offering that’s interesting and new? Share your story with people and allow them to emotionally invest in who you are and, in turn, what the values of your business are. Business is all about relationships and human connections, and entrepreneurs need to leverage that more than most. Don’t be afraid to show your vulnerabilities – people respond to that and, in the end, it makes your narrative more engaging.

Read More: 14 Uplifting Autobiographies & Memoirs By Remarkable Women

Madelon de Grave, Founder of Bamboo Scenes

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
With Bamboo Scenes we focus on strong artistic power, and I am very proud to have such fierce female talent within our collective. Among our artists, we represent a number of female photographers who all have their own incredible stories and experiences of Hong Kong. These creative women have decided to follow their passion – and I feel honoured to help them share their artistic work with an international audience and to turn their work into tangible photography art pieces for walls in Hong Kong and beyond. I can only hope this inspires other women to pursue their own personal dreams as well.

What’s a quote you live by?
“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” A quote I first read in Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” – a book advocating women empowerment and a sentence I realised I have lived by for years. From deciding to leave my Supply Chain Management career to pursue and discover my true passion, to moving to Buenos Aires, Guatemala and now Hong Kong (where I eventually launched my own art company).

If you always live by the fear of failing, you will never be able to realise your own dreams.

To keep reminding myself of this daily, I have placed this quote in my bathroom so I can read it every morning when brushing my teeth at the start of another day.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
When living in Guatemala, I worked alongside Dutch-born Tessa de Goede – a powerful lady who I immensely respect. Tessa started her own charity organisation in 2008, helping Guatemalan children with cleft lips and palates by organising surgery and offering life-changing care. For almost a year and a half I was able to support her work and vision, giving those kids a better life and educating their mothers. To date, with her positive energy and effort, she has managed to offer life-changing surgeries to nearly 1,800 Guatemalan children, providing them a fair chance to live their life.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
I have lots of strong and independent women I admire in my personal life, from my mother to my female friends who are kicking ass in their corporate careers. But I also admire the women who have paved the way before me by building their own businesses from scratch. I continuously aim to learn from them by reading autobiographies or listening to talks and interviews.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Don’t be afraid to fail. A pitfall is to overthink fear, with “what if” becoming your biggest enemy. No one knows how life will unfold. If you believe something will work, overcome your fear and try it. Otherwise you will always live with a feeling of regret.
2. Surround yourself with the right people. Find people who believe in you, who are honest and from whom you can learn. There will be moments where you have doubts, and it’s your closest circle who will be there to lift you up and help you grow even further.
3. Dream BIG! Don’t shy away from daring to dream big and for saying it out loud. Lots of women shy away from what others might think. Who cares?! If you believe in it, work towards that goal and show them that dreams can never be too big.

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Monica Browning, Founder of Courage Through Coaching

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
The work I do as a heart-centred leadership and life coach supports women in developing themselves, celebrating and building on their strengths, uncovering self-limiting beliefs, and showing up as their best selves. On the journey to transformation, I support women to navigate and explore what it feels like to make resonant impactful choices and decisions based on a solid understanding of their core values as they move towards their dreams, both professionally and personally. This work enables me to live and honour my values of courage, connection and health (physical, mental/emotional and spiritual), and to express my life purpose in inspiring others to live and love courageously and authentically.

What’s a quote you live by?
“Choose discomfort not resentment” – Brene Brown. I love this quote AND it puts me to the test many times a week (sometimes in a day) as I navigate the multiple decisions that I need to take in daily life. It keeps me grounded in my value of courage, and helps me to continually grow the self-awareness muscle. The “people pleaser” in me makes this a massive stretch and it is not something that comes very easily to me (although it’s getting easier with practice). I know this is also true for many of my clients.

Taking a pause, breathing and making a decision other than my well-trained “default” has resulted in huge gains and positive outcomes for me.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
2019 was a pivotal year for me both professionally and personally. It was the year I founded and launched my business, whilst also tackling some personal health challenges. Professionally – I joined an inspirational group of female entrepreneurs called The Tribe HK, whose mission is to help entrepreneurs grow, especially in the area of digital development and education. Their knowledge, network and support has been invaluable and a key part of my success in launching my digital business. Personally, it is through the help of women supporting women that I’ve been able to share my personal health challenges in a non-judgemental, supportive and honest way, which ultimately allowed me to grow mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
Apart from my mum, a woman who I admire is Brene Brown – the researcher and storyteller. Her authenticity and her courage inspire me. Her ability to bring humour whilst sharing very personal, moving and sometimes challenging stories reveal her strength of character and humanity. Her TedTalks (especially her first one on the power of vulnerability), as well as her written material, reveal huge insights into human behaviour which are of personal interest to me in the work that I do. I use her research in my work and I also apply it to how I show up.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Ask for help – whatever the situation, whatever the time, whatever the place. Some things we just can’t do on our own.  There is no shame in asking for help and you’ll likely save time, learn new skills and build your own capability. It can also empower someone who is sharing their knowledge and helping you. It’s a win-win.
2. Be courageous – feel the fear and do it anyway, it helps us grow. The point where we stretch is the point where we grow. And yes, it’s scary, but you’ll never know if you don’t try. Consider the cost of not feeling the fear and standing still.
3. Remember your “why” and make fun, joy and laughter a part of it. I’ve caught myself on occasion getting far too serious about everything, and life can get hard in those moments. Ensuring that fun, joy and laughter are part of my “why” brings additional ease, both personally and professionally.

Read More: How To Prioritise Your Wellbeing At Work

Myriam Bartu, Co-Founder and Advisor of Enrich HK

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
By providing life-changing financial and empowerment education, Enrich enables migrant domestic workers (primarily women) to escape debt and achieve their dreams, whatever those may be. Through Enrich and also in my personal capacity, I have always tried to be there for other women (for my friends, for Enrich’s team and for the migrant domestic workers and women I encounter in my day). I listen to their struggles and offer support, especially on efforts to reduce consumption, save money and do what it takes to live with peace and ease. Just having someone to listen can be a powerful form of support.

What’s a quote you live by?
“Everything is either an act of love or a call for love” – Jennifer Williamson. If someone is not being supportive, or even if they are being hurtful or aggressive, it is because they themselves are hurting. What they really need is love. While I understand that there is pain behind the challenging words and actions that I see and feel, I know it is not about me and I can let go of getting emotionally affected. This helps me live with more ease, connection and compassion.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
During the early years of setting up Enrich we had no detailed road map, no office and no funding. We had loads of passion, energy and creative ideas. We said “Yes, great, go for it!” to ideas put forward by each other, and supported each other in turning these ideas into projects. Some ideas did well and some did not; it was this experimenting that led to the foundation of the professional established charity that Enrich is today.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
The women in Enrich’s founding team; Sophie Paine, Aruni John and Lenlen Mesina are all highly passionate, ethical and generous women who guided, inspired and motivated Enrich’s growth over the first decade. All three have the beautiful talent of dreaming big and creatively, while staying humble and closely connected to the migrants Enrich serves. We attracted other similarly wired women, and today Enrich is still led by a highly passionate, caring and committed team of (mostly) women.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Start small – initially, as much as possible, use savings instead of loans. Test out your ideas, keep costs low and expand once you have fine tuned your business with the knowledge of real experience.
2. Trust – find people that you can trust and trust the people that you have found. Trust works in a virtuous circle and it is the basis of team building, which is ultimately the foundation of success.
3. Know when to let go – whether you are letting go of a role or selling your business, know when it is time to let someone else do what you were doing. It’s not likely that you are the best person for every role in a growing venture. Letting go is the other wing of trust.

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Ines Gafsi, Co-Founder of Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide (FEW) is an online-to-offline business platform that connects, inspires and empowers women for entrepreneurial success. FEW Academy offers masterclasses all taught by industry experts and successful business leaders to provide skills and qualities needed to become a successful, next-generation entrepreneur. FEW’s online and offline showrooms serve as market expansion channels for members to promote and sell their products and services.

What’s a quote you live by? 
“Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives” – Michelle Obama.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
A key pivotal moment was probably expanding to Shanghai and Singapore so we can now support our members’ growth in other markets, accompanying the founder and saving her the time of not making common mistakes and offering shortcuts to gain new business opportunities. Our mission is to make women successful in business, and over the past five years, our actions have been rewarded by messages from our members about collaborations, deals and connections they made via our network. Many of them feel inspired learning about other women’s challenges and successes at our events, so we created inspiring interviews on our YouTube channel.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
I recently discovered the work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I admire the unique journey of this quiet warrior’s rise to the highest court, fighting for women’s workplace rights and preventing race discrimination.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs? 

1. Surround yourself with likeminded people – find people who understand what you’re trying to do. Those people will be the ones to support you.
2. Take calculated risks – save and make sure you have a clear-cut budget in place with an emergency buffer zone that should alert you when you go down to critical levels.
3. Do the maths – business is maths, get on top of your numbers, don’t be afraid of it.

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Dervla Louli, Founder of Compare Retreats

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
Our core team at Compare Retreats is made up entirely of incredibly talented women who are leaders in marketing, editorial and sales. I learn so much from them every day and love being part of a supportive, tight-knit team of women who lift each other up. Our close global clientele is predominantly females with demanding professional and personal lives. We support them by helping them find and book the best wellness retreats in the world, to help them achieve their physical, spiritual and mental health goals.

What’s a quote you live by?
‘To lead your best life, do your best work” and my favourite – “If you’re in doubt you’re not in doubt”.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
Three of my former bosses have been strong women who have encouraged me to develop new skills, think for myself and go above and beyond whatever role I was in. They empowered me to think big, follow my intuition and taught me to put problems into perspective. Maura Thompson, the co-founder of Sassy, and Claire Melwani, a shareholder of Sassy Media Group, are two of these women.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
Marketing and communications expert Cathy Chon is the founder and MD of CatchOn and Co.. Her specialties lie in the luxury, lifestyle, travel, retail and wellness arenas, and she is an expert in transforming, building and creating brands. She is an encouraging and wise force behind many female (and male) entrepreneurs globally and I make a point to put into action any advice I’m lucky enough to receive from her.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Trust your gut.
2. Embrace your fears.
3. Stop thinking and start doing.

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Bertha Chan, Founder of Curvasian and Drastic Social

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
Curvasian.com was focused on providing plus-size fashion resources in Asia in the beginning. Things moved to a new direction in 2011 when body positivity came about in pop culture as the movement often intertwined with inclusivity in fashion. Naturally, the space I created originally for plus-size people has become a safer space for all “womxn” and their allies to discuss different issues.

I advocate for “womxn” and marginalised groups, by creating conversations about body image issues, self-love, self-acceptance, body acceptance (including fat acceptance) and ways to tackle body dysmorphia. I also touch on feminism, to stand in solidarity with intersectional feminism.

What’s a quote you live by?
“No amount of self-improvement can make up for any lack of self-acceptance” – Robert Holden

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
I never think about success as an outcome; I feel that I am a small wheel motor in the equality movement, and I don’t need to see the result to strive, it is a purpose in life. Having said that, uplifting the “womxn” in my community has definitely brought positive changes for all of us, and I see that as a success.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
I admire my mother the most in this world. From our conversations all these years, I learn bit by bit about her past and the hardships she has gone through. She was a little girl with no support from anyone. From there, she became a superwoman who raised five kids by providing financially and domestically for them. She has not stopped giving and caring for us up to this moment. I look up to her for her strength.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Be unafraid of mistakes – instead of being afraid of failure, learn to fail safely. Make room for error. Fail, reflect, repeat. I am sure you will be very knowledgeable after five failures this year.
2. Be spontaneous – network with people you vibe with, and collaborate on different projects to learn new skillsets or get inspired. Make friends with anyone who is open to new adventures and see where it takes you. You never know what it will bring (remember failing is an option).
3. Be vulnerable – share your feelings with the people around you, with your staff or anyone who’s working with you. Open up and talk about what bothers you instead of overthinking and assuming things in your head. Learn to communicate. As a woman, you don’t need to be the tough cookie. As a boss, you can be soft as water and really get things flowing.

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Sonalie Figueiras, Founder & CEO of Green Queen & Ekowarehouse

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
Every day at Green Queen we champion women who are working to change the world through stories, interviews and profiles. That’s a key part of our mission.

What’s a quote you live by?
“Every dollar you spend is a chance to vote for the world you believe in.”

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
When I had my first child, I was amazed at how much my tribe of mom friends and non-mom friends gathered round me to help. They called, they wrote, they visited, they reached out, they advised and they made sure I had support, even though I wasn’t asking for it. It was brilliant and made the experience so much better.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
Ah, there are too many to choose. But I will have to say my mother: she is ambitious and kind, glamorous and maternal, generous and clever – it’s hard to find all those qualities in one person.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Do it your way – forget the books and the advice and what others do. Forge your own path, one that works for you.
2. Run your company as if you are being recorded – be honest, fair and authentic. If you’re not, it will catch up with you.
3. Find a woman mentor and a peer group of female entrepreneurs that you can go to for advice and support. We all need to talk things out.

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Sarah Fung, Founder of HULA

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
HULA is a consignment platform for the resale of designer womenswear. We help to declutter and allow women to monetise their wardrobes. We offer luxury designer pieces at affordable prices, making sure women feel great about shopping guilt-free. We also help to reduce textile waste to benefit ourselves and generations to come.

What’s a quote you live by?
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage” – Anais Nin

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
When I asked my sister to help me launch HULA, she always gave me confidence, just as she did when we were young. I would never have been able to do it without her. I have also been fortunate to have experienced success within different female environments throughout my life. I come from a female-dominated family – a strong mother and aunties who went through a lot of challenges whilst raising families as single parents.

I later chose to work in fashion, which quite often means you are part of an almost all-female cast, led by fierce and dynamic female leaders. I have been fortunate to have been surrounded by so many women who inspire me. I believe we can achieve anything.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
My mother, who is sadly no longer with us, was a huge influence on me. She was not fortunate enough to have a proper education, and began to work at the age of 15 when she immigrated to the UK. She had low-paying jobs in restaurants, as a part-time singer and as a hairdresser, but she always knew she could do better than that. When we were older, she took herself to college to fulfil her dream of becoming a beauty therapist and finally owned a beauty salon. I now understand the sacrifices she made, the reasons she was not at home much and the “cloud of stress” that surrounded her. It must have been so hard running a business with two kids and little income or help.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. It is better for your staff and the company’s growth to have a compassionate and kind leader (and, FYI, this does not mean you are not a strong leader).
2. Have close friends and family to confide in and who will listen to your emotional roller-coaster ride and not judge you.
3. Don’t let the idea that being a woman will hinder your chances of success take hold, because as soon as you have this thought in your head, you’ll have a needless step to climb.

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Laura Offe, Co-founder of Meraki Hospitality Group

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
Meraki Hospitality Group, which includes Uma Nota and BEDU, has very strong female representation in its branding. You’ll find visually striking murals of solo women expressing strength and happiness in all our outlets. We also work with local female entrepreneurs such as Elsa Jeandedieu (the artist behind our murals), Nicola Ip aka La_baleine_52 (the creative who does all of our branding) and Mariane Chan (who’s crafted beautiful ceramic plates and bowls for us at BEDU). We’re very proud of our management team, which is made up of 60% women and a female-only office which goes against the norm in hospitality.

What’s a quote you live by?
“Success is no accident, it is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing” – Edson Arantes do Nascimento aka Pelé.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
When I was working in London at the Shangri-La at The Shard, the Food & Beverage management team was composed of mostly women and I felt a strong sense of camaraderie and support from them. Whenever we needed help, it felt natural to send support or to have a quick chat to brainstorm and look at ways to work out a difficult situation. I think this is where I felt the most comfortable and open to express myself, because I felt completely understood and supported by the people I worked with.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
Ellen DeGeneres – to me she represents true grit. She lost everything when she was at the peak of her career when she came out on national television, and yet she never let that stop her from achieving her goals. Today, she has one of the most successful talk shows in the US, is recognised globally and she never forgets to give back to the community.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Believe in yourself.
2. Surround yourself with positivity.
3. Don’t settle, keep pushing until you get what you want.

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published by Tania Shroff and was most recently updated in March 2024 by Team Sassy.

The post 10 Hong Kong-Based Female Founders Share Their Life Lessons appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.