Editor’s Letter

EDITOR’S LETTER FREE AT LAST

Another October is upon us, and what an exceptional one it’s shaping up to be! The recent (long overdue) news of Hong Kong’s famously unpopular quarantineon-arrival policy being scrapped has sent spirits soaring in this city, and I’m so delighted I was here to witness it. It’s been a long 2.5 years under this mandate, and I know firsthand what a toll it’s taken on the people living here.

Although it’s just a first step, and there are many more that must be taken if we’re to resume any sense of pre-pandemic normality, to me it still feels like a momentous time. It’s like Hong Kong has collectively breathed a sigh of relief. Imagine the joy of knowing you can finally visit your family for Christmas, or stand by your sister’s side at her wedding, or meet your best friend’s baby. In this city, we’re at long last moving in a direction that’s conducive to a happier, healthier, more connected existence; I believe it’s a new era for Hongkongers to begin prioritising their wellbeing again, and start healing.

How fitting then, that this month is also the month we announce the winners of our 2022 Wellness & Lifestyle Awards. When we’re talking about how to prioritise our wellbeing - these are the people who are forging the way. Over the past three years, it hasn’t been easy for gyms, studios, spas, health clinics, or any small, locally owned and operated business, for that matter. The resilience of this city is on full display with the inspiring people who made the cut this year, and I highly recommend reading all about them and learning their stories on p.20.

As much as we may be in the mood to celebrate the end of quarantine by popping some corks, we also find ourselves in this traditional autumnal period known as “Sober October”. If you’ve chosen to give up the hooch for the month, we’ve rounded up some top-shelf bars and cocktail lounges that do a mean mocktail. Read more about them on p.12.

We also found some banging nail bars that use non-toxic nail polish (p.40), très chic pet accessories for spoiled fur babies (p.44), and spoke to a local decluttering expert for advice on organising kids’ playrooms (p.42).

Hope you all enjoy your October, and raise a mocktail to all the places you’ll (finally) go this year.

CARLA THOMAS

EDITOR

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Aarohi Narain discovers four local shops that repair and reuse wornout goods and items, on p.18.

Chrissy Denton explains the merits of non-toxic, eco-friendly nail polish on p.40.

Nicole Slater pens her first article for Liv, sampling her way through the city’s best mocktails on p.12.

Pet fashion is all the rage, as Sarah Fung finds out in this month’s pet column on p.44.

ON THE COVER

Photographer: Leo Tang

Featuring (clockwise

from top left): Damien Mouellic, Sioban Guilfolye, Dan Kan, Karen Chen, Dino Hira Location: Glow Spa

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PUBLISHER SARAH FUNG HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS ANSHU RIJHWANI PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER MIREILLE CORNELIS EDITOR CARLA THOMAS ADMINISTRATOR JASMIN BLUNCK GRAPHIC DESIGN TAMMY TAN CONTRIBUTORS AAROHI NARAIN CHRISSY DENTON NICOLE SLATER PRINTED BY GEAR PRINTING LIMITED, ROOM B, 3/F, DERRICK INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, 49-51 WONG CHUK HANG ROAD, ABERDEEN