Hot Right Now

HOT RIGHTNOW

News from the wellness scene

ENDURANCE TEST In need of some activewear that can actually withstand activity? B.Y.O Active is a Hong Kongbased line of high-performance leggings, sports bras and resistance bands that’s made to last. If you’ve ever turned up at your HIIT or Muay Thai session and been concerned about whether your gym kit would make it through the next hour of squats, kicks and burpees, you’ll know the fear of sudden crotch split is real. Thankfully, this newly launched activewear brand uses fourway stretch functionality, meaning you won’t have to sweat (any more than you’d like to, that is) about worn leggings in class. There are also some pretty cool features like adjustable hooks on the sport bras, so you don’t have to dislocate a shoulder when stripping down after class, and sizeable pockets on leggings that are big enough for a phone. Bras cost between $450- $495, and leggings ring in at $720.

byoactive.com

SLOW STITCH Trying to ditch fast fashion? Take it to the next level with a handcrafted dress from eco-friendly label OctoberEighteen. This teeny-tiny operation is the passion project of Brenda Hojgaard, a self-taught seamstress and self-confessed dress lover based right here in Hong Kong. She launched the brand last year in a bid to blend sustainability, femininity and individuality in her designs, using only overstock fabrics and made entirely by Hojgaard herself. She designs everything from simple summer frocks to maxi dresses to peekaboo jumpsuits. Every item is handmade to order, and takes between six to seven hours for her to make - faster than ordering on ASOS, and so much better for the planet! Garments cost between $895-$1,400.

octobereighteen.com

GOING UP

Looking After #1 Look after yourself; there’s a lot to be stressed about these days! CLEANING ON A JET PLANE If you’re in need of a self-love injection in your daily routine, try a And now for something completely different… Cleanfreak.STORE is self-care subscription box like JENG! a new pop-up at Hong Kong International Airport that’s billing itself (check out p.6 for a sneak peek!) as (and we have no reason to doubt this) “the first ever anti-pandemic lifestyle store in Hong Kong.” On arrival, guests are welcomed by an AR virtual salesperson who assists them through the entire contactless Logging Off shopping experience. The pop-up sells (no surprises here) a range of Between Zooming our sanitising materials, including A.I. Shield, a new hand spray that offers colleagues and Skyping our 24-hour antimicrobial protection - perfect for any long-haul flights you’re parents, we are so over stressed about taking. With purchase, customers can also enjoy a fullscreentime. So no, we don’t body disinfection and temperature check service in a four-in-one smart want to join your digital summit! sanitising tunnel, which integrates AI thermal scanning, air purifying, and nano- and photocatalyst technologies. After just 40 seconds, any and all Mask Meltdowns bacteria on your body are zapped into oblivion. Sure, it’s hot outside. But Unit 7T042, Departure Hall, Level 7, Terminal 1, Hong Kong International that doesn’t mean it’s OK Airport, 2426-2220. cleanfreak.store. to throw a tanty every time you’re asked to wear a mask in public! Be an upstanding A GOOD BREW citizen and mask up when For people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), life can be difficult. you’re out and about. This developmental disorder often causes challenges in socialisation, speech and nonverbal communication, which can hamper employment opportunities No End in in adult life. AngelChild is a local NGO working with people affected by ASD, and they’ve recently launched a social enterprise herbal tea line. This self-designed handmade collection includes six flavours, each of them a blend of two to three kinds of flowers, plants, fruits or other natural ingredients. Each recipe has its own unique health benefits, such as detoxing or hydrating, and every packet of tea is produced and packaged carefully by staff members living with ASD. Supporting social enterprises provides job opportunities, training and a better quality of life for beneficiaries, so consider purchasing from AngelChild the next time you need to stock up. You can pick some up at various stockists around the city, including Yotsuba Cafe Sight... With quarantine restrictions extended until the end of the year, we’re starting to wonder if cheeky weekend getaways are sadly now a thing of the past... in Tai Hang, the Central and Sai Ying Pun branches of Zen Body HK, and EC Bento vending machines around town. Costs between $198-$350. GOING

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