NEWS

No more plastic, doo doo doo

EcoDrive Hong Kong and Pinkfong, the company responsible for the unforgettably catchy Baby Shark tune, have joined forces to create a new Baby Shark video, No Single-Use Plastic, to educate young children about single-use plastic pollution. It is the first time Pinkfong has collaborated with a non-profit organisation and the message is clear: single-use plastic pollution is a critical environmental issue. In Hong Kong alone, we produce over 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste per day and since the start of the pandemic the amount of plastic waste has doubled. By enlisting the voices of Baby Shark and his ocean friends, the team behind the drive hope that children will have greater compassion, knowledge and be more motivated to care for their environment.

Youtube: Baby Shark x EcoDrive

Redress design awards open

The world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition is calling for entrants with a passion for sustainability. Applicants must submit three ready-to-wear outfit sketches before the deadline of March 15. Finalists will have the opportunity to debut their design at the Grand Final fashion show and stand a chance of winning $80,000 in prize money. All finalists and semi-finalists will also receive educational and career enhancing initiatives.

redressdesignaward.com

A new era for Ocean Park

The Hong Kong Government has announced plans to transform Ocean Park into an exciting new resort and leisure destination. New attractions will be launched in phases from 2023 to 2027 and will see Ocean Park evolve into an adventure-themed resort destination, with a strong emphasis on environmental conservation. Features will include a brand new wellness-themed zone and a 6,400sqm water park which has been under construction since 2017 and is due to open this summer. A revamped business model will see individual attractions charged while retail, dining and entertainment spaces will be free for the public to access anytime they wish. “The operation mode of the park will change by outsourcing part of its park area or facilities for development and operation to become financially sustainable in the long run,” said the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau. The Hong Kong Government will play a role in financing the transformation which is expected to cost $10.64 billion. oceanpark.com.hk

New club lounge at Mandarin Oriental

Mandarin Oriental is set to debut a 6,200 square foot club lounge on the 23rd floor of the hotel later this month. The lounge will cater to club guests and offer private checkin, breakfast, afternoon tea, light snacks and nightly champagne and canapés. Mandarin Oriental is currently offering a range of staycation packages priced from $1,963.

mandarinoriental.com

news Felix & Mina flagship store

German family lifestyle store, Felix & Mina, opened their first ever flagship store in Discovery Bay last month. The one stop family store offers a curated collection of European branded baby and kids clothing and toys. Felix & Mina was founded in 2002 by passionate mums who wanted to create environmentally conscious, safe and stylish children’s wear. The brand already has stores in Beijing, Ningbo and Changsha.

felixandmina.com

Investing in style

Charmaine Ng meets Hong Kong-based jewellery designer and investment advisor Mina Miyagawa

When we think of investment, our mind tends to veer in the direction of real estate and stocks. But not for Mina Miyagawa. A jewellery designer, investment advisor and appraiser in Hong Kong who grew up surrounded by stones as her parents owned a gemstone cutting factory, Miyagawa took an interest in jewellery early on. Because of her family background, she spent her formative years observing different types of natural stones and looking into their potential for investment.

In her twenties, while all of her friends were buying into property and stocks, Miyagawa turned towards individual coloured diamonds – much to the chagrin of everyone around her. But years on, the value of these stones has surged significantly. During this time, Miyagawa also kickstarted her career as a jewellery designer, opening up her eponymous brand.

“In Hong Kong, jewellery investment is in its beginning stage,” she tells Hong Kong Living. “People here are used to buying jewellery as gifts. In other regions, however, jewellery investment is very common. This may be because you don’t need to pay so much to invest as there are gemstones which only require a relatively low budget to get started with.”

Having been in the business since 1995, Miyagawa has seen how the jewellery industry has changed. Decades ago, people were only looking for mass-produced jewellery in shopping malls. At the same time, it seemed like round white diamonds were the only choice for engagement rings. There wasn’t much variety in the market because people were unfamiliar with the different options out there.

The change only came about in recent years, as more and more people have looked towards celebrities such as the British royal family for inspiration. Slowly, public interest has edged away from simply white diamonds to coloured gemstones like aquamarine.

“The ratio of coloured diamonds to white diamonds is 1:100,000,” says Miyagawa, when asked about the types of jewels that are popular today. “So, instead of white diamonds, I always suggest my customers go for coloured diamonds. And in terms of colours, pink diamonds are the primary choice. I say this because the argyle mine in Australia, which produces 90 percent of pink diamonds in the world, is going to be closed in 2021. So, the value of pink diamonds is expected to increase 443 percent in near future.”

For those who want to dip into the world of jewellery investment, Miyagawa has a few words of advice. “Different jewels have a different criteria, so do your research carefully,” she says. “For example, if you are looking for a piece of aquamarine, a Santa Maria grade is the most investable; if you are looking at a piece of emerald, the origin is of top priority, with emerald from Colombia being the best.”

Book an online consultation or drop in for a meeting at her shop in IFC.

en.minajw.com