18 minute read
GIFT GUIDE
Locally sourced gifts and experiences for the whole family to enjoy
LAIBA BEVERAGES
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For those who love a festive tipple, LAIBA Beverages has a collection of award-winning cocktails to enjoy at home. Each cocktail is prepared by a world-class mixologist and served in some of the most prestigious hotels around the world and a trusted partner of Cathay Pacific. The ultimate gift set includes eight unique cocktail flavours, packaged in a beautiful gift box with a personalised handwritten note. With these classic cocktails and original creations, you’ll be sure to impress your friends and family.
LAIBA Beverages is offering a 15 percent off discount code until January 1st to all Hong Kong Living readers by using the discount code HKL15.
hk.shop.laibabeverages.com
ESCAPADE SPORTS
Offering a wide variety of quality sports items, there is something for the whole family at Escapade sports. From marathon equipment to yoga gear, the fitness retailer is the perfect one-stop shop for those looking to get a kick-start on their New Year’s resolutions.
From 2XU, Asics, Brooks, Garmin and Gilbert to Hammer Nutrition, Hoka One One and Vibram
Fivefingers, Escapade provides products from the world’s leading suppliers. These are just some of the names you’ll find in store.
As a large corporation, the retailer also makes sure to do its part for the environment. Not only does it work with its suppliers to reduce packaging by reusing cardboard boxes and reducing the use of plastic, but it has also encouraged the donation of old shoes for over 10 years. Working with Hong Kong’s Crossroads Foundation, it helps make shoes available to those who can’t afford them.
With an online platform and stores across Hong Kong Island, shoppers can conveniently access their chosen gifts, even on Christmas Eve. Better yet, all items are easily exchangeable for wrong sizes or colours. escapade.com.hk
EMMA WALLACE
Relax this holiday season with Emma Wallace’s new Christmas gift sets. Choose from different combinations from the best-selling Emma Silk collection, made up of luxury loungewear and sleepwear with matching silk accessories and twinning Baby Em baby kimono sets. Three iconic prints will be featured: the rich green Kiku print, inspired by the Japanese chrysanthemum; the Papaver print, using the wild poppy as a muse; and the Cassia print, stunning with its pretty pink hues. For those who love to dream in decadence, the gift sets bring together pyjamas, slips, kimono gowns, eye masks and scrunches. Shopping for a mum who loves to match with their mini-me? Then the baby and adult robe set is the selfie-worthy gift their Instagram feed has been waiting for. There are no chicer gifts for babies, mums and anyone who longs to slumber in style. Each item from the festive collection is designed by British born, Hong Kong-based designer Emma Wallace. Drawing on her travels in Asia, Wallace’s designs blend together Western and Asian heritage, at the same time taking inspiration from the 1920s and 1970s. Fabric, colour and pattern play are also some of Wallace’s key techniques when creating her collections. Celebrities who love the brand supermodel Coco Rocha and Kimberly Wyatt. The emma Wallace store is located at No. 2 Po Hing Fong Street, Sheung Wan. emma-wallace.com
MOMOMI
Give the gift of comfort this Christmas with Momomi’s Soft Touch Tatami Mat. Both baby and child-friendly, the mat is soft to touch and perfect for walking or resting on. As the International Innovative Design Award 2020, the mat is designed to be very easy to clean, non-pilling, does not shed hair and quick to dry. And best of all, it looks stylish and harmoniously blends with most floors and furniture in your home.
With a range of sizes and 11 tasteful colours, the Soft Touch Tatami Mat is not only a beautiful piece of decoration in your living space, but also for family to sit and lie on it to spend quality time together – giving you a sense of cosiness and relaxation that is perfect for Christmas. If you would like to give one to a friend or family member this season, the brand also offers gift vouchers so they can choose their ideal colour and size. Each mat is also ethically produced. This means Momomi provides sustainable income for its female artisans and empowers them to further develop and promote their skills. The mat is coloured using only eco-friendly and non-toxic dyes that are free from AZO, making it better for the future of our planet, child-safe and pet-friendly. momomijapan.com
SodaMagic
Give your drinks an upgrade with the help of SodaMagic. It offers sparkling water machines and CO2 refills, so you can make carbonated water, personalised to your taste, in the comfort of your home.
The ‘Auto’ machine is perfect for individuals who want to make their own sparkling water and flavored carbonated beverages in seconds. Just push the button one time and the machine will start and stop automatically. If you’re new to the world of carbonating your own drinks, the Starter Kit includes one SodaMagic Sparkling Water Machine, one CO2 Cylinder (for up to 52 liters and one 1 Liter Plastic Carbonating Bottle.
This Christmas, impress your guests and make your own carbonated drinks the way you like – with high, medium or low carbonation. There’s also no need to carry, store or dispose of heavy bottles anymore, making it an eco-friendly option. When your CO2 cylinder is empty, SodaMagic offers CO2 refills. And of course, all of its machines are modern and trendy and fit the look and style of all kitchens.
sodamagic.hk
PLANTIN KAVIARI
Specialising in fine dining since 2009, Plantin Kaviari has been providing premium gourmet products to top hotels and restaurants in the city. Joining hands with a range of French producers, the online retailer delivers home Caviar from Kaviari, fresh truffles and truffle delicacies from Plantin, Foie Gras from Les Landes, Valrhona chocolates, Polmard beef cuts, Basque Country cold cuts, cheese aged in Toulouse, premium fruit juices from Alain Milliat and chilled meat and poultry flown in fresh from France.
For those who appreciate the finer things in life, Plantin Kaviari is offering a range of gift hampers for the festive season. They are currently offering three unique sets with a 10 percent discount or you can custom make your own hamper with chocolate by Valrhona, signature Kristal Caviar by Kaviari and even fresh black and white truffle and truffle delicacies by Plantin.
If you’re looking to spruce up your Christmas dinner, Plantin Kaviari’s fresh selection of goose, capon, turkey, foie gras, beef tenderloin, veal roti, lamb leg can be delivered by Christmas Eve if you order before 1pm on December 13. Order online at: plantinkaviari.hk Contact the team by WhatsApp: 94516412
DAVISAGE
Shower your loved ones with some self care items this holiday. Founded on the principles of specialised knowledge and science, DAVISAGE focuses on producing high quality anti-aging products for the face and hands. Through their luxuriously crafted products, DAVISAGE was hand-picked to become an Official Partner for the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club, Royal Edition 2021 Showcase. Their most popular products include the Face X’cercise Visager tool, the Handie Bottle and the Wrinkle Smoothers. These have all won acclaimed international awards in the beauty and wellbeing categories.
DVS Wrinkle Smoothers $880 DVS Face X’cercise VISAGER $1,380
The DVS Visager, a patented design, is a unique all-in-one exercise and massage tool that uses state of the art Japanese technology to stimulate cellular renewal, boost collagen regeneration and improve skin elasticity. It goes hand in hand with the DAVISAGE Face X’cercise program, a series of stylishly made video tutorials, that focuses on the neck and face muscles. The DVS Wrinkle Smoothers are designed specifically for the face. These anti-wrinkle tape patches address the physical element of deep lines and fine wrinkles, providing instantly noticeable results overnight. Lastly, The Handie Bottle has dual tubes–one with hand sanitizer and another with luxurious anti-aging hand cream made in France with the finest black orchid oil, which soothes and reduces fine lines.
Use code HKLiving at checkout for a 15% discount and free Wrinkle Smoothers set.
davisage.com
DVS Handie Bottle $280
MODA FLORA
Walking through Queen’s Road, Sheung Wan, Moda Flora’s shop at 235 Queen’s Road Central is sure to catch your eye. Decked and filled to the brim with Christmas goodies, Moda Flora Santa’s Workshop stocks over 300 Christmas-related essentials, such as Christmas trees, Christmas tree decorations, personalised santa sacks, stockings, ornaments, toys, hampers and even handmade Gingerbread cookies from Queensland Australia.
No Christmas Day is complete without some M&S goodies. Their 2021 limited Christmas food and gift collections have something for everyone, from cookie gift boxes, Christmas desserts and snacks including its first-ever light-up chocolate box and light-up gins in a variety of festive flavours including Clementine, Spiced Sugar Plum and a Madagascan Vanilla Light Up Snow Globe Gin Liqueur. Highlights from this year’s collection include the store’s Signature Mini Decorated Fresh Christmas Tree, which are available in 30cm, 40cm and 50cm sizes. They come either decorated, or if you prefer to do so yourself, Moda Flora will provide all the materials and supplies, from fairy lights and flashing LED lights to personalised wooden ornaments.
If you wish to go down the faux tree route, Moda Flora also offers the Premium Quality Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Tree. Sizing five, six and seven feet in height, the trees are remarkably realistic with options of green and flocked trees.
Lastly, children will love the Personalised Santa Sack and Stockings. Moda Flora understands that Christmas is especially important for kids and how to make this exciting and joyful time meaningful and magical. hkchristmas.com
Marks & Spencer
Even M&S’s beloved characters have donned their festive frocks for the occasion. Percy Pig has been made into a Percy The Pig Hot Chocolate Bomb, Percy Musical Tins and Percy & Penny Vanilla Biscuits. If you can’t decide what delicious snack to give this year, M&S has pre-made 10 hampers ranging in price and themes to give your loved ones a treat this Christmas. Shop in store or via M&S Hong Kong App https://bit.ly/HKLivingDec21 now.
DREAM CRUISES
If you desire to escape Hong Kong this Christmas, Genting Dream will be transformed into a winter wonderland with gingerbread town and festive decorations. For two or three nights, you and your loved ones can indulge in a Scandinavian feast and check out the goodies at the Christmas Market onboard. A wide variety of events await you on your cruise holiday. For the little ones, the Little Dreamers Academy at Sea will introduce the legend of St. Lucia in Swedish folklore and the mysterious story of the Icelandic Yule Lads. Meanwhile, entertain yourself with the Very Christmas, a Christmas spectacular with all the elements you love in a yuletide show – with a unique twist. And if you like arts and crafts, the Nordic Art Lab has prepared a range of activities including the Norway Northern Lights Scratch Art and Nordic Christmas Ornament Making workshops.
If that’s not enough, Genting Dream has prepared a feast onboard. Dig in on roast turkey, slipper lobster, gammon ham and on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, with ginger-spiced chocolate cake, Christmas cookies, Scandinavian caramel florentine torte and more as desserts. All of this is completely free!
Set sail and get ready for a white Nordic Christmas adventure this season!
BeCandle
Fill your home with Christmas scents this season with BeCandle’s festive collection.
The Sai Kung-based homegrown brand has introduced two new 500g holiday scents for you to share with your loved ones. Tangerine Cinnamon Sweet is an enticing and spicy sensation of cinnamon whilst Pine Needle is a woody, ambery and zingy smell of the old pine tree.
BeCandle also hosts workshops for you to have your own candle experience of blending your personal scent from its curated fragrance collection and hand pour your very own candle. This month, it is running a special Christmas Smells class – a sensual journey to explore your imaginations about the long awaited festival. BeCandle’s staff will guide you through the creative process and help you find inspiration from your precious Christmas stories to
create your own unique scent.
Founded in 2012, BeCandle’s creations are all handmade at their Sai Kung Factory using a blend of vegetal and soy wax, fine fragrances and essential oils from Europe, then housed in hand-blown glass vessels.
@BeCandle_SaiKung
www.becandle.com.hk
BeCandle Shop: 18B Sai Kung Tai Street, Sai Kung BeCandle Lab: 8 Wang Street, Sai Kung T: +852 8481 7684
M FLORIST
Founded in 2017, homegrown brand M Florist specialises in online flower delivery and creating unique displays for high end fashion brands and luxury hotel groups, weddings and corporate events.
This holiday season, it has released a new bouquet theme for you and your loved ones. Named the Peppermint Parade, these Christmas flowers are strikingly red with a hint of pink, featuring vibrant, festive hues to get you into the holiday spirit. Christmas wreaths are also available.
https://mflorist.hk/
2°EAST
Give the gift of kindness this Christmas. 2°EAST is a Hong Kong-based, female-founded company that makes quality, everyday watches for men, women and children.
The brand takes pride in creating watches that don’t cost the earth, using only high quality ecofriendly materials, ethical practices and a direct and transparent process from the manufacturer to the consumer. With 2°EAST, it’s cool to be kind again.
Its products are incredibly comfortable with easily interchangeable strap options that include printed NATOs in a variety of colourful patterns (think tropical fruits, tigers and triangles), soft vegetable tanned leather and fine stainless steel or rose gold mesh. As a bonus, for every watch sold, 2°EAST’s partner Trees for the Future plants 30 trees to help end hunger, poverty and deforestation. This is a watch that doesn’t just look and feel good – but does good too.
Hong Kong Living readers can enjoy 15 percent off with code HK15 between now and February 2022. Free shipping is available on all orders within Hong Kong and Singapore. 2degreeseast.com
Stanley Plaza Chrismas Market 2017
With a picturesque promenade, a host of waterfront restaurants and a network of stores sprinkled around Stanley Market and Stanley Plaza, this quaint coastal town is a neighbourhood rich with history, a sense of community and this month, the Christmas spirit.
While you might be used to this area’s budget-friendly souvenirs, local bites and convenient beaches, you can expect all that and much more for the month of December. If you’re like us, we love a Christmas market—ones that brim with fruity, spiced smells, holiday jingles and lots of festive stalls stocked with everything from handcrafted baubles to seasonal delicacies.
If you’re on the hunt for holiday plans, the city will, without a doubt, have plenty going on in the weeks to come. Though sometimes, it can be nice to branch out to the parts of Hong Kong that you don’t necessarily get to spend a leisurely amount of time in, which is a shame because these outlying neighbourhoods (particularly the ones around Southside) have a lot to offer when it comes to wholesome, family activities.
If you’ve spent previous years in Hong Kong wishing for the Christmas spirit to come around but it never felt quite right, Stanley is looking to fill that gap with its own huge holiday celebration—with a twist.
That’s right, folks. It’s a Wild West Adventure Christmas Market at Stanley Plaza.
Taking place on most weekends in December including Christmas Day, this open-air, 60-stall festive extravaganza certainly doesn’t stop at the makeshift shops—there’s something for everyone.
Christmas treats and trinkets for all
As it is the season to be jolly, Stanley and its community have decided to make the most of it for you and your beloved (fur babies,
too!) with the first eight-day Christmas Market, bringing over 60 much-loved brands under one roof. Vendors will include Blue Bottle Coffee, French chocolatier Marquise De Sevigne, Hong Kong spirits label Perfume Trees Gin, burger chain Honbo, Instagram’s favourite café Infinity C by October, LIFETASTIC cake shop, Twenty One From Eight pantry, and the list goes on. Spend $1,000 or above at Stanley Plaza, Murray House or the Stanley Christmas Market and you’ll get a limited-edition ‘Wild Cactus’ glass (while stocks last)!
Picture-perfect moments at Gold Rush Town
For those who tend to go a little snap-happy during the holidays, there will be Christmas decorations strewn up everywhere at Gold Rush Town. Immerse yourself in this ‘Christmas in the Old West’ experience that’s decked with cowboy decor and log cabindesigned booths. Get in the holiday mood by dawning a cowboy outfit and posing in front of a metres-high cask and a giant hat that sits atop an ice cream parlor in the middle of the Plaza.
A Yuletide rush for gold
If you’ve got the kids in tow, you’ll want to keep them busy while you and your spouse browse and sip on copious amounts of mulled wine and beer. Once again, the friendly neighbourhood market has got you covered. Bringing jolly vibes to an all time high, they’re bringing a gold rush game to these festive weekends in December. The winner gets to take home a pure gold charm of their own from justgold. Merrymakers enroute to this fun-filled destination can also soak up the Yuletide spirit with three Christmas-inspired online games to win gifts. The holiday spirit will hit its peak with a visit from Santa Claus for the little ones at Murray House, which is the historical building that functions as one of the backdrops to this Wild West Adventure Christmas Market.
Pure Gold Charm sponsored by justgold
Free shuttle services with all-round health protection
To facilitate travellers and residents to and from the venue, Stanley Plaza offers free land and sea shuttles between Stanley and various districts on the Island during the event period. Meanwhile, there will be no hourly parking service on the event dates. Visitors can reserve their slots in advance via the ‘Park & Dine’ mobile app on a first come, first served basis.
For more details, please visit stanleyplazachristmas2021.com. Dates: 11th to 12th, 18th to 19th, 24th to 27th December 2021 (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in three consecutive weeks) Venue: G/F, Amphitheatre and public space, Stanley Plaza Enquiry hotline: 6508 7573
Hey Candy (Booth 24)
