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online stores
Click and spend Marie Teather gets an early start on the Christmas shopping at top online stores. Children Hip Little Bubba www.hiplittlebubba.com Founded by Hong Kong expat Nicole Darragh in 2010 after the birth of her first child, this local online store offers quality items for stylish babies, toddlers and mothers. Products include organic baby formula, clothes, toys, baby blankets and a whole lot more. Check out the colourful new range of Christmas stockings and adorable Baby Gift Boxes.
iHerb www.iherb.com For those of us who have discovered this online health and nutrition store, there was life before iHerb and life after iHerb. Look no further for your fix of vitamins, minerals, all-natural beauty supplies, natural foodstuffs and workout supplements at discounted prices. It’s based in California but offers super quick and cheap delivery to Hong Kong. Fashion
Tiny Footprints www.tinyfootprints.com A haven for mums in Central, Tiny Footprints also has an online store selling top-quality, eco-friendly products. It places an emphasis on sourcing non-toxic, environmentally friendly products such as organic baby toiletries, disposable nappies, air purifiers and furniture made with natural non-toxic materials.
Nuan Cashmere nuancashmere.com Launched in 2006 by Irish-born designer Caoimhe Ryan, Nuan is dedicated it to classic, elegant and beautiful cashmere. Nuan (the Mandarin word for “warm”) was inspired by a trip to northern China, where Ryan discovered the luxurious cashmere she uses in Nuan’s innovative knitwear range. Aftermath www.aftermathstudio.com Hong Kong-based designer Nina Ricardo founded Aftermath in 2010 inspired by her passion for travel, art and all things retro. Small limited-edition collections feature Betty Draperinspired 1950s silhouette dresses and skirts in hand-picked patterns and fabrics designed to flatter every figure.
Health and beauty Native Essentials www.nativessentials.com Hong Kong’s first online natural skincare and bespoke aromatherapy blending service was founded in 2011 by Italian aromatologist Daniela Pelonara. Native Essentials creates all-natural, therapeutic and botanical products for the whole family using organic ingredients sourced worldwide. Handmade in Hong Kong, its range includes spa-inspired body and skin lines, mother-and-baby products and sleeping aids.
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SnapSack www.snapsack.com SnapSacks are fun, stylish bags that can be customized by inserting photographs, drawings and other knick-knacks into the cover pockets. Founded by former Hong Kong resident Anna Hart, SnapSacks are easily changeable for a whole new look. Shipping is free to Hong Kong and five per cent of every purchase is donated to Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Programme. House and home Sleep Naked www.sleepnaked.hk Ever wondered where luxury hotels get their
crisp, cool bedding? Right here, that’s where. Sleep Naked made sheets, duvet covers, towels, robes and pillows for leading hotels until individual customers also started making requests. Delivery is free to most of Hong Kong. Marks & Spencer www.marksandspencer.com Much as we enjoy shopping at our local M&S branches, it can be cheaper to order online from Britain and pay the flat-rate delivery fee of £15 – no matter how much you buy. After all, what would Christmas be without a big order from M&S? Gifts Not On The High Street www.notonthehighstreet.com For unusual or personalised gifts, British online store notonthehighstreet.com is a one-stop solution. A huge range of products are sourced from small, creative businesses worldwide that are, you guessed it, not available on the high street. Delivery is available to Hong Kong on many items, but charges vary considerably. Shop Latitude www.shoplatitude.com A good source for luxury homeware, jewellery, fashion or interior pieces from style capitals across the globe. Search for gifts by location – Hong Kong, Bali, Africa, Milan, New York – designer or product. We love the bazaar section that lets you buy ethnic goodies from Mexico, India, Turkey and Morocco. And if you can’t find exactly what you want, Latitude’s artisan makers will customize a piece just for you.