Parenting is a full-time job, no questions about that. With this in mind, many brands and businesses make it their goal to help busy parents. Here are the creative minds and entrepreneurs behind Hong Kong’s leading children’s brands.
Bombol
Born and raised in Hong Kong and later educated in fashion design in Canada, Paulina Chu trained in fashion and retail merchandising in Milan, Italy. She spent her formative years working at Italian fashion houses such as Gucci, Miu Miu and Bottega Veneta, before taking the leap to building her very own brand of baby furniture called Bombol, while in Milan.
“When our family relocated to Hong Kong in 2011, Bombol became a Hong Kong-based company,” says Paulina. “What was born as a side business with no full-time effort nor marketing resources dedicated to its brand, Bombol has now become an international brand with several products in its collection with many more to come in the pipeline.”
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When Paulina had her first baby in Milan, she found herself struggling to find well designed and durable baby furniture that did not clash with the interior décor of her home. She was faced with a lot of colourful plastic furniture that was made to be discarded after a few uses – not very environmentally viable. “So we started Bombol, aiming to design and produce long-lasting baby furniture that extends the useful life of the product to the maximum and is durable enough to be passed on to other siblings and friends.” To this day, Paulina and her husband continue to work on the brand side-by-side. Her husband provides the designs of Bombol products, whilst she is responsible for the marketing and the business side of the company.
The brand’s first product was the Bamboo bouncer, which babies can use up to around five years old. “We always receive compliments from our customers who still own a Bamboo bouncer from over 10 years ago, three kids and a few cousins later!”
Bombol’s products have gone on to win numerous international design awards including Red Dot awards, iF Design Awards, Good Designs Award, European Product Design Awards – just to name a few.
Momomi
Founded by entrepreneur Gigi Ng, Momomi was born out of a desire to create a playmat that is functional and design-friendly at the same time. “I took the idea of a traditional Japanese tatami mat and redesigned it into a new generation of decoration for our living space – from there, the brand Momomi was born.”
Working closely with artisans throughout the production process, Momomi’s signature collection, Soft Touch Tatami Mat, uses high-quality and exclusive material merging traditional stitches with contemporary design. “It can be used for the family to sit and lie down on to spend quality time together, at the same time giving them a sense of cosiness.”
For Gigi, a close collaboration with local communities is important and ensures that each piece is ethically produced. This involves providing sustainable income for her brand’s female artisans and empowering them to further develop and promote their skills.
When asked about her plans for the future, Gigi says: “We would like to expand our target market to at least five more countries in other parts of the world in 2022, expanding our distribution networks and trying out different collaborations with different brands. We hope more families can share quality time on our Momomi Soft Touch Tatami Mats.”
Cascade Train Teach Learn
Cascade Train Teach Learn is a training and teaching institute for ESL students and teachers. It was founded by Vannessa Misso-Veness, an ESL learning specialist with 20 years of teaching experience, with knowledge in both Pedagogy (how to teach a child) and Andragogy (how to teach an adult). Wanting to provide a more holistic approach to English language teaching and learning prompted Vannessa to start her own education business.
Unlike English tutoring, Vannessa directs, designs and delivers professional development programmes addressing language, literacy and learning across the curriculum for non-English native students. She also coaches parents, trains teachers, advises schools and designs classrooms to align the educational approach for the students’ wellbeing and learning success.
“Regardless of whom I teach, I believe in creating interactive and reflective sessions that will leave participants inspired, brimming with ideas and confidence. Ultimately, all learning can be cascaded into every aspect of our teaching and learning journeys.”
As a certified Neuro Change Method™ practitioner, experienced English teacher, examiner and trainer, Vannessa is known for developing the “TLC” Coaching Method, a structured yet nurturing approach for non-native English parents and their children.
Looking forward, Vannessa has big plans. “My vision is to have Cascade Train Teach Learn work with more teachers and schools to share the understandings and techniques of how to support language learning across the curriculum. I also want to continue to work with individuals who need personalised support in literacy and academic English development.”
Michelle Harris International
Bringing together 25 years of experience in healing, mentoring, intuitive guidance counselling and various empowerment practices, Michelle Harris guides you to become more balanced, feel inner peace, reclaim your true authentic power and align to higher consciousness. She is known for impactful, deep work to overcome lifelong issues and trauma, as well as various pioneering initiatives in Hong Kong.
Michelle always had a deeper soul calling to make the world a better place. Founding her own brand in 2011 to help others, person by person, felt like a very natural progression to bring together everything she had learned and all that she valued, stood for and felt.
“I wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the world, expressing, doing and sharing what I love. Michelle Harris International is therefore a platform where I share all I have discovered, and offers services for adults, kids/teens, schools, businesses and organisations,” she shares.
Her vision for Michelle Harris International is multifaceted. “I hold a higher vision for an empowered world and to raise global consciousness. My hope is that my authentic teachings and message create ripples, and I can continue to inspire others to reach their full potential, empowerment, healing and conscious soul connection.”
A best-selling author, this master healer, teacher, intuitive counsellor and empowerment mentor concludes with her aims for schools, businesses and organisations. “My goal is to empower them to align to higher principles that serve the good of all.”
Her latest projects for children include The Empowerment School and Tween/Teen Empowerment programs that support our youngsters in the modern world.
Petit Boo Kid Boutique
Louise Cheung is the founder of Petit Boo Kid Boutique and a mother of two. In 2019, she had her first child, Shawn, and gave birth to her second baby, Shayla, in 2021. “I love defining myself as a mompreneur since my life is a mixture of family and work right now,” she says proudly.
Petit Boo Kid Boutique started out as an online shop, in order for Louise to gain more experience in the business world, with lower operating costs. Her goal is to help make both kids’ and parents’ lives easier, with a curation of high-quality, practical and beautiful essentials for modern homes.
In the middle of 2021, she received an invitation for a business cooperation from a high-end shopping mall leasing team – something she didn’t expect. “It definitely surprised me, even though it’s much more difficult in such a challenging year in the business world under the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, I became pregnant too. Despite that, I pushed forward with Petit Boo’s first pop up store and it was a success!”
Looking forward, Louise wants to continue to provide a wide selection of high-quality products from different categories for children in daily life, including kids apparel, nursery and toys, as well as work with more brands and companies from around the globe.
