HONG KONG [CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Part 1] | Gift Well with Giftwell

Lo and behold, December has snuck up on us with the cold (ahem, cooler) weather finally taking over Hong Kong. With that in mind, it's that time of the year again to give and receive, with Christmas only a few weeks away.

Founded by two young entrepreneurial sisters, Shirley and Connie Lee created Giftwell, a chic and easy way to send luxuriously packaged gift cards from the convenience of your laptop. With over 30 independent stores partnering with Giftwell, "customers and gift card recipients are encouraged to discover the hidden gems in this city" says Connie.

"Just like any big city, people in Hong Kong are time starved and have no time to look for or hop from store to store looking for an appropriate gift, or perhaps they need a last-minute gift but still something to impress. Giftwell helps you to gift better, and easier - all in less than three minutes. At the same time, you are supporting the vibrant mix and character that these unique and inspiring businesses bring to Hong Kong's community."

And for those of you who find this convenient way of gifting a little thoughtless; think of it this way, you'll still be in charge of selecting the kind of experience your friend is going to get. Will it be a fine dining experience at the 3 Michelin starred restaurant The Principal or a relaxing makeover at 10/10 Space? Only you can tell...

LGB is the pioneer in Hong Kong in introducing the delightful Parisian Macaron to the city. These artisan pastries, found in Paris circa 1900, are unique in texture, beautiful in colour and exploding with flavour. Quite amazing are their Vanilla macaroons bursting with creamy goodness and amazing scent. Also available is a luxurious collection of over a dozen distinctive and signature flavours such as Rose, Passionfruit Chocolate and Salted Caramel, as well as other seasonal limited edition flavours.

Established almost 20 years ago in 1994, Flannel Flowers has grown to be a foremost provider of bespoke floral services to its discerning clients. They pride themselves in carrying an unparalleled selection of fresh flowers imported from around the world; creatively arranged and packaged to ensure the absolute best in quality.

This is a personal favourite as I admit to having one of the sweetest tooth known in town (no seriously). 126 Grammes is exactly what it says it is: 126 grammes of freshly baked choux that encases a sweet and fragrant cream bursting with flavour.

Established in 2012 by Parisian-born Sandra Cohen-Taieb, this avant-garde pastry store combines traditional pastry making with contemporary élan to bring the newest passion in the French capital to local gourmands and taste explorers. What sets this store apart from others is its experimental attitude towards creating new and innovative tastes for the modern man. The light coloured cream puff you see above is champagne flavoured with a taste that is true to its name. Go figure...

Goods of Desire is the quintessential Hong Kong brand. The name also means "to live better" because it phonetically resembles the character G.O.D. encapsulating the desire to live better. All G.O.D. products are inspired by the vibrant culture of this energetic city where east meets west and age-old traditions meet cutting-edge technology. With humour and wit, Goods of Desire transforms everyday subjects into quirky tongue-in-cheek objects that will brighten up anyone's day. 

LOVERAMICS is a young and energetic brand making contemporary tabletop items that are both functional and fun. It's simple and creative products are a testament to Scandinavian design and traditional Chinese ceramics.

Of course, one cannot forget local design store Kapok which I have previously featured in an interview with co-founder Baptiste G (which you can read here). Derived from the majestic trees outside their original store, Kapok carries a well-edited selection of international and local brands. By providing a unique roof under which people in the community can meet and find inspiring quality goods (not dissimilar to a tree), Kapok acts as the perfect curator for the gathering of all emerging young brands.

This has been a lengthy post but the stores above are, excuse the cliché, only the tip of the iceberg. Fine dining establishments such as The Principal, The Pawn and The Press Room are all worthy of a detour.  For this festive season, uncover a world of possibilities with artisan stores and unique experiences with Giftwell.

Discover more stores at their website!