Can't Touch This

The first time I met Vicky in 2009, I was taken back by how normal she was. In the 20 years I've lived in HK, I've been introduced to so many obnoxious and arrogant bankers that when I heard a Harvard-grad had just moved to work at Goldman Sachs, my first thought was "great".

12:37 PM  co-founder, friends  2 comments

Read More

Why yes, world domination it is!

"Lots of times, we go looking for cool startups, but every now and then, one falls right into our laps. 

That’s the case with ZaoZao"

Kickstarter meets Fab meets Moda Operandi.

Highlight of the week!

Read it in full: http://www.techinasia.com/zaozao-fashion-funders

6:46 PM  fashion, interview, startup, Tech in Asia  No comments

Read More

My Week in Instagram Photos

i never know what day it is anymore.

there are no defined work hours or work days. i'm physically and mentally attached to my iPhone, blackberry and mac. if you've been in contact with me over the last few months, you might have noticed that mid-conversation my attention immediately shifts to my phone, or you may have realized i sometimes reply emails at odd hours: 12am, 3am, 7am... when do i sleep you wonder? ummm, i don't. i'll sleep when i'm dead. i find that i brainstorm the best at night, right before bedtime. i've read articles and interviews about entrepreneurs who are most efficient first thing in the morning because all is quiet, half the world is still asleep and you're left alone to your thoughts. it's kind of the same thing for me except efficiency hits when the sun goes down. ideas flow naturally, quickly. sometime it's like an avalanche of thoughts- never a bad thing. 

12:05 AM  designers, emerging, Instagram, startup, Vogue  1 comment

Read More

An Italian Summer

Sunshine, blue skies and picturesque scenery.

11:34 AM  Burano, Cortona, Florence, Lake Como, milan, Siena, Tuscany, Venice  No comments

Read More

Passion

Moda Operandi co-founders Aslaug Magnusdottir & Lauren Santo Domingo.

Read an inspiring article about one of Moda Operandi's co-founder & CEO Áslaug Magnúsdóttir here over the weekend. In the interview, Magnúsdóttir reveals it's her passion that drives her: "With that kind of love for our company, I am motivated to wake up every day to nurture and grow the company". Passion is a common reason many entrepreneurs attribute to their success.

A lot of what Magnúsdóttir spoke about resonated with me, especially how passion will get you far. I can't emphasize the importance of being lucky enough to discover what you're passionate about. Prior to working on our fashion technology startup, I found myself in an early quarter-life crisis. I realized that what I thought I wanted and had worked hard for turned out to be everything I hated. 

I was stuck doing a 2 person job at one point. I was stressed, burnt out and just plain miserable. I worked long hours and the pay was incredibly low. The work was no longer challenging or interesting and waking up everyday for work felt like a drag. The unhappiness seeped into other areas of my life, and I naively let my situation perpetuate for months longer than necessary. It took me a long time to realize that my work life didn't have to be that way. People say it's normal to be "suffer" at work the first few years out of college and that no 20 something truly loves their job. But I decided I didn't want that to apply to me. I didn't want to waste my time and potential in a job that wouldn't turn into a career I wanted. And so I waited for the right time and opportunity, which came in the form of ZAOZAO. It was scary but exciting to work on a new venture I could call my own. The best part was feeling alive again. It sounds like a crazy cliche but once I started working on ZAOZAO, things began falling into place and I found myself doing what I was meant to be doing.

7:24 PM  entrepreneur, fashion, Moda Operandi, passion  2 comments

Read More

lessons from the optician's office

                                                 

eyechartmaker.com. yes, it exists!

one of the coolest "hong kong moments" happened to me last year at my optician's office. located between a froyo place and a coffeeshop in LKF (read: expat central, for those overseas readers), it's usually not a problem to find someone who can understand basic english in the vicinity. that particular day though, an italian couple walked in to discover that the one guy on duty spoke only cantonese. 

"you speak english?" the couple ventured. 

5:06 PM    3 comments

Read More

social goods co-op x shoe artistry 鞋艺公馆

lately, it has not been uncommon for me to schedule live visits with people i've only "met" on the internet, in places short of sketchy alleyways with names i can barely pronounce. (side note: i could really use a hopstop for MTR, if someone can recommend or build an app for one, please!!) i often wonder if i were anywhere else in the world, whether this venture would still be possible. prob not, as i could be lying unconscious in some gutter by now.  anyway, this particular evening's adventure led me into what resembled a real life brothers grimm fairytale. 

where is rumpleskiltskin?

9:53 PM    2 comments

Read More

YSL? why yes, i will

the only times i ever step foot inside city hall are for push-cart dimsum and the occasional orchestra concert. despite belonging to the SAR philharmonic and the hong kong chamber orchestras, i am ashamed to admit that i've performed more concerts in hk than i've attended as an audience member, ever. and today was no different. brought some out-of-towners to city hall in the afternoon to check out crazy about yves, a tribute to YSL as part of le french fashion may's festivities.

11:25 PM  accessories, city hall, fashion, headbands, Hong Kong, mary-kate olsen, nas, style, sunglasses, tupac, turban, ysl, yves saint laurent  No comments

Read More

Week in review: 'so, what do you do?'

TGIF! finally, an end to this highly stressful week. last night, i attended the grand (re)opening of an establishment i used to frequent on occassion in my previous life (ok fine, it was like my second home). we went straight from our "brain yoga" sesh, my friend angel and me, after which we were still a bit dazed and rocking spandex underneath our clothes. nonetheless, we donned our party hats and went on to see lots of familiar faces n people from familiar places. like many social gatherings in hong kong which inevitably turn into network-fests, i was soon entertaining variations on a theme of the following conversations:

12:22 AM    3 comments

Read More