As well as shopping for pre-owned designer fashion on their website, HULA has a Wong Chuk Hang warehouse and a Central boutique where you can browse hundreds of fabulous pieces in-person – meaning there’s no excuse not to get in on the pre-loved action!

We chat to Sarah about what inspired her to start HULA, whether there’s a stigma around second-hand clothing and her top tips on making our wardrobes more sustainable.

1. In one sentence, tell us what you do?

I’m the founder and CEO of HULA – a highly curated, authenticated consignment business selling the best luxury womenswear, bags, shoes and accessories. HULA helps customers monetise their wardrobe while offering consumers the best authentic, pre-owned, designer womenswear at up to 95 percent off retail price. In short, I turn people’s waste into other people’s treasures!

2. Why are you an 8Shader?

The rise of fast fashion and consumerism has made textiles waste one of the biggest polluters worldwide – which became a massive reason for starting HULA.

I used to work at Lane Crawford’s head office and realised how much waste there was in the fashion industry – not only on the retail side, where a product would have an 8-12 week shelf-life before going to the sales bin, but also among friends who would often ask where to get rid of items they no longer wanted. I knew there would be an opportunity for this type of business… plus loads of amazing products to unlock in my friends’ wardrobes!

Having previously founded my own lingerie and swimwear label, I also really appreciated the effort that goes into designing, producing and marketing a collection – so I wanted to make it HULA’s mission to extend the lifespan of well-crafted fashion pieces too.

3. What’s your best eco habit – and your guilty not-so green one?

Of course, its shopping mostly second-hand fashion! I’m also almost vegetarian throughout the work week. My guilty pleasure is that I love jumping on a plane to travel.

4. Fave eco brands?

For fashion, I love Gabriela Hearst and Cult Gaia. For lifestyle, I can’t live without Oatly oat milk for my go-to daily latte fix! I also love ECOS household products – they work really well and smell so good!

5. Fave veggie dishes in Hong Kong?

Treehouse’s veggie bibimbap, Dandy’s Organic Café’s veggie curry with brown rice and Maison Libanaise’s mixed rice, Lebanese salad and roasted cauliflower with tahini sauce.

6. Do you think there is still a stigma when it comes to buying second-hand?

Shopping second-hand is still not broadly accepted amongst local Chinese. Superstition has partly held this market back from developing over the past decades, because second-hand clothing was known to come from someone who had passed away or was sold due to lack of money – so buying pre-owned was deemed ‘unlucky’.

Luckily, times have shifted and the pre-owned market is now widely more accepted… So much so that the second-hand market is projected to double over the next five years, growing eleven times faster than the broader retail clothing sector; it’s also set to become twice the size of fast fashion by 2030!

We’ve seen a surge in shoppers shifting their mindset about buying pre-owned, from it being something they were ashamed of to something they’re now proud of. Pre-Covid, we did lots of events and discussions, tackling issues about fashion sustainability and really bringing the community together. The new generation are popularising pre-owned in a big way – and I’m glad we stuck through the hard times to see this market grow and finally break some barriers.

7. What are some simple tips for a more sustainable wardrobe?

If you’re looking for key capsule wardrobe pieces, make sure they will last! Buy better quality pieces from better brands so items are easier to resell should you tire of them afterwards. If you can’t afford high-end brands, shop from luxury consignment stores like HULA, where pieces are a fraction of the price. Shopping pre-owned opens up a world of styles and brands you might never have considered or could afford previously.

Look for fabrics that are easier to maintain or can be cleaned regularly such as silk, cotton, linen-mixes and bamboo rayon or viscose and make sure you don’t over-wash your pieces. To be more sustainable, some pieces can be worn at least 3-7 times before being washed – this will ensure your pieces don’t look old and over-washed too soon.

If you want a more unique look without wearing what everyone is wearing this season, shop vintage items that are unique and not so recognisable. These pieces will become your wardrobe treasures and will help define your look.

And of course, please buy pre-owned fashion! Extending the average lifespan of clothing by just three months of active use per item would lead to a 5-10 percent reduction in its carbon, water and waste footprints. Buying pre-owned really is the quickest way right now – aside from buying nothing – to help solve fashion sustainability.

8. What shade of green are you?

A vintage olive green – it’s such a classic colour and I love vintage style!

Find out more about HULA on their website and Instagram

NEXT: See all ‘8Shades Of‘ interviews

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The post 8Shades Of… Sarah Fung of HULA appeared first on 8Shades.

According to a report by environmental charity Hubbub UK, 82.5% of the materials found in Halloween costumes are plastic. And when you consider how many costumes are thrown away after a single use, it’s estimated that the annual plastic waste generated from the industry is equivalent to about 83 million water bottles – from just one Halloween!

We can, and should, do better. This year, why not look through your closet for some easy costume ideas, host a costume swap with friends, or head to pre-loved secondhand stores like HULA to find something you can reuse over and over again?

We’ve done the heavy lifting for you with the following eight DIY Halloween costume ideas:

1. Squid Game

Jean-Paul Gaultier Long-sleeved Turtleneck and Pants Set

This shimmery two-piece set can be worn separately long after Halloween, meaning it won’t go to waste like most single-use Squid Game costumes. To make it more like the actual track suit seen on the show, add your own white racing tape down the sides of the arms and legs, and finish it off with some numbered stickers on the left chest.

Available on HULA

2. Kate Middleton at the Bond premiere

Dundas Gunmetal and Gold Sequinned Long-Sleeved Maxi Dress

Kate Middleton stunned on the red carpet of the most recent Bond Premiere. To channel her look, grab this gunmetal and gold V-necked maxi dress for the same, stunning effect this Halloween.

Available on HULA

3. Mummy

Fendi Ivory Sleeveless Top

A mummy costume never goes out style, and neither does this Fendi sleeveless top. Pair it with white leggings for the full look, and wear itagain and again with a pair of jeans, black mini skirt or whatever bottoms you have in your closet.

Available on HULA

4. Cruella

Joseph Black and White Abstract Blazer

Save the dalmations – and the environment – with this pre-loved black and white abstract blazer from Joseph. All you need are a black-and-white wig, jumpsuit and thigh-high boots to match, and some blood-red accessories to complete the look.

Available on HULA

5. Karate Kid

Diane Von Furstenberg White Long-sleeved Top With Purple Red Belt

Wax on, wax off… Bring out your inner karate kid with this pre-loved DVF long-sleeved top that can be worn again and again by switching out the belt.

Available on HULA

6. Michael Jackson in Thriller

Acne Studios Red Goat Leather Biker Jacket

Get set to thrill in this red leather biker jacket from Acne, just like the late Prince of Pop himself from his iconic and legendary music video for ‘Thriller’.

Available on HULA

7. Tin (Wo)Man

Ellery Metallic Shiny Silver Sleeveless Layered Drape Mini Dress

Dress like the classic Tin (Wo)Man from Oz with this shiny silver Ellery dress, which will no doubt look just as fab at your next cocktail party.

Available on HULA

8. White Walker from Game of Thrones

Alexander Mcqueen White and Grey Abstract Fur Prints Long-sleeved Mini Dress

From what we hear about the Game of Thrones prequel, the origins of the White Walkers will soon be revealed. Stay ahead of the game by dressing up like one of the grisly characters with this very apt Alexander McQueen mini dress.

Available on HULA

Remember, these DIY Halloween ideas are just the start! Buying secondhand is already better than buying brand new single-use Halloween costumes, but the best thing you can do is to go through your own closet to see what you already have – and what you can make of it. Good luck and let us know what you come up with by tagging us on Instagram @8shadesofficial!

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See also: 5 most and least sustainable fabrics

The post 8 DIY Halloween Costumes You Can Find On HULA appeared first on 8Shades.

8 Challenges 

8 Giveaways 

Click here to enter Week 3 and find out more now!

How many of you have opened your closet and thought, “I have way too much stuff and no room at all” and still sighed in frustration, “I have nothing to wear”?

This week we are partnering with HULA, one of our fave pre-owned shops in Hong Kong, to win a HK$500 voucher to spend in their shop!

Here’s Week 3’s challenge: dig out an old dress from your closet that you haven’t worn in a while and style it up with our pro tips from Emily and HULA. Head over to IG to post your video and tag us or enter here.

It’s one paradoxical, yet familiar situation that many have faced. In Hong Kong, nearly one-fifth of new clothing purchases are never or hardly worn and these add up to about 110,000 tonnes of textile waste each year. More alarmingly, four in ten Hong Kongers have thrown away clothing after wearing it just once.

For the third week of 8Shades’ 8 Weeks 8 Challenge, we have partnered up with HULA to shine the light on circularity in fashion. HULA has been “making fashion circular” since 2017, collecting and selling pre-loved luxury womenswear in new and hardly worn condition (and also lots of discontinued vintage goodies). Stocking over 6000 pieces in their Wong Chuk Hang warehouse and 500 pieces at their Central shop, HULA has an idea or (or eight to be exact) when it comes to resourceful styling.

Check out our video featuring Emily styling outfits in different ways, giving you some inspiration for your 8-week challenge entry!

Read on to discover HULA’s top 8 tips on how to rethink your existing wardrobe – now dig deep into your closet and help eliminate textile waste fashionably! 

1.

IS IT A CARDIGAN? OR IS IT AN OFF-SHOULDER TOP? 

[Hermes Vintage Cardigan, Hermes (2), John Galliano, Hermes]

A cardigan is a great option to keep you warm in the heavily AC-ed venues in Hong Kong, but it is an even better off-shoulder top. Pick your favourite cardigan, button it up and pull one or both of the shoulders down. Voila, there’s your next off-shoulder top! 

2.

WHAT THE TURNAROUND IS LIKE

Did you know you can also turn the same cardigan into an open-back knitted top if you wear it backwards? Pick a printed cardigan for this purpose for some fun prints and details on the back. 

3.

ACCESSORISED

This tip is great for the avid t-shirt, plain blazer and top wearers. Statement jewellery can do wonders for your daily look. Layer a long necklace with some chunky chokers and your accessories have now officially become the focal points of the outfit. Bonus tip: mismatch a statement earring with another stud earring to create a high-end bespoke look. Be sure to match the colour tones, you don’t want to pair silver with gold!

More statement accessories:

[Y Project Earring, Swarovski Long Necklace, Salvatore Ferragamo Necklace]

4.

LET’S GET SILKY 

From Audrey Hepburn to Kate Moss, women have embraced skinny silk twill for decades and why stop now? Wrap it around your neck for a touch of elegance. Your silk twill shouldn’t just go on your handbag strap! For a more playful look, wrap it around your head to create your very own bunny ears and one-of-a-kind headband. 

5.

NECKLACE BELT

Your chunky necklace is here to save the day, again. This works best if you had a big-chained statement necklace. Simply loop your necklace around your pants, and let the pendant droop to create an intentional effect. This instantly turns your necklace into a versatile belt chain! 

6.

CINCH IT UP

A good quality shirt dress can easily give you endless opportunities to transform it – good fabric lays a good foundation for flowy draping. Using a silking shirt dress, button it up until around two inches down your waist and put your go-to belt on top. Leaving the rest of the buttons unbuttoned creates a more relaxed and casual look by letting the fabric flow as you move. 

7.

IT’S A TIE

Turn the same shirt dress into a top by tying the two front pieces together – a good shirt dress won’t bunch up as much and you won’t have to worry about the back not look as good as the fabric should drape flawlessly, creating an easy effortless look. 

8.

DAY TO NIGHT

Don’t be afraid to wear maxi dresses during the day – you can easily dress it down by wearing some sneakers and throwing on an oversized denim jacket. Have somewhere to be at night and no time to change? Pop on your fave blazer and matching heels on to complete your night look! 

More sneaker selections:

[Fendi Monogrammed Sneakers, Louis Vuitton Archlight Sneakers, Aquazzura Sneakers]

More maxi dress selections:

[Derek Lam Floral Dress, Valentino Dress, Alexis Button Up Dress]

Follow HULA on Instagram for more styling tips and latest new-in items!

Items featured in the video:  

Toga, Bottega Veneta Earrings, Tanya Taylor Floral Dress, Celine Sneakers, Saint Laurent Denim Jacket, Cinq a Sept Satin Blazer, Aquazzura Heels, Hermes Shirt Dress, Victoria Beckham Tailored Pants in Purple, Sensi Studio Straw Hat, Hermes H Buckle & Reversible Orange Leather Belt, J.W.Anderson Earrings, Maje White Puffy Shirt, Celine Denim Jeans, Gucci “Guccy” Navy Twill, Chanel Chain Necklace/Belt, Hermes Vintage Cardigan, Chloe Long Statement Necklace, Brinker & Eliza Chunky Choker,

The post 8-week Challenge: HULA & Emily give us their top 8 ideas to revive your wardrobe appeared first on 8Shades.