{"id":141765,"date":"2018-09-20T09:30:37","date_gmt":"2018-09-20T01:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hongkong\/?p=141765"},"modified":"2024-11-20T20:07:52","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T12:07:52","slug":"kaitie-manani-founder-slow-mode-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/kaitie-manani-founder-slow-mode-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"A chat with Kaitie Manani from The Slow Mode about sustainable fashion and finding her slow"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hong Kong is a busy place, so it\u2019s no surprise that the wellness trend is truly being embraced throughout the city. A range of yoga studios,<\/a> vegetarian restaurants<\/a> and eco-friendly design brands like Eico<\/a> and Womb<\/a> have been springing up across the city as people look to balance their fast-paced lifestyles. The Slow Mode is one of the latest online shopping platforms to launch in Hong Kong, offering sustainable fashion and conscious consumer goods, so we sat down with founder Kaitie Manani<\/a> to discuss the website, meditation and her road to living slow.<\/p>\n

An interview with Kaitie Manani from The Slow Mode<\/h2>\n

Hi, Kaitie. We\u2019ve followed you for a number of years now, and we loved Vamastyle – so, tell us – what made you decide to move away from designing?<\/h3>\n

Manufacturing was taking its toll on me, I felt I really needed a change in direction but I was scared to let go of what I had built with Vamastyle. After 7 years, I was yearning for something a little more meaningful, but I wasn\u2019t exactly sure what that would be.<\/p>\n

Cue six months later from those initial thoughts, and my health took a downwards turn, as I dealt with thyroid and autoimmune issues. A severe adrenal fatigue crash was the final kicker that flattened me to the floor; I was a whisper away from complete adrenal failure, suffering from frightening panic attacks, raging cortisol levels keeping me awake all night and feeling drugged out all day – the list of symptoms went on and on. I knew then I had to let Vamastyle go.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the inspiration behind your new online shopping platform The Slow Mode?<\/h3>\n
\"Kaitie
Socially sustainable label Matter is just one of the fashion brands available through The Slow Mode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During my slow recovery I clung onto my vedic meditation practice, as it was the only thing that would calm me, and however exhausted I was I could always meditate. During one meditation session in late December I had a flash of clarity, and The Slow Mode name came into my vision – a website where you could find beautiful designs made by artisans from around the world. I wanted to create a slow-style store and wellness guide: sharing stories of healing and advice from wellness warriors I’ve connected with, helping others to optimise their own health journey.<\/p>\n

I have always loved sourcing and seeking out the beautiful hard-to-find items. I wanted to create a community, connecting with artisanal sustainable fashion and accessories labels that have been made with love and purpose.<\/p>\n

What makes something slow or what is the meaning of slow as you see it?<\/h3>\n
\"Kaitie
The Slow Mode also stocks a selection of conscious consumer goods, such as Vanderohe beauty products and jewellery from Emelli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before the big adrenal crash, I used to associate slow with being lazy, not working hard enough, but in reality it was what I desperately needed to give myself. The idea of slow to me now means tuning back into your own mind, body and soul, and not running on autopilot; slow comes from the heart not from the head.<\/p>\n

There is a real awakening of conscious consumerism happening globally – do you see this happening in Hong Kong? And if so, who is leading the movement?<\/h3>\n
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A post shared by the slow mode (@theslowmode)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n