THE JOURNAL
Style Council Spotlight: Mr Wesley Ng Recommends Keeping Things Simple In Hong Kong
View of residential district in Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong. Photograph by Mr Chunyip Wong/Getty Images.
Mr Wesley Ng is a master of keeping things simple. In business, he’s proved his point with CASETiFY, the phone case company he founded in 2011, and which celebrated its 10th birthday last month. Outside office hours, the Hong Kong resident likes to swim (a habit he picked up in lockdown), hike and grab some dim sum.
It’s an easy philosophy that clearly works. CASETiFY started with a simple idea to turn Instagram images into custom phone cases – and the company has grown into a 200+-employee global business with offices in Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Japan. It has become synonymous with special-edition accessories and collaborations and is now, in the same spirit of simple ideas, involved in a major sustainability drive. We caught up with Ng between all this to find out where he goes to relax, celebrate and sustain himself in the city.
How would you describe life in Hong Kong to someone who’s never been?
Hong Kong offers everything you love in a big city, but it’s compact. You can see the beaches and hit the town all within a short distance.
What did you miss the most about Hong Kong when you are away?
The nightlife, for sure. Whether I’m in Hong Kong or New York, I always like to soak up every bit the city has to offer. When I’m grabbing dinner or drinks with friends, it's easy to lose track of time and enjoy the moment.
If a visitor to Hong Kong only had 48 hours in the city, what must they do?
Hit the trails at the peak. Hong Kong has some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the world, and there’s nothing like clearing your head in nature while enjoying the beautiful views of Hong Kong. Also make sure to take advantage of our museums and learn about the culture. For the best dim sums in the world, go to Yum Cha.
What’s one dish that a visitor must try?
Pineapple bun, you would find it everywhere.
Where’s your favourite place to go in Hong Kong to have a good time?
Salon 10 (if you don’t mind the cigarette smoke).
Which neighbourhood do you recommend for shopping?
The Landmark in central has the best spots, and the recently launched K11 Musea is my new favourite. You can find a CASETiFY Studio in both malls.
What are your go-to brands for style and grooming?
My go-to uniform is a Thom Browne suit. It strikes the perfect balance between comfort and style, and the routine eliminates decision fatigue when starting out the day. For grooming, I’d keep it simple – wash my face with cleanser then apply a thin layer of Augustinus Bader Cream afterwards.
CASETiFY is running a “Drop to Zero” campaign. Can you tell us more about that sustainability drive?
Both in my personal life and at CASETiFY, I’m working on eliminating single-use plastics as much as possible. On a small scale, this is easier – reusable water bottles, traveling on foot and always recycling. Now bringing this to the masses, CASETiFY is doing something in the industry that’s never been done before. With our new Re/CASETiFY collection, we recycle old phone cases to create brand new, drop-protective cases. We’ve already repurposed more than 50,000 used phone cases. Drop to Zero represents our mission to lessen everything harmful to our planet – waste, carbon emissions and single-use plastics.
Finally, where would you like to be in five years’ time?
Probably in the Metaverse.