5 Globally renowned brands you didn't know are from Hong Kong

Have you seen those phone cases with DHL tape designs or with luggage tag designs all over them? Those trendy cases are just two of the many brand collaborations done by Casetify, a Hong Kong established phone case and tech accessory brand. Founded by Ronald Yeung and Wesley Ng in 2011, their brand takes pride in making heavy-duty yet compact protective cases, they also never lack in style and are extremely customisable. From the aforementioned DHL and Pangram designs to collaborations with large fashion houses such as Saint Laurent and Vetements, you can protect your phone at ease and in style. Casetify also claims their phone cases are guaranteed to protect your phone from damages up to a 9-feet drop (for the Ultra Impact case), so for those clumsy people out there, don’t worry, as these gorgeous phone cases actually serve a purpose!

When you hear the word 'hypebeast' you'll probably automatically associate it with hipsters who wear Off-White and Yeezys – well, you're not wrong. Started as a fashion, lifestyle, art and culture website founded by Kevin Ma in 2006, Hypebeast has now evolved into the go-to place for the like-minded individuals who are interested in current trends. Nowadays, Hypebeast is more than just a fashion and lifestyle website, but also a global phenomenon, a type of lifestyle and culture, and a community with a distinctive style. It has also expanded as an all-rounded, vertically integrated company with their own creative agency, Hypemaker, as well as an e-commerce extension HBX for their audience to shop for the latest trends.

Originated from the Cantonese slang 'gau (搞) gag', which means to tell a lame joke, the company's name incorporated the number '9' to their brand as the pronunciation of nine in Cantonese is similar to 'gau (搞)', hence the birth of 9gag. Genius, right? Founded by five University of Hong Kong alumni in 2009, they're now one of the world's largest online platforms for hilarious memes and funny content – most are contributed and submitted by their users – with over 42 million likes on Facebook and nearly 54 million followers on Instagram. Join their movement and "go fun the world!"

Although you may not recognise the name Twemco, we’re sure that you’ll recognise their signature flip clock designs. Founded in 1956, Twemco has been the world’s leading automatic flip clock manufacturer. Their chic, calendar-esque, and vintage-looking designs are what catches people’s attention, and has become a timepiece of taste and style. From smaller desktop flip clocks to larger ones with days and dates on display, Twemco has it all. Though they are quite pricey, it’s definitely worth the investment due to how durable they are.

If you’ve grew up in Hong Kong, we’re sure that you must have one of Red A’s products in your home – be it a plastic bucket for washing your vegetables or a plastic stool, Red A has withstood the test of time thanks to their affordable and durable products, and has remained as a household name since their establishment in 1949. Recently, Red A has collaborated with KFC to bring out a line of throwback items that consist of their regular mini stool, an hourglass-shaped mini stool, as well as a microwave-friendly lunch box and mug. If you want their products with a twist, might as well enjoy some fried chicken to redeem them!