The young entrepreneur’s new location adds a splash of colour at Landmark
Generation T lister Stephnie Shek has opened a stylish new space in Landmark, three years after the original EightyEight, on Wellington Street, broke new ground and brought the global trend of boutique manicures to Hong Kong.
“This project is more of a celebration than a new branch opening for us,” Shek tells Generation T. “A year ago, Landmark reached out to see if we were interested in opening another store. At that time, I didn’t think we were ready; given the opportunity again this year, we immediately said yes. It’s been three years since EightyEight opened and we are ready for new challenges.”
Shek has successfully harnessed the power of social media to grow EightyEight’s business, quickly becoming the fashion crowd’s favourite nail joint in the process. The salon’s beautifully curated Instagram feed of nail art boasts over 41,000 followers, and bookings can be made via WhatsApp as well as by phone, meaning customers can send the salon inspiration photos in advance so nail artists can prepare for the job at hand.
And ‘artist’ is no misnomer. Boutique salons such as EightyEight offer much more than a standard paint job—they create a statement piece for your fingertips. Customers expect a Turner-quality masterpiece on their talons when they leave the salon, with nail artists using freehand painting techniques to create the eye-catching designs. Shek’s education at London art school Central Saint Martins clearly stood her in good stead.
