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Back to School Guide: All the Essentials for the New Academic Year

back to school guide
Family LifePost Category - Family LifeFamily LifeStyle & BeautyPost Category - Style & BeautyStyle & Beauty - Post Category - Style For KidsStyle For Kids

Everything you need for the new school year!

While we’re still enjoying making the most of quality time and keeping the whole family entertained through this humid Hong Kong summer, the first day of school is quickly approaching, and it’s never too early to get prepped! Whether your little learners are heading through the gates for the first time (hold back the tears, mama!) or are all grown-up and marching confidently into secondary school, we’ve put together our list of essentials. Time to pack that backpack!

Jump Links:

Stationery, Planners and Books
Bags and Gear
Shoes and Sports Gear
Online Extras
One Stop Shops

stationery supplies

Stationery, Planners and Books

kikki.K

From mini stationery kits, to cool notebooks, to chic pencil cases, and colourful pens, the lush goodies at kikki.K will definitely satisfy any stationery cravings you may have. Be warned: you might not be able to resist buying yourself a planner while you’re there!

Sassy Mama Favourite: Canvas Pencil Case: Lovely ($110)

kikki.K, various locations in Hong Kong, www.kikki-k.com

Bookazine

Needing some story time inspo, or just looking for extra activity books for your primary schooler? From water bottles and school bags, to a whole host of books for early learners, Bookazine’s vast range has almost everything you need to stock up for the school year!

Sassy Mama Favourite: the wide variety of children’s books to spark your kiddo’s imagination!

Bookazine, various locations in Hong Kong, www.bookazine.com.hk/eshop/bookazine

Muji

The Japanese chain store, Muji has minimalistic designs that are easy additions to any school gear – from pens and notebooks to calculators and box files. You’ll also find small storage units that are great for your teen’s desk area at home (along with paints and colouring pencils for budding artists!).

Sassy Mama Favourite: Planted Wood Paper Ruled Note (A5, 5 pieces) 

Muji, various locations in Hong Kong, www.muji.com/hk-en

Fotomax

For the mamas out there blessed with scatterbrained children – we know too well the struggle of rifling through lost property. These cute little name stickers from Fotomax might come in handy (no more missing lunch boxes!). You can even spice it up and choose from different cartoon themes!

Sassy Mama Favourite: Cartoon Name Sticker Pack ($40)

Fotomax, various locations in Hong Kong, www.fotomax.com

Smiggle

The brightly coloured funky selection of backpacks, pencil cases, stationery, watches, and notebooks, will paste a big ol’ giggle on your angel’s face by combining everyday school things with Smiggle fun.

Sassy Mama Favourite: Smiggle scented pencil pack

Smiggle, various locations in Hong Kong, www.smiggle.hk

The Commercial Press

With locations all around Hong Kong, the big bookstore chain is stocked with all the stationery basics at standard prices and exercise books for children from primary to secondary school.

Sassy Mama Favourite: Midliner Highlighters

Commercial Press, various locations in Hong Kong, www.cp1897.com.hk

Artland

If any mamas are looking to get a little something extra for your budding artists, Artland is a great store to check out for a large variety of art and craft tools from colouring pencils to printmaking.

Sassy Mama Favourite: check out the wide range of colour pencils, suited to artists of every level!

Artland, 3/F Lockhart Centre, 301-307 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, 2511 4845, www.artland.com.hk

City II Stationery

City II Stationery is a one-stop local stationery store that stocks a selection of folders, art tools, and practical house items that you might need for the coming school year.

Sassy Mama Favourite: we love the large variation of paints and oil pastels

City II Stationery, 1/F – 2/F, EIB Tower, 4-6 Morrison Hill Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; Room 2 – 4, 2/F, Phase 2, Haifu Center, Admiralty, Hong Kong, www.bbs.hk-mst.com

StuckOnYou

Since we’re all about adding that personalised touch, you can bet that we’re huge fans of StuckOnYou. It offers personalised name labels on all its products – from plain name labels to stick anywhere and everywhere, or tailor-made backpacks and lunch boxes…

Sassy Mama Favourite: lunch bag ($299)

StuckOnYou, Suite B, 11/F, 88 Commercial Building, 28-34 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, tel: 2549 2245, www.stuckonyou.hk

new shoes for school

Bags and Gear

Cotton On

Cotton On’s Typo brings us a selection of accessories, stationery and mugs that we just can’t get enough of. We love the range of little colourful bags and backpacks on offer for super reasonable prices.

Sassy Mama Favourite: Typo Day Tripper Backpack ($229)

Flagship Store: Typo at Cotton On, Shop 34-36 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Hong Kong, 2367 2190; 2/F, Lee Theatre Plaza, 99 Percival Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 2557 1110, www.cottonon.com/hk

Log-On

Be it watches, makeup, bags or stationery – Log-On has it. If you’re tight for time, definitely head on over to your nearest store!

Sassy Mama Favourite: Eastpak Backpack

Log-On, various locations around Hong Kong, www.citysuper.com.hk/en/log-on

SPI

SPI ergonomic school bags are supportive and comfortable, made simply to reduce the strain on your little scholar’s spine. Specifically designed to be durable and lightweight, you won’t have to worry about poor posture!

Sassy Mama Favourite: SPI-ACB (air cushion backpack)

SPI, various locations in Hong Kong, www.spi.com.hk

Kipling

Trendy mamas will love Kipling’s super lightweight backpacks – they’re guaranteed to last through every whole academic year. Phew!

Sassy Mama Favourite: Upgrade School Bags

Kipling, various locations in Hong Kong, www.kipling.com.hk

Shoes and Sports Gear

Gusella school shoes for boys and girls

Gusella

Let your kiddo confidently take their first step into the classroom with the gorgeous selection of shoes and interview outfits from Gusella’s Back To School Collection. The brand was born in Milan in 1932, through the dream of a young married couple, and inspired by the latest trends in fashion. It combines style and comfort, specialising in shoes for kids from 3 months to 10 years old. School shoes are worn almost every day of the week, so it’s vital that they support children through every important stage of growth! The general price ranges from $1,820-$2,920.

Sassy Mama PerkSassy Mama readers can enjoy 10% off the Back To School Collection till Thursday 31 Aug 2017. It has everything little ladies and dapper gents could ever need!

Sassy Mama Favourite: Amos Monk Shoes.

GusellaShop 224, Lee Gardens II, Causeway Bay, www.hk.gusella.comwww.facebook.com/gusellahk

Dr. Kong

With stores all over town, Dr. Kong is great for basic black or white school shoes that your cheeky cherubs need. Good footwear for school is essential as kids are in those shoes all day long, and Dr. Kong has a range of different styles, from Mary-Janes and slip-on flats, to shoes with Velcro straps and laces.

Sassy Mama Favourite: the school leather shoes are comfy classics!

Dr. Kong, various locations in Hong Kong, www.dr-kong.com.hk

Stride Rite

For your little ones who are just learning to totter around, Stride Rite offers a large range of footwear categorised into 3 Rite Steps: Crib and Crawl, Cruise and Walk, and finally Off and Running; keeping you covered from crib, to floor, to first steps into school.

Sassy Mama Favourite: SR-Brielle ($459) and Preschooler’s Gavin ($479)

Stride Rite, various locations in Hong Kong, www.striderite.com.hk

Marathon Sports

This chain store has the perfect sports gear and footwear for all our little aspiring athletes. From gear needed for land sports, to underwater sports – Marathon Sports has it all.

Sassy Mama Favourite: We love the stock of Adidas shoes, perfect for P.E. lessons.

Marathon Sports, various locations in Hong Kong, www.imarathon.com

Skechers

For young ones who aren’t big fans of working up a sweat during P.E., we recommend these snazzy kicks as incentive for your little tykes to take up a land sport. While you’re there, why not pick a matching pair for yourself?

Sassy Mama Favourite: Fun Fit – Fleeting Fancy – 81614L ($399)

Skechers, various locations in Hong Kong, www.skechers.com.hk

online shops for back to school

Online Extras

SkipHop

These cute animal themed lunch boxes and water bottles will make sure your kiddo looks forward to their lunch break even more! Trust us, mamas, SkipHop’s fun variety will definitely add a cute pick-me-up your little one’s day.

Sassy Mama Favourite: Zoo Lunchie Lunch Box and Straw Bottle Set ($156)

www.skiphop.com

Etsy

This online marketplace is a great spot to hunt down unique buys for the new school year. From cute stationery, planners, backpacks, phone covers and laptop or tablet cases, Etsy makes it easy to find everything in the back to school section.

Sassy Mama Favourite: we love the “gifts for bookworms” section – never too late to get your kiddo hooked on books!

www.etsy.com

Chewswize

Looking for guilt-free snacks to pack in that backpack? Simply head to the website: choose 5 out of 40 snacks and get ready for the lovely, well-crafted box to arrive right on your doorstep. As most school’s are nut-free zones, know that Chewswize delivers nut-free snack packages specially for kids!.

Sassy Mama Favourite: Pineapple Sundae ($88/week)

www.chewswize.com

Not On The High Street

Not On The High Street is super useful for youngins who want to plop their name and class details on their pencil case. It makes cute school bags and lunch bags, and offers personalised stationery galore.

Sassy Mama Favourite: personalised ‘property of’ pencil case ($98)

www.notonthehighstreet.com

Contigo

For BPA-free, leak-proof and spill-proof water bottles, check out Contigo. All the bottles are easy to clean, and some will keep the liquids cool for your kids during the hot summer months.

Sassy Mama Favourite: Autoseal Courtney Kids Water Bottle ($94)

www.gocontigo.com

one stop shops for back to school

One Stop Shops

Petit Bazaar

Petit Bazaar is one of our faves to stock up on cute school bags and lunch boxes because they offer a variety of different designs – perfect for toddlers or primary school-aged children!

Sassy Mama Favourite: We’re loving the Billybandit Satchel with Blue Comic Book Print and Moulin Roty Les Pachats Grey Backpack.

Petit Bazaar, 9 Gough Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2544 2255; 80 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, tel: 2528 0229, www.petit-bazaar.com

CityGate Outlets

Once in a while, we need to remember that Tung Chung isn’t just where the airport is. It would be a shame to miss out on CityGate, so head on down there to stock up on reduced-price items for your kids!

Sassy Mama Favourite: Stop at the Dr. Kong, Geox or Rockport outlets for school uniform shoes.

Citygate Outlets, 20 Tat Tung Road, Tung Chung, Lantau, Hong Kong, www.citygateoutlets.com.hk

Bumps to Babes

School bags, lunch boxes, wallets? Tick! Whether you want to sit back and browse online, or hop on down to this mega-store, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.

Sassy Mama Favourite: Pack a fun filled lunch with the Slimeline Quaddie ($85).

Bumps to Babes, various locations in Hong Kong, www.bumpstobabes.com

AEON

From swimming gear, to lunch boxes, to groceries to lunch boxes – AEON has it all! The chain store is so large it’s usually situated on 3 floors or more, which means you could easily spend an entire day in there stocking up for the new school year.

Sassy Mama Favourite: AEON will always have a sale going on, meaning: great prices on bulk purchases.

AEON, various locations in Hong Kong, www.aeonstores.com.hk

SOGO

While the department store is brimming with high-end brands, you’ll also find good quality school bags and shoes for the little monster (Kipling, Hush Puppies, Phillips, Chickeeduck).

Sassy Mama Favourite: The sheer variety floors us (we also love that we get to do some shopping for ourselves too!)

SOGO, 555 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong; 20 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2833 8338 www.sogo.com.hk

Thorn and Burrow

Slightly smaller than the other massive chain stores, this boutique and homeware lifestyle store stocks cute and bright coloured towels, lunch boxes, bottles, paints and more. For something a little off-the-beaten-path, check out this spot for unique home goods for your little ones and yourself.

Sassy Mama Favourite: Stainless Steel S’well Water Bottle

Thorn and Burrow, 1/F, 30 High Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, 2559 9338, www.thornandburrow.com 

Jellybean

With all the necessities for your school year ahead, Jellybean is stocked with art supplies, pencil cases, backpacks and cutlery in fun and chic designs.

Sassy Mama Favourite: Jellybean Yumbox

Jellybean, Shop 229, Lee Garden Two, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, tel: 2907 8116, www.jellybean.hk

Featured image sourced via Pexels

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