MTR Corporation opened the LOUDER youth retail space at THE SOUTHSIDE in Wong Chuk Hang on November 3, with dedicated displays for 16 youth-led brands. Each display includes the brand’s story, its founder’s journey and the ideas behind its products.
The space offers young product-design partners advice on product development, sales and promotion. MTR Corporation also works with non-profit, social enterprise and education organisations to provide these partners with mentoring, internships and opportunities to learn and grow across sectors. LOUDER began in 2022 as a retail platform for locally created products.
Handmadeship founder Katrina makes products featuring Hong Kong motifs such as old street scenes, building mailboxes and shop signs. She said she earned about HK$2,000 a month when she started; after 12 years in business, she described the brand as only just becoming established.
Another participant, Wing Lok Noodle Factory, has developed products including coriander noodles and noodles for pets. Its second-generation successor says the mall space helps the business reach more customers and gather feedback to assess how new products fare.