(Hong Kong, 20 September 2023) The Mills is committed to integrating art and culture with the community, providing a space for retail and relaxation. It has become a unique cultural and creative landmark in Hong Kong that combines leisure, cultural conservation, and learning experiences. At the same time, we prioritize wellness and life quality of the community. We hope that every emotion, whether happy, painful, or disappointing, can be released and accepted. In response to World Smile Day and World Mental Health Day in October, we partnered with SMILEY®, a company dedicated to spreading happiness, some of the faces are placed into different spots to remind all of us to face challenges positively. We encourage everyone to embrace emotions and unlock happiness in their daily lives.
SmileyWorld® is a creative world that brings together thousands of unique expressions, committed to leading the digital communication trend, building interpersonal emotional intelligence, and creating a better future. It actively encourages everyone to “remember to smile.” CEO Nicolas Loufrani said, ” The Mills is a unique destination in Hong Kong, unlike any other. It fosters creativity, embraces culture, and prioritizes the preservation of local heritage. What sets it apart is its active engagement with the community, making it a fascinating place to explore. The Mills is dedicated to people’s well-being that aligns perfectly with the vision of SMILEY®. When I received the invitation from The Mills, I couldn’t help but envision the remarkable transformation of the old textile factory into SmileyWorld®. It is an opportunity to create something wonderful and meaningful, infusing positive energy and unlocking smiles in the lives of our friends in Hong Kong.”
From 20 September to 31 October, The Mills will transform into SmileyWorld®, with giant faces of eight different expressions set up in various spots of the space. They are squeezed into the staircases or placed on the beams. Everyone can search for them at The Mills and discover the different aspects of emotions. From this we can understand that no matter good or bad, we can see the storm with a smile as long as we adjust the mentality.
The most eye-catching “photo spot” is a giant smiling face with a diameter of up to 4 meters, looking at Pak Tin Par Street from the rooftop. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, imagine it as the moon and invite family and friends to gather at The Mills to celebrate the festival. In addition to the eight SmileyWorld® installations, The Mills will be surrounded by over a hundred SmileyWorld® stickers. Through different expressions, we awaken the muscles of smiles, release the energy of happiness, and laugh.
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2/F The Deck “I smile, therefore I am.“ |
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Original Staircase |
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The Hall “Happiness depends upon ourselves.” |
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3/F The Park “Enjoy the scenery even under pressure.” |
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1/F Atrium “Smiling Soothes, Blubbing Heals.“ |
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More than a hundred SmileyWorld® stickers surround The Mills to release positive energy for you! |
In addition to the giant faces of SmileyWorld®, The Mills has partnered with different groups and organizations to prepare a series of activities for everyone to find physical and mental balance together.
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Events and Activities |
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SMILEYWORLD limited edition stress ball Redemption |
From 20 Sep to 31 Oct 2023, NF Touch members can redeem one SMILEYWORLD limited edition stress ball through the rewards page on the mobile app. Non-members can also redeem the stress ball for FREE with a single purchase of $300 or more at The Mills. Let’s face daily stress and tension together by combating pressure. Date: 20 Sep to 31 Oct 2023 Time: 10:00-22:00 |
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Upcycled Lantern Workshop |
In this workshop in collaboration with St. James’ Settlement Jockey Club Cycling Center, participants can unleash their creativity while promoting mental well-being! Experience the joy of making your own lantern for the Mid-Autumn Festival using recycled umbrella fabric. By engaging in this eco-friendly activity, you contribute to sustainable practices and boost your sense of accomplishment and self-expression. Celebrate your uniqueness with a personalized lantern that symbolizes your creativity and mindfulness. Gather with your loved ones, enjoy the moonlight, savour mooncakes, and create lasting memories. Date：23 Sep 2023 (Sat) Language: Cantonese |
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Parent-Child Yoga Workshop |
Through practising yoga together, parents and children can enjoy the benefits of physical movement, relaxation, and meditation. This shared experience strengthens the bond between them, reduces stress, enhances emotional stability, and cultivates mind-body balance. Parent-child yoga provides a platform for families to explore and grow together, fostering deeper emotional connections among family members and promoting mental well-being. Date: 24 Sep 2023 (Sun) Language: Cantonese |
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Busking by The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra |
Season 2023/24 marks the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s 50th professional season. To celebrate this milestone with the general public, the orchestra’s ensemble teams will tour around the city and share great music for free. On 14 October 2023, the ensemble team will bring a fun-filled performance to visitors at The Mills to share the joy of music and encourage the nurturing of mental health. Date: 14 Oct 2023 (Sat) Time: 13:00 – 13:30 |
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Yoga Experience |
The Mills is collaborating with Canadian athletic apparel brand lululemon to hold yoga experiences on two consecutive Sundays. Together, let’s slowdown in the busy city and enjoy a peaceful and relaxing morning. Session 1 Language: Cantonese Session 2 Date: 22 Oct 2023 (Sun) Language: Cantonese For registration details, please stay tuned for the upcoming announcement by The Mills. |
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In Time Of: Drama Therapy Workshop |
Escape from the daily struggles and join us on Friday for a drama workshop. Hong Kong workers face long work hours, high-stress levels, and a demotivated work environment that often leads to frustration. In October, The Store In Time collaborates with Prism Art to offer applied drama workshops (referring to the use of drama in different settings, whereby participants actively engage in different forms of drama to achieve specific goals), helping workers to embrace failure, increase psychological flexibility, and enhance self-awareness of their emotions. Join us to reduce stress and improve mental health. Date: 27 Oct 2023 (Fri) Time: 19:00 – 20:30 Participants: Adult (18 years old or above) Language: Cantonese For registration details, please stay tuned for the upcoming announcement by The Mills. |
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Halloween Blood Donation Day at The Mills |
On 28th and 29th Oct, every participant who makes an online appointment and successfully donates blood on the event day will be rewarded a $50 coupon, while all NF Touch users will be rewarded an extra 100 NF Seeds after a successful donation. Blood Donation Day Details: Date: 28 Oct 2023 (Sat) Time: 11:30 – 18:00 Venue: 4/F, The Mills Date: 29 Oct 2023 (Sun) Time: 12:00 – 19:00 Venue: Mobile Blood Donation Vehicle, G/F, The Mills |
For more details of SMILEYWORLD at The Mills: Unlocking Happiness, please visit: link
For more high-resolution images, please download them here.
About SMILEY®
SMILEY®, a company with a happy mission, was founded by French journalist Franklin Loufrani in 1971. As early as the late 1960s and early 1970s in France, there was an atmosphere of depression in all walks of life. Franklin enthusiastically registered the SMILEY® smiley face to cheer everyone up. Using his identity as a journalist, he highlighted the positive news of the day with the smiley face. It reminded readers to see the good things in life and injects positive energy into daily life. In 1997, Franklin’s son Nicholas took over the symbol and developed it into the SmileyWorld brand. The goal is to spread positivity through smiles, to make the world a happier, kinder place.
About The Mills
Opened in late 2018, The Mills is Nan Fung Group’s landmark revitalisation project which transformed its former textile factories into a new destination for heritage and innovation. A story of reinvention, The Mills is about preserving the best of Hong Kong’s past and combining it with the future to offer a new platform for inspiration and creativity. The Mills represents the movement ‘from textile to techstyle’, symbolising the transition from its heritage to innovation, from old to new.
The Mills is composed of three pillars:
Fabrica – A go-to solutions platform accelerating techstyle and agrifood tech innovations for sustainability
Shopfloor – A landmark for experiential retail, and an expression of Hong Kong’s evolving character
CHAT (Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile– A non-profit arts centre interweaving textile, contemporary art, design and heritage.
SEWIT, the Group’s sustainable framework established in 2021, pays homage to both the shared heritage and environment. Five Pillars of SEWIT – Social Cohesion, Environment, Wellness, Innovation and Technology, form a patchwork planet and seedling that embed our commitment to sustainable growth in people, communities, and the environment. The three pillars of The Mills – Fabrica, Shopfloor and CHAT (Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile), interweave different innovative cultural experiences by adding green, pet-friendly, and community mindfulness elements.
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