NOWATCH This beautiful newcomer stopped me in my tracks. I must admit it was the striking interchangeable gemstone watch faces that first caught my attention—NOWATCH gives you the option to wear one of three watch faces: elegant analogue, gorgeous gemstone (the labradorite face is shown above), or sleek metal disc. The three styles are magnetically interchangeable. “Users can choose to be guided by time—or not—simply with the choice of a the chronos WATCH disc, a gemstone or a metal disc, just like they decide between being active in their daily life, with friends or at work, and decide when they want to take time out for themselves, to recalibrate and ‘find their calm,’” shared Hylke Muntinga, President and Co-Founder, who launched the Amsterdam-based tech startup in 2020 with Co-Founder Timothée Manschot.
There are over a dozen eco-friendly watch straps fashioned from woven recycled ocean-bound plastic or Italian vegetable-tanned bio leather from which to choose. But fashion aside, this smartwatch is no ordinary smartwatch—and it raises the wearable bar. Dubbed “the world’s first ‘awareable’ smartwatch,” NOWATCH is powered by one goal—to help the wearer feel better. With a five-day battery life, the watch offers silent, screenless tracking that doesn’t interrupt one’s life. The proprietary tech gives you insights into how your unique physiology responds to stress, and empowers you to build sustainable habits that encourage long-term health. “With NOWATCH Chronos we invite people to consider—perhaps for the first time—how time rules their existence,” said Muntinga. This innovative new smartwatch, focused on stress measurement and overall wellness, complements the spa environment and makes a smart spa addition to spa retail.
Varley Club Collection
Varley There’s a lot to love about this chic contemporary clothing brand founded by husband-and-wife team Lara and Ben Mead. The booth was hopping at ISPA. Standouts include the lightweight knit collection and the classic Club dresses. Varley’s signature fabric, DoubleSoft, is soft and smooth and has a bit of a cult following. During my visits to the spas at The Phoenician and the Four Seasons Scottsdale, I found Varley nicely displayed in the spa boutiques. A fellow guest at the Four Seasons, with the Varley “Betsy” sweatshirt in hand, raved to me about the line, sharing that her husband also loved it; it’s the only leisurewear line he wears.
Feelgoodz Special shout-out to the newly launched Bodhi spa slide, the latest addition to The Zero Waste Back Bar Collection—0 percent waste and 100 percent sustainable. Specially designed as a gift for guests, the Bodhi is made from 100 percent recycled materials and features repurposed recycled grocery bags for the comfort-focused footbed, recycled PVC plastic for the straps, and motorcycle tires transformed into durable soles. Feelgoodz may be found at Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, the Beverly Hills Hotel, and The Spa at Sec-he, among other properties.
Hi, Love Travel Bag
Hi, Love Travel When founder Melissa Posh was rain-soaked in Europe with a fancy bag, she thought, “There has to be a better way,” so she began brainstorming to find a water-friendly material that was lightweight (functional) and that also could be made into stylish bags. “The name Hi, Love Travel was inspired by Harbour Island, the location where love first bloomed in my life,” Posh explains. “Hi, of course, is also a friendly global greeting, and Love is obvious.” Spas that carry Hi, Love Travel bags include Kohler, Civana, and The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa. “ISPA is fantastic for generating leads to quality spas all over the country,” shared Posh.
Ilse Jacobsen Love the soft, faux-leather braided tote bags in pops of colors ranging from Azalea Pink Sand to Moonstruck Silver. Also, of note from Ilse Jacobsen is its assortment of footwear that includes some really cute flip flops and sandals (check out the Tulip Slip-Ons, made of recycled microfiber with a decorative laser-cut pattern). Available at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, Pebble Beach Resort, and Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa.
Joseph Ribkoff
Joseph Ribkoff It was the unexpected pops of hot pink and vibrant green that drew me to this booth where I met Caroline Ruble, North American Sales Trainer & Business Development Manager for this specialty retail brand. “The island green pop of color was certainly loved, as we featured it in jackets, dresses, and within several of our prints,” she told me, adding that attendees resonated with the brand’s soft, easy-to-wear styles, and that the sophisticated and more unique pieces were a stand out. “It was our first time attending ISPA, and we enjoyed it tremendously,” enthused Ruble. Joseph Ribkoff works with numerous Hilton properties, Hard Rock locations, and with the Greenbrier Resort, among others.
Walker & Wade This brand, founded by Laurette Kittle after a family holiday in Bali, is a no-brainer for hotel and resort spa retail and offers a variety of collections that use traditional Balinese techniques of batiks, ikats, and floral prints. Each Walker & Wade piece is handmade in Bali, and the pretty and lightweight feminine fabrics and styles run the gamut from fun and flirty short flouncy dresses to chic dusters. The Mandarin Duster in taupe caught my eye, as did the color-rich Mallorca Kaftan in Royal.
Kashwere Founder Merri Gleckler has upped the spa robe bar once more with the introduction of the Kapua robe and slippers. “What makes this robe so special is that unlike ‘terry velour,’ the Kapua robe is produced by twisting yarns together (rather than sewing two fabrics), so that the outside of the robe is plush velour and the inside is soft yet absorbent cotton. This makes this robe lightweight and feel so good.” Additionally, she explains, “the inside of the robe will never feel harsh like most terry robes after repeated laundering.” Kashwere has trademarked these yarns, and properties, such as The Breakers, have replaced their in-room robes with the Kapua.
Henriette Steffensen
Henriette Steffensen Founded in 2003, this Danish fashion brand whispers spa style with its neutral tones and simple lines. With a focus on sustainability—the brand uses Italian polar fleece crafted from recycled material, as well as dyes that are OEKO-certified. I love the Lounge & Wellness Collection, that founder Henriette Steffensen created specifically for resorts, spas, and wellness retreats (check out the sauna hats). Available at properties including the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, Pebble Beach Resort, and Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa.
Wrap-Up by Valerie Perez Who wasn’t wowed by Shazz Narducci, Executive Spa and Wellness Director, The Global Ambassador, while she was on the ISPA stage wearing a Wrap-Up caftan while playing the singing bowls? The soothing sounds emanating from her bowls were beautiful—as was the vision she portrayed, dressed in the Queen of Flow caftan. I know quite a few of my spa colleagues who placed orders for caftans after that ISPA opening! Founder Valerie Perez who comes from the world of fashion, has exhibited at ISPA for 10-plus years. Her favorite styles right now are the dresses and caftans, and her preferred design is the Aquarelle watercolor print.
SITA Couture’s Deirdre Ensemble
SITA Couture The first style that spoke to me at founder and designer Sita Thompson’s welcoming booth was a little number called “The Deirdre Ensemble.” Consisting of a long-sleeve crop top, matching high-cut panties, and simple drawstring shorts. As it turns out, ISPA 2024 marked the debut of the appealing ensemble. As if I couldn’t love it more, I was thrilled to learn of its origins. The Deirdre Ensemble is named for the one-and-only Deirdre Strunk, Senior Vice President of Wellness, Clubs and Spa Operations, Canyon Ranch. As Thompson explained to me, the ensemble came to life during a visit she had with Strunk at her Las Vegas office. During their discussion, Strunk noted that she wished a favorite Sita dress she traveled in had sleeves. “She wanted the warmth of the sleeves while keeping the silhouette of her staple piece without the bulk below the bust,” recalled Thompson. To take it a step further, it would be reversible, worn on one side with a v-neck front and on the other side as a boat neck. The rest is history. “Deirdre has been a little star since she got off the machines,” says Thompson. “Every account at the show wrote her. From The Global Ambassador in Phoenix to the Waldorf Astoria in Vegas to Lake Austin resort in Texas—Deirdre found her way to their racks.”
Iconesse, The Great Wave
Iconesse I’m filing these beauties under accessories, as they’ll dress up any corner of a room. Iconesse is a stunning line of candles that are inspired by six famous paintings. For example, my favorite is the candle that pays homage to The Great Wave, the iconic woodblock print by artist Katsushika Hokusai.
Candles are biodegradable, crafted from a 100-percent natural wax blend, feature cotton wicks, and fragrances that are blended by master perfumers in Grasse. Housed in crafted glass with painted patterns that mirror the artwork, Iconesse candles may be found at properties that include Mandarin Oriental New York and St. Regis Deer Valley.
[Editor’s Note: Find out which ISPA Expo exhibitors made the cut in our Insider’s Guide to the Best of ISPA Skincare.]
Mary Bemis
Mary Bemis is Founder & Editorial Director of InsidersGuidetoSpas.com. She is a pioneering spa journalist, most recently honored by Medika Life as one of the "Top 30 Influential Voices Transforming Wellness." She is an inaugural recipient of Folio's Top Women in Media Award, and was honored by ISPA with its distinguished ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award. In 1997, she launched American Spa magazine, and in 2007, Mary co-founded Organic Spa magazine. A pioneer in the sustainable spa and beauty worlds, Mary is co-curator of Cosmoprof North America's Discover Green Pavilion. She is a Global Wellness Day Advisor, and a co-founder of the Washington Spa Alliance.
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