Thankfully, Steph Hon Had a Background in Dance, So She Knew How to Improvise.
Because throughout the process of wanting to build a revolutionary, environmentally-conscious travel Capsule to ultimately doing just that and selling 1.5 million of them… she had to improvise a lot.
Between her life in dance and documentary filmmaking, the founder and CEO of Cadence was constantly on the go. But buying an endless stream of single-use plastic containers to maintain her beauty and wellness routine didn’t sit well with her—so she started to look for a durable and aesthetic travel container to keep everything labeled and organized when she was on the move.
The problem was that it didn’t exist. And if you want something done right, as the saying goes, you gotta do it yourself. So throughout the course of 3 years, over 200 prototypes, and an obsessive design process, she did do it herself… and Cadence launched with their first Capsule system in 2020.
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Plenty of potential investors and engineers said the idea of making leakproof, BPA-free containers with ocean-bound plastic while staying committed to such stringent sustainability standards was impossible. But Steph was undeterred, saying in an interview with Surface Magazine that “telling me no is like throwing gas on my flame.”
And she must have been told no quite a bit, because Steph and Cadence have really caught fire. For 3 years, Cadence Capsules have been providing a versatile (and chic) solution for transporting all your essential items. Their honeycomb shape and magnetic modularity make for more than just a gorgeous photo-op (though you might have seen them all over your feed already…)
The real beauty in the Capsules comes from their intuitive design, a testament to Steph’s unending commitment to doing things the right way. On Cadence’s website, she claims she’s a “Scorpio workhorse who is deeply thoughtful, meticulous, and has a real love for efficiency and organization”—all qualities that ultimately put her on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2023.
The Original “Build Your 6” Capsule System
The first iteration of Cadence Capsules, the Originals come in a .56-ounce size and have won over the likes of Forbes, Travel + Leisure, and The New York Times. The Set of 6 can be customized by color and by “tiles,” interchangeable labels that identify the contents.
People loved them right away (they ended up selling out within the first 10 days of launching), but learned to love them even more—thanks to details like being fully TSA-compliant, their ease to clean, and that satisfying durability of a thoughtfully crafted product. But Steph’s idea was so good, the people ultimately decided they wanted more of it…
People Asked, Cadence Innovated: Introducing the Flex System
In an interview with Surface, Steph said of her background: “dance pieces are all about pushing the limit and shattering expectations, which is how I approach Cadence every day, whether sending an email or designing a new product.”
And the recently-released Flex System does just that. Previously only available in one size, the new system offers a Small (.56-ounce, $14), Medium (1.32-ounce, $22), a Large (2.75-ounce, $36), and even a 1.43-ounce Extender ($14) that allows you to essentially make your own size Capsule. Allows you to improvise, one might say.
The Flex System keeps the iconic honeycomb, magnetic, and modular form and adds a sleek matte texture for a fresh touch to the design. Because of the increased capacity, the Flex System allows for an extended travel routine or just a satisfyingly consolidated routine at home. Here’s a window into what the customization process could look like:
You can pick between 7 or 12 capsules in your system, depending on what you need. 
Here’s the cool part. You pick the labels that you think apply to your routine and it auto-generates some suggested sizes. 
You can swap out any size between the 56, the 132, and the 275. 
Whether you’re more monochrome or multicolor, you can choose your own aesthetic. 
And look at this beautiful spread. 🙌
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The versatility and next-level modularity of the Flex System is another testament to Steph Hon’s devotion to her products and to her customers. With Cadence, she’s really putting the power back in the peoples’ hands: the power to feel at home wherever you find yourself, the power to fight for a more sustainable planet, the power to dance to your own rhythm.
If you’re looking for a new way to travel, or just a new way to keep tidy, Cadence has something for you. These simple, effective, and super-stylish Capsules will probably very quickly become your favorite items and have you chasing that “zero-inbox, clean sheets, clear skin, feeling of control wherever you go,” in Steph’s words.
Cadence is currently offering $20 off when you spend $150+ on your system and $30 off when you spend $200+. Plus, there’s free US shipping over $50.