Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2019 i Tatler Hong Kong

Lawyers-turned-entrepreneurs Seth Yap and Lea Chan grace the cover and reveal their plans for M101, their real estate development company, which is behind some of Malaysia’s most exciting skyscrapers, hotels and resorts. Lucy Torres-Gomez, honoured as Philippine Tatler’s Most Stylish Woman last year, stars on the cover. A former television personality, Lucy now serves as a congresswoman for the fourth district of the province of Leyte, where she was born. Celebrated authors Hao Jingfang and Wang Zhanhei share the cover. Both have recently picked up major awards, with Jingfang winning the prestigious Hugo Award and Zhanhei taking home the Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize. Singaporean doctor and fashion savant Georgia Lee showcases her edgy aesthetic in this month’s cover story. Also, art champions Emi Eu and Audrey Yeo give the low-down on…

MELISSA TWIGG The British journalist meets a group of glamorous young women with a lot more than marriage on their minds in Coming of Age (p.58) What’s your next travel destination? I’m far too delicate for a dark English winter, so I now spend January and February at my parents’ house in Cape Town—and I’m planning a trip up to Malawi while I’m there. Who would play you in a movie? Someone once said I looked like Oona Chaplin and I was immensely flattered, so let’s say her. Valentine’s Day plans? Crashing my parents’ romantic dinner like any good thirtysomething temporarily living at home. One debutante whose style you like? I loved Elizabeth Starling Lewis’ princess gown—she looked like a young Princess Grace. And her knowledge of politics was impressive.…

Cooking for a crowd is never an easy feat but young chef Hilda Chan is already a seasoned pro. As the guest chef at this month’s Longines Masters of Hong Kong, she will be overseeing feasts for hundreds of spectators each day—numbers the Hongkonger is already used to, having collaborated late last year with the iconic Martin Yan on the WildAid gala dinner in Los Angeles, where they served more than 600 guests. A graduate of the Institut Culinaire Disciples Escoffier, Chan was appointed an ambassador for Disciples Escoffier International Asia last year. Her cooking is firmly rooted in French tradition, to which she adds her own touches of inspiration gleaned from working alongside well-known chefs around the world. What drew you to cooking? I was very lucky when I…

Step away from that black turtleneck. While your winter instincts might have you reaching for that monochrome ensemble, we challenge you to vivify your wardrobe with some punchy pigments. Keep pastels for spring and instead opt for a poppy red skirt from the likes of Fendi or a tango-ready tangerine platform sandal from Giuseppe Zanotti. For the more sartorially shy, blue counts too, as long as it’s of a bright cobalt variety and paired with primary-hued partners, as seen at Calvin Klein 205W39NYC. Brownie points for wearing more than three colours at once.…

The buzz words you won’t stop hearing any time soon in 2019? “Go green,” both in environmental and sartorial terms. We’re particularly enamoured of camouflage hues, from sage to moss, plucked straight from the jackets of army uniforms. Apply the versatile shades to anything from nylon backpacks à la Givenchy to high-top sneakers like those from Off-White. There are plenty of olive options for the dapper gent as well. Take cues from a supple leather suit from Hermès in a soft, cropped cutting, or the oversized number from Dries Van Noten. Pair with shower sandals, aviator frames or a modern army tag necklace for a streetwear spin.…

We all have that friend who has somehow beaten the sands of time, with skin so dewy it probably belongs on a university campus. “I just get plenty of sleep and drink lots of water,” your friend usually answers when cross-questioned on how she looks so youthful. But what if you simply don’t have the time to sleep eight hours a night like your age-defying friend—or the flexibility to follow a vegan diet? Well, that’s where French skincare specialist Sisley comes in—specifically, its new wonder product, the Sisleÿa L’Intégral Anti-Âge Anti-Wrinkle Concentrated Serum. According to Sisley’s Asia-Pacific regional managing director, Nicolas Chesnier, our behaviour really is essential to slowing down the ageing process and the serum actually targets the problems that are caused by people’s behaviour. Last year, Sisley stepped…

It was the kind of party you’d fantasise about attending when you’re young—and then you grow up and realise you’re unlikely ever to rub shoulders with Brad Pitt at a black-tie event. When Breitling sent me an invitation to a lavish gala where one of the most desired male movie stars of the past three decades would be present, my inner teenager let out a scream of delight—and my adult self wasn’t far behind. So it was with great excitement that I joined a crowd of 500 high-society watch fanciers late last year at Beijing’s breathtaking Phoenix Centre as Breitling—a Swiss watch manufacturer known for its prestigious, high-performance timepieces—announced its presence in China. The centre, already famous around the globe for its sweeping exterior and dramatic all-glass interior, looked particularly…

Listen to the forest. What do you hear? Noises made by insects, birds and animals, leaves rustling and even trees creaking in the wind. These sounds can tell us how healthy a forest is. By planting listening devices and running the recordings through an algorithm, conservationists are learning more about the health of such ecosystems. This technology is just one of many ways The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is helping to protect the environment—in this case in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea. It’s a development Moses Tsang, a global board member of the charity, believes has much potential. “Using technology to improve the outcome of conservation is one thing I’m very excited about, and it’s really just at the budding stage,” he says. Moses has been involved with TNC for…

With budget airlines, blink-andyou’ll-miss-it weekend trips and our growing affinity for sweatpants, travel, for the most part, isn’t as glamorous as it used to be. In the days of voyaging by ship or traversing continents by train, travel was inextricably linked to adventure. To prepare for such epic expeditions, discerning travellers turned to trunk makers like Louis Vuitton. At just 13 years of age, Louis Vuitton himself set out on foot from his home in the Jura region of France for Paris so he could gain work as an apprentice trunk maker and packer. After making a name for himself working under a renowned trunk maker by the name of Monsieur Marechal, Vuitton branched out and opened his own workshop. A sign out the front of his first atelier read:…

The philanthropic reputation of the Rockerfeller family stands as strong now as it did a century ago. Throughout John D Rockefeller Sr’s life, the oil tycoon donated some US$540 million to modern medicine, including funding the Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, which opened in 1917. But lesser known is the family’s contribution to Asian art and culture, channelled through the Asian Cultural Council founded by John D Rockefeller III in 1963 and chaired today by his great-granddaughter Wendy O’Neill. “More investment in the arts, that’s what the world needs,” says Wendy, who in 2009 became a trustee of the council, which helps support talented individuals pursuing a career in the visual and performing arts by offering cultural exchanges in the US or Asia. As it celebrates its 55th anniversary…

We spotted Jaime Ku, Jonathan Cheung and Yen Kuok in the crowd at a cocktail party to celebrate the reopening of Tom Ford’s revamped flagship boutique at IFC Mall. The VIPs present enjoyed a preview of the brand’s latest spring/summer collection. The revamp has given the boutique a modern and timeless look perfect for displaying Tom Ford’s ready-to-wear, timepieces, accessories and beauty lines.…

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE: WERQ THE WORLD TOUR The glittering drag show, which features the Emmy-winning reality series’ cast, including Asia O’Hara and Eureka O’Hara, makes its Asian debut. At the HKAPA. hkticketing.com VALENTINE’S DAY CONCERT The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra delivers an evening of romance with love ballads from the ’60s, such as Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love, the Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody and West Side Story’s Tonight. At the Cultural Centre. urbtix.hk THE GREAT GATSBY F Scott Fitzgerald’s gut-wrenching tale of love, excess comes alive in the Asian premiere of Hong Kong Ballet artistic director Septime Webre’s decadent production. At the HKAPA until February 16. hkticketing.com PHILIP GLASS’ DAVID BOWIE As part of its Swire Denim Series of concerts, this month the Hong Kong Philharmonic is hosting…

1 BACK TO BASICS ROOTS Local chef Stephanie Wong, who trained with both Alain Ducasse and Richard Ekkebus, has opened her independent restaurant in Wan Chai’s Sun Street serving her unique blend of French and Cantonese cuisine. rootseatery.com 2 ART OF NOODLES RAMEN CUBISM Japanese chef Hayashi Takao, known for his ramen restaurants in Osaka, has opened his first Hong Kong venue on Wellington Street, serving his signature noodles. The Earth Bird and the Sky Bird versions with simmered chicken stock are exclusive to the city. facebook.com/ramencubism 3 GREECE IS THE WORD ESTIATORIO KEIA Head to H Queen’s in Central for a taste of Greek and Mediterranean cooking in a chic setting. Classics such as tzatziki, saganaki and loukoumades (honey dough balls) show up on the menu alongside items such…

JOEL NEOH Founder of Fave, a leading mobile payments and rewards platform. Location: Malaysia STEPHANIE LEE SY Founder and CEO of Thinking Machines, a data science company. Location: Philippines STEVEN KIM Co-founder and CEO of food reservation app Qraved. Location: Indonesia AARON LEE Founder of travel-tech companies Dash Serviced Suites and Black Doors. Location: Hong Kong ARRIF ZIAUDEEN CEO of restaurant reservation app Chope. Location: Singapore KHAILEE NG Managing partner of venture capital firm 500 Startups. Location: Malaysia and Indonesia KATHY GONG Co-founder and CEO of innovative gaming company Wafa Games. Location: Mainland China TERENCE KWOK CEO of communications technology company Tink Labs. Location: Hong Kong DANNY YEUNG Group CEO /co-founder of Prenetics, a genetics-enabled health company. Location: Hong Kong…

Last year, 28-year-old British designer Richard Quinn had Queen Elizabeth II in the front row at his first London Fashion Week show, while Amal Clooney turned heads in his floor-sweeping floral skirt-over-trousers gown at the Met Gala. The Central Saint Martins graduate has been lauded worldwide for his innovative use of wallpaper prints, and won the 2017 H&M Design Award and the first Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. His spring/ summer 2019 collection sees Quinn giving back to the community that nurtured him. Aiming to draw attention to underfunded art programmes in British schools, he eschewed the usual style suspects for his front row, replacing them with students from his alma maters. Models strutted to a soundtrack by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, first wearing black-out velvet bodysuits and…

Born in China and based in London, Royal College of Art graduate Feng Chen Wang is one of the most promising young Chinese designers making waves in the West. Known for her futuristic outerwear and unisex silhouettes, which have been likened to iconic Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo’s work, Wang nabbed a nomination for the 2016 LVMH Prize after just two seasons on the London Fashion Week men’s runway, and secured coveted shelf space at the likes of Dover Street Market and Lane Crawford. For her spring/summer 2019 offering, Wang was obsessed with the idea of “halves,” both in their physical and abstract senses. There was splicing and merging of shirts, and jeans with extra legs attached, while sneakers (from Wang’s Converse partnership) were also cut up and reattached to make…

The South of France is delightful in more ways than one. It’s a part of the world seemingly designed for pleasure, be it sipping glasses of pale rosé by the Mediterranean or relaxing in sun-drenched villages high in the hills. But it turns out that this dream holiday destination can also make you prettier—and we’re not just talking about improving your suntan. Inspired by the countryside of Provence, which grows many ingredients used in the world of perfume, Chanel initiated a research programme for its Sublimage skincare collection under the watchful eye of Nicola Fuzzati, Chanel’s director of ingredients innovation and development. A laboratory was built to study more than 500 wild plants, including their history, medicinal properties and endemicity, to assess their potential for use in the Sublimage line.…

VACHERON CONSTANTIN In two iterations—platinum case with blue grand feu enamel dial, or pink-gold case with bronze-toned enamel dial—the Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Pig watch features an elegantly sculpted pig (in the same material as the case) taking pride of place at the centre of the dial. The hands-free reading displays the hours, minutes, day and date via four apertures, while a transparent caseback reveals the beauty of the Calibre 2460 G4 movement and gold Maltese cross oscillating weight. CHOPARD Another auspicious 88-piece limited edition, Chopard’s LUC XP Urushi Year of the Pig is powered by an ultra-thin automatic movement driven by a gold micro rotor, all visible through the transparent caseback. But it’s the dial that’s the star here, picturing a pig…

Since it was established in 2009 on Koh Kood in the east of the Gulf of Thailand, Soneva Kiri has been a world leader in sustainable travel. The founders, Sonu Shivdasani and Eva Malmström-Shivdasani, gave a solemn undertaking that the surrounding environment and local community would benefit directly from the luxury resort. That promise has been kept through a series of pioneering programmes, including producing biofuel from used cooking oil, eschewing single-use plastics at the resort, providing guests with reusable glass bottles, committing to a zero-waste food policy, and growing and sourcing food and materials locally. “Here we ask the question, What is luxury in today’s society?” says Bruce Bromley, chief financial officer and deputy CEO of Soneva. “The idea of marble bathtubs and chandeliers and gold fittings—these are no…

The heavens open as I meet Elora Hardy inside an elegant bamboo building in the centre of the idyllic Indonesian island of Bali, one of many she has designed. Rain hammers on the thatched roof and the grass outside. There are no walls, so the cooling breeze blows across us, carrying the scents of the surrounding jungle. We’re technically inside, but it doesn’t really feel like it. “Isn’t it nice to be sheltered but not separated,” Hardy comments, gazing out into the forest. Hardy has made a career out of blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors. As creative director of Ibuku, a Bali-based design studio, she has spent years exploring ways to build homes, schools, restaurants and more out of bamboo, one of the most sustainable building materials on…

Roughly 5pm, February 21, 2003. Liu Jianlun checks in at the Metropole Hotel in Mong Kok. The 64-year-old doctor has just arrived from Guangdong, where patients have been flocking to his hospital with a mysterious pneumonia. While waiting for the lift, he has a coughing fit, spraying germs into the air and onto buttons. He shuffles to his room and curls up in bed with a fever. Over the next few hours, guests stream in and out of the busy hotel, touching the surfaces Liu has touched, breathing the air he breathed. By the time the doctor dies in hospital a few days later, other Metropole guests are falling sick, though some have since travelled to Singapore, Vietnam, Ireland, Canada and the US, unwittingly unleashing severe acute respiratory syndrome, or…

1 PER SE amazing New Per Se. Fine cuisine. Stunning. Opened in 2004, it’s Thomas Keller’s acclaimed interpretation of the French Laundry. His nine-course tasting menu and nine-course vegetable tasting menu using classic French technique and the finest ingredients are simply amazing. 2 GUSTAV KLIMT I s subversive. He was a classical painter who invented a new style of painting. There’s also a lot of mythology and history behind his paintings. I think his work is just fascinating. 3 FEAR I’m reading a book called Fear. About Donald Trump in the White House, it’s written by Bob Woodward, one of the journalists who exposed Watergate. It’s fascinating, like a soap opera. 4 THE WEEKND I’m into every kind of music—R&B, pop… I might listen to music before going out or…

In celebration of space, science and the future, a group of talented entrepreneurs from the Generation T lists across Asia converged in Silicon Valley for a multi-day experience, where the climax of the weekend was the Breakthrough Prize awards ceremony. Silicon Valley’s most glamorous event, which is staged at a stunning venue at Nasa’s Ames Research Centre, boasts a unique blend of personalities—such celebrities as host Pierce Brosnan, singer Lionel Richie, actors Julianne Moore, Orlando Bloom, Rachel McAdams and Thandie Newton; and founders and CEOs of the biggest tech companies in the world, including Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Google’s Sergey Brin and Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi. Highlights of the evening included a special tribute to the late Stephen Hawking, a Breakthrough Prize laureate, by Eddie Redmayne, who played Hawking in the film…

Rosewood Sand Hill Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this peaceful luxury hideaway was home for our Generation T honourees during their five-day trip to California to attend the Breakthrough Prize ceremony. Ideally located in Menlo Park, next to Palo Alto in the heart of Silicon Valley, the property’s 6.5 hectares of landscaped gardens and stunning mountain views provided a convenient and welcome retreat after a long day of activities. The Library & Bar was a favourite gathering place with its trio of indoor and outdoor settings. The bar spills out onto an expansive terrace where guests can enjoy light bites, fine wine and bespoke seasonal cocktails at umbrella-shaded tables and comfortable lounge seating. Wood-burning fireplaces and heat lanterns make this spot a year-round favourite. The Santa…

BA GUAN BY CHA LING This sleek, portable cupping jar harnesses the vacuum suction technique of the age-old Chinese therapy to facilitate blood circulation and prevent the accumulation of subcutaneous fat. REFA RHYTHM BY REFA Say goodbye to facial stiffness with this luxurious massaging roller, which boasts 50 evenly spaced projections to stimulate mimetic muscles and soothe facial tension. LUNA FOFO BY FOREO Known for its cute packaging, the cult beauty gadget brand’s latest cleansing brush gives skin a tailored treatment via its magnetic sensors, which measure moisture levels and sensitivity. FACE ROLLER AND GUASHA SCRAPER SET BY THE ARTISTRY Crafted in natural rose quartz, this glamorous tool can be used under the eyes to reduce puffiness or on the lips to promote plumpness, while the guasha movements give skin…

BAUME HIS The signature minimalist aesthetic of Baume’s Iconic Series makes it a versatile accessory, and it’s now completely customisable. The restrained matte black version is ideal for him. HERS The Iconic Series offers a range of interchangeable straps created with upcycled or recycled fabric, from cork and cotton to linen and alcantara. We find the red strap a perfect match with the red-gold case. BLANCPAIN HERS This Villeret Quantième Phases de Lune with a diamond-set bezel and mesh steel bracelet is a beautiful and technical watch that provides the date and phases of the moon. HIS The Villeret Quantième Perpetual 8 Days watch will surely make him swoon. It features a perpetual calendar and moonphase and is housed in a steel case paired with a leather strap. BOVET HIS…

DIOR Rose des Vents bangle in pink gold set with a diamond, mother-of-pearl and a pink opal VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Perlée Couleurs bracelet in pink gold set with carnelian and diamonds CHAUMET Joséphine Aigrette ring in white gold set with diamonds and cultured pearls CHOPARD Happy Hearts earrings in red gold set with mother-of-pearl and diamonds BOUCHERON Serpent Bohème long necklace in yellow gold set with diamonds GRAFF Spiral watch with pink mother-of-pearl dial, a red gold case set with diamonds and fitted with a glossy strap BULGARI Fiorever bracelet in rose gold set with a white diamond CHANEL Extrait de Camélia ear studs in pink gold with diamonds TIFFANY & CO T Two open horizontal bar pendant in 18K rose gold set with diamonds CARTIER Love bracelet in…

General manager of aquarium operator Aquawalk, Malaysia “My pledge is that my places of business are plastic-free within 12 months” —DARYL FOONG Executive director of the GoalBlue Low Carbon Development Centre, Mainland China “I pledge to work with 5,000 restaurants in Beijing and Shanghai to reduce the amount of animal products they use by 30 per cent by the end of 2020” —MAY MEI Executive vice-president, Sukosol Hotels, Thailand “My pledge is that I’d like to reduce single-use plastic by 20 per cent in 20 hotels by the year 2020” —MARISA SUKOSOL NUNBHAKDI Head of sustainability at Swire Beverages, Hong Kong “By 2025, 100 per cent of our packaging will be recyclable” —WILLIAM DAVIES…

MUGA RIOJA ARO 2015 A more sophisticated, savoury, mineral attitude on the nose, with dark chocolate, plum liqueur and dark cherry that’s still very primary. Violets, too. This has sexy, seductive dark plum and berries on the palate with an immaculate tannin texture and freshness. Profound, unending depth. Wow. Try from 2023. 99 points BODEGAS RODA RIOJA RODA I RESERVA 2011 There is beauty here and the transparency is inspiring, with dark berry, floral and mineral character. Full body and ultra-fine tannins. A glorious wine that will age for decades but is beautiful now. 98 points CONTINO RIOJA VIÑA DEL OLIVO 2016 This is sleek and racy with a polish and beauty that are incredible. Full body with ultra-fine tannins that touch you at the beginning and take you down…

Images by Juergen Teller, Peter Lindbergh and Nick Knight were among 100 by renowned international fashion photographers on show at Artistree in an exhibition titled Beyond Fashion. Open until February 24, the exhibition is the first to draw this particular collection of fashion imagery together. A private dinner was hosted at Artistree to celebrate the opening, with guests treated to a sumptuous 10-course dinner created by Mike Bagale, the former executive chef of Alinea, a Chicago restaurant with three Michelin stars. Victoria and Christopher Owen, Joyce Tam and Nick Knight, who was the evening’s guest of honour, were among the guests. For more photos, visit hongkongtatler.com/events THE INSIDER The final course was a signature Alinea dish called Floating Passionfruit, an edible helium balloon which became a popular selfie…