Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2022 i Tatler Hong Kong

TATLER HONG KONG He raps, acts, makes YouTube videos and runs a T-shirt company: Zain Syed explores Hong Kong’s cultural tropes while himself moving the needle. In an illuminating interview, the trilingual rising star discusses his burgeoning hip-hop profile, the notion of belonging, and why he refuses to be pigeonholed. TATLER INDONESIA Having advised some of the largest international companies in the world, Sonita Lontoh is an accomplished leader in innovation, green technology, digital transformation and the fourth industrial revolution, creating programmes that have positively impacted businesses, consumers, and society. She discusses the future of green technology, and how she empowers Asian women in the US. TATLER MALAYSIA Sarawak-born pianist Hii Mei Lin has performed on stages all over the world. The Kuala Lumpur-based musician is transforming society’s general perception…

ORBSTELLAR METASPACE Pacific Place plays host to an art installation with a difference this month. Orbstellar Metaspace is an immersive NFT experience, presenting a galactic voyage of participatory art, created by Hong Kong new media art group Xcept. Visitors can construct and design their own galaxy, with multiple colours and patterns to choose from. They then upload and project their galactic art piece onto the 360-degree screens to be viewed in real time. Until October. Shop 100A, L1, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty. klook.com COOKING CLASSES Known for high-quality cooking workshops for all ages, Foodcraft consistently has a finger on the pulse of modern families’ eating habits. This month, children can try making kombucha or get messy while learning about Japanese fermentation techniques to make soy-free miso and amazake, a…

ANNE-MARIE “HARMONY” ILUNGA NO “As someone who grew up in Hong Kong and is now working in Toronto, I have had the opportunity to compare diversity and inclusion in both cities. I am forced to accept that Hong Kong is not inclusive. “Diversity” means to have a seat at the table, while “inclusion” means to have one’s voice heard and respected at that table. Hong Kong has developed anti-discrimination legislation, like the Sex Discrimination Ordinance and Disability Discrimination Ordinance in 1995 and the Race Discrimination Ordinance in 2008, which were set up to ensure equal opportunities for all people, but many Hongkongers have yet to develop racial sensitivity and an inclusive spirit. Faced with rejection at my first modelling audition at age 17, I realised that the negative responses to…

Austy Lee’s jewellery creations are at once otherworldly and primal, taking inspiration from mythology and ancient civilisations, the natural powers deep in the core of the Earth, and universes far, far away. Take the Rainbow Prism collection, for example. The Rainbow on the Bifrost Ring in 18-karat gold is set with Australian black opal, Calgarian ammolite, red enamel and fancy yellow diamonds. It evokes Bifrost, the burning rainbow bridge of Norse mythology between the terrestrial—Midgard, or Earth—and the divine; Asgard, the realm of the gods. For the Rainbow Stingray Ring, Lee takes us deep into the ocean’s shimmering blues and greens to conjure the majestic giant manta ray, in an 18-karat rose gold piece set with Australian black opal, Calgarian ammolite, blue enamel and fancy colour diamonds. The Rainbow Frequency…

As was the case for many people, when the pandemic struck, it put a stop to Shavonne Wong’s work. The fashion photographer could no longer work with real models; so, in the name of future-proofing her career, she decided to create her own. Tatler interviewed Wong for Tatler TV: Meta Versed about how she’s pushing boundaries in the world of photography, celebrating “real” beauty via her virtual models and supporting minorities in the space, and how she felt about one of the pieces from her Love is Love collection being British actor Idris Elba’s first NFT purchase. Wong discussed how she was excited to find that her skills as a photographer transferred easily to working in 3D art, and that they could be used to fill a gap in the…

Zain Syed is asking Hongkongers to give him a minute. His YouTube channel, GiveZainamin, is quintessentially Hong Kong, the title a playful nod to the impatience characteristic of many of the city’s inhabitants. The content, too, is reflective of the city and its people. Syed started the channel three years ago, and the initial 10,000 subscribers quickly multiplied to 77,200. He uploads rap singles, music videos and long-form commentary on local pop culture trends and observations. His most watched video, with approximately 393,000 views, is titled 口不對心, which translates to “You don’t say what you mean” or “double speak”, and sees Syed making fun of trending TikTok and Douyin videos. While the words he speaks are relatively polite, the subtitles reflect much harsher language conveying his real thoughts. He uses…

FALL FOR EARTH The It girl’s favourite cult accessory label Manu Atelier is combining boldness and sustainability for the autumn season. In the campaign photographed by Harley Weir, Chinese model Chu Wong poses with arm candy handcrafted by local ateliers who used leather selected from Leather Working Group-certified tanneries. Moving towards the goal of being zero waste, the Turkish brand’s ethos is further expressed in a collaboration with emerging designer Lou de Betoly; the collection of upcycled garments is handmade using surplus fabrics from the fashion house’s production. MARRIED TO COMFORT Modern brides-to-be are swapping out pretty party shoes for something unexpected—and comfortable. If you’re looking to say “I do” in a pair of bridal-worthy sneakers, the Atelier Collection from Italian luxury footwear brand Hogan reinterprets elegance with statement sneakers…

“It’s still not diverse enough,” says art dealer and activist Amar Singh of the art world. But he is part of a movement calling for better representation and the decolonisation of art history. “We’re just at the beginning.” For a long time, the programming at museums and galleries has championed straight, white, male artists and reflected the dominant trend throughout art history. In recent years, however, an increased demand for works by female artists, LGBTQ+ artists, and artists of colour has resulted in a significant inflation in both their monetary and cultural value. Art institutions have been forced to seriously reconsider the diversity of their collections and artist rosters. While this socio-cultural reckoning has gained immense traction (fuelled further by the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter cultural movements), Singh hopes…

“We travel a lot for work—naturally, our home has lots of mementos from our travels,” says Mei Mei Song. The brand and product transformation director at airport hospitality services company Plaza Premium Group—and formerly an editor at Tatler—recently moved into a new home in Mid-Levels with her husband Mitchel Squires, an architect who is also partner and design director at design firm AVT Studio, along with their young family. Given Covid-19 travel restrictions, the 1,400-sq-ft, three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment—which also has a private rooftop of the same size, and a 50-sq-ft balcony off the living room—has become a “little travel diary” for the family, she says. Before the Covid era, business travel was a regular feature for Song, who is Chinese and Malaysian, and Squires, an Australian native. A six-month revamp…

One of my deepest regrets from my mid-teens is not sitting next to a particular kid in school. He was a year or two below me, and I remember him being kind, smart and funny in an offbeat and slightly-too-loud kind of way. Looking back, it’s clear that he was on the autism spectrum; but back then, there wasn’t much conversation about developmental conditions, and other kids simply thought he was “a bit weird”. No one was outwardly cruel, but there was the occasional snicker and often, he was just ignored. One particular memory stands out of a lunch break in the cafeteria, where teenage social politics were at their most charged—where you sat and with whom were indicators of your place on the slippery social ladder. The cool kids…

The fashion industry has jumped on the metaverse train, and it’s moving full steam ahead. But what exactly is digital fashion, and why should we care about it? On June 21, Tatler’s editor-in-chief Jacqueline Tsang spoke to fashion experts for the summer edition of House Stories at The Upper House’s Sky Lounge. The panel included Richard Hobbs and Nick Lau, founders of NFT fashion companies Brand New Vision (BNV) and Wear; Angus Tsui, the fashion designer behind his eponymous label; and Queenie Mak who has spent the last 20 years at the forefront of luxury communications working with brands such as Givenchy, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Lau, whose luxury Web3 platform Wear bridges physical and digital experiences, and collaborates with creators on metaverse-compatible digital assets, found his way into digital…

What were you doing before launching Dignity Kitchen? I started my career as a shipyard worker in Singapore. I went to the UK to study and lived there for 12 years. I obtained a degree in engineering and an MSc in computer integrated manufacturing. Then I came back to Singapore in 1994 and worked for [what is now] PricewaterhouseCoopers. Later, I started my own management consultancy to develop businesses in China and India. I ran this business until 2006. What inspired you to launch Dignity Kitchen in Singapore in 2010? In Singapore, you don’t see beggars, homeless people or disabled people on the streets or in shopping malls. I realised there is another side of Singapore that people don’t want to know about. I started something called Dignity Day. I…

Ellana Lee was in London for meetings in early 2020 when Covid-19 hit. Walking down Oxford Street, she was startled to find the crowds parting before her. “It was like the Red Sea; people wouldn’t even come near me,” says Lee. “That was my first experience in understanding that this [the pandemic] was going to be bigger than a virus story; this was going to trickle down to racism and how people are perceived.” It was a pivotal moment for the Korean American that reinforced her conviction that a diverse newsroom is important—employing people who can bring their varied life experiences to bear, contextualise news and identify underreported angles. As a founding member of CNN’s International Diversity Council, Lee has been making a concerted effort to reassess hiring, diversify storytelling…

One of the most highly respected whiskies around the world, The Macallan boasts flavours that are bold, rich and commanding, and the unveiling of the Macallan M Collection is a big deal for whisky connoisseurs. This trio of limited-release single malt whiskies are the result of a collaboration between three masters of their crafts: Fabien Baron, creative director of advertising agency Baron & Baron; French glass art company Lalique; and The Macallan. The M Collection is founded on the Six Pillars that make The Macallan distinctive: natural colour, mastery, curiously small spirit stills, the estate, exceptional oak casks and sherry seasoning. The first Macallan M release celebrated the single malt’s natural colour, and was showcased in a Lalique crystal decanter as exquisite as the unique Scottish spring water from which…

“My alarm usually goes off before 5 am,” says Tariq Ahmad, Franklin Templeton’s co‑head of Asia‑Pacific, on how he starts his day. “From a young age, the early mornings have been a natural fit for me. Now, I use the time to think, absorb market news from the US and Europe, fit in a session at the gym and prepare for the day as we focus on the strategic priorities for our clients across Apac. We’re busy but energised, and the morning provides that excitement of the day to come.” To say it has been a busy 24 months for Ahmad and the firm is an understatement. Ahmad’s recent appointment as co‑head of Apac aside, Franklin Templeton will be celebrating the two‑year anniversary of its acquisition of Legg Mason—one that…

Editors Pick Lauren James Deputy editor of Tatler Hong Kong To celebrate the 200th birthday of the founder of the iconic eponymous fashion house, Louis Vuitton’s Bravery high jewellery collection reinterprets the brand’s signature motifs while paying tribute to the courage and adventurous spirit of the French fashion designer. For the collection’s second chapter, the Parisian house presents four cocktail rings, each with a central brilliant-cut coloured stone on a geometric setting encrusted with diamond pavé, a multi-coloured ode to the classic luggage invented by Vuitton in 1854. Each ring features intricate detailing, such as studs and angle mounts, evoking the silhouette of the trunk. To be worn separately or stacked, these pieces catch the eye and practically scream “party”. Louis Vuitton Cocktail rings with sapphires, a ruby and a…

A TOUCH OF TWEED Once considered conservative, tweed is now seen as eclectic and cool; the dense, textured, woven fabric has become synonymous with elegance and is a working woman’s essential. The coming season offers a new generation of tweed separates and accessories—be it a Chanel jacket or pair of Valentino shorts—that carry a vintage appeal with a playful finish. MONOGRAM MAJESTY Like it or not, Nineties and early Noughties fashion continues to rule, meaning anything and everything with a logo is a hit this year. But to keep things fresh, designers are getting more creative in how they revive their brand’s heritage. Check out these monogram makeovers. SLICE IT UP If the cut-out trend is a little too daring for you, consider instead a sleek slice detail. Major fashion…

The decade and a half since I joined the wine industry has been fascinating for Chinese wine. China’s vineyard land grew until it (briefly) outstripped that of France; a Chinese wine won a trophy in a major global wine competition, and reactions to the term “Chinese wine” went from “That Great Wall stuff?” or “You mean Maotai?” to “Grace Vineyards, Ao Yun or Long Dai?” Few could have foreseen in 2008 that today we would be in a position to speak in all earnestness about Chinese “icon” wines. For context, this sort of meteoric rise took over a century in the United States, the only producer (and market) that provides a reasonable comparison. Though China also opened its first major winery in the 1800s (Changyu, established in 1892), its wine…

LARA JADE Lara Jade is a fashion and beauty photographer who finds inspiration in feminine strength, unique beauty and timeless style. She first picked up a camera when she was 14, and began her career in London before moving to New York. Her work has appeared in luxury fashion publications worldwide and her client collaborations include Monique Lhuillier, Bobbi Brown, Estée Lauder, Nars and Graff. She photographed this month’s fashion shoot (p.82) KWANNAM CHU A fashion photographer who splits his time between Seoul and Hong Kong, Kwannam Chu’s whimsical work is influenced by both old and new, and east and west. His photographs have been published in Dazed, GQ and The Wall Street Journal, among others. This month, Chu photographed Henry Li, Manfi Choi and Heilok Wan for a feature…

The last weekend of June was one to remember: bright sunshine, happy people and a Design Trust cocktail party that brought together the brightest minds in the city. Design Trust, an initiative of the Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design, hosted Research on the Move: Dialogues with M+ and Design Trust Research Fellows, which saw eight previous fellows from 2015 to 2019 present talks with Hong Kong-based design practitioners at a full-day symposium on the Grand Stair of M+ museum. The first-of-its-kind talk also engaged audiences from all over the world, who tuned in via Zoom to listen to experts discuss topics ranging from collective authorship, artificial intelligence and the comeback of brutalism to archival research, urban research, virtual geographies in Hong Kong and the future of tradition. The talks prompted…

New blockchain game DarleyGo makes it possible for anyone to be a virtual racehorse owner—and they can even make money from their hobby. DarleyGo allows people to buy, own, race, breed and sell virtual horses, using NFTs to give players’ investments value in the physical world, not just within the game. It’s the brainchild of startup Digital Games Lab, whose founder Alvin Lam is one of the few people with a deep personal and professional knowledge of the worlds of both horse racing and blockchain technology. “What does it mean to make money in a traditional game?” Lam says. “It’s worth nothing in the real world. NFT games solve one of the biggest problems with online games: you spend hundreds of hours to get something that’s not really worth anything.…

As the founder and principal of NC Design and Architecture, Nelson Chow has worked on some of the city’s most notable projects, from private properties to large-scale commercial designs. While his work is well-known, his background in fashion is not. Before moving full time into the architecture and design space, Chow completed a certificate in men’s tailoring in 2005. After beginning his career in New York City at renowned design studio AvroKO, Chow moved back to Hong Kong in 2009 to join Edge Design Institute. In 2011, he launched his own practice and, in 2013, he won a competition to reimagine a McDonald’s flagship restaurant in Shenzhen, leading to more work for the fast-food chain across the globe. Chow has since worked with Louis Vuitton on the brand’s Objets Nomades…

Compared to the clamour of a restaurant kitchen, with its pots boiling over, pans clanking, plates clacking and cries of “Order up!”, the pastry kitchen is a haven of calm. In the air-conditioned, humidity-controlled space, chefs patiently and contemplatively go about their work, deliberate and precise in the relative peace. It was no wonder, then, that this oasis appealed to Andy Yeung. As a young teenager who had gone from serving on the frantic restaurant floor to pot washing in the busy, bustling kitchen of his parents’ hotel restaurant, he was looking for an escape. “The temperature and the atmosphere in the hotel’s pastry kitchen were much better. It was clean; it was cool,” says Yeung. It also offered him a creative outlet. “I was addicted to drawing when I…

Walker is more than a guide dog to Rebekah Lam’s family. Seven years ago, her father, who suffers from inherited retinal dystrophy and can barely distinguish light and distance, took a misstep and fell onto the light rail track in Yuen Long. All his belongings fell out of his bag and his hearing aid battery fell off. “That was when I knew he couldn’t just rely on canes; he needed a companion,” Lam says. Back then, Raymond Cheung, the founding chairman of the Hong Kong Seeing Eye Dog Services, was advocating the use of guide dogs in the city, setting up kiosks around town to speak to people about the idea. “My father came across Cheung’s booth and stepped on a seeing eye dog’s tail by accident. To our surprise,…

From sourcing magicians to hiring plumbers, there are few needs that aren’t catered for by Toby. The online platform, founded by Jason Zheng in 2016, takes the stress and hassle out of booking services, and connects vetted and skilled professionals with customers. Zheng started his career in investment banking before turning his hand to tech startups. Here, Zheng reveals why he always felt that entrepreneurship was his destiny. Toby solves the issue of trying to find qualified local service providers. Finding a handyman or cleaner is [traditionally] a hassle. So we built a platform where you submit a request for, say, a handyman, and handymen on the platform are notified and can submit a quotation. We have about 400,000 registered users and get about 1,000 service requests a day. Service…

The global beauty landscape is ever evolving and often seen as acting more quickly than fashion in matters of inclusivity—from product development to accessibility to beauty standards. Can the same be said of the industry in Asia? We could think of few better people to answer that question than a fixture who has represented what Asian beauty means for more than 30 years: QiQi, Hong Kong’s original supermodel. Her decades of experience and appearances in countless campaigns and on glossy pages all started with a summer job: the 17-year-old QiQi was scouted by a modelling agent on the streets of Vienna, where her family lived during her teenage years. “In Austria, I was constantly approached from the age of 13 by Japanese people and westerners who asked me to model,”…

MONOCHROME CHIC Chanel’s celebrated logo is the focus of the maison’s new Wanted timepiece collection; the Premiére model with steel case and black lacquer dial is part-wristwatch, part-bracelet. The strap combines interlaced black leather and steel, reminiscent of Chanel’s classic shoulder bags and the brand’s use of chains to weight the hems of its iconic tweed jackets, while six steel and black lacquer pendants dangle from the bracelet. Chanel Première Wanted de Chanel watch IT’S A WRAP Omega has released its classic De Ville Trésor timepiece in an even slimmer size this year, complete with beautiful new straps. The new De Ville Mini Trésor is sized at just 26mm and comes with strap designs inspired by Toile de Jouy, the traditional 18th-century French print. Three patterns have been designed in-house,…

Manfi Choi is expecting her first child this November. For the mum-to-be and her wife Heilok Wan, the pregnancy has come with a series of hurdles even before the child was conceived. “For a lesbian couple, marriage and IVF are not [legally] recognised in Hong Kong, so we had to do both overseas—the former in Toronto and the latter in the US,” Choi says. “I had to stay in the US for four months for the IVF process. But honestly, not every lesbian couple has the financial means or the time to be away.” IVF, or in vitro fertilisation, and artificial insemination are the two methods commonly pursued by lesbian couples wishing to start a family. In Choi’s case, her egg was fertilised with donated sperm in a laboratory before…