Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2020 i Tatler Malaysia

TATLER HONG KONG In 2016, the Hong Kong-based filmmaker Craig Leeson focused the world’s attention on the pollution caused by single-use plastics in his documentary A Plastic Ocean. His latest project, The Last Glaciers, presents an equally startling view of the real-life impact of global warming on the world’s ice caps. hk.asiatatler.com SHANGLIU TATLER Bai Yunfeng, the representative director, president and CEO of China Boqi Environmental Solutions Technology (Holding), discusses how his company, which focuses on new energy and local desulphurisation projects, is merging high technology with environmental protection. shangliutatler.com TATLER INDONESIA Despite her global success from collaborations with Chris Brown, French Montana and Juicy J., cover star Agnez Mo, born Agnes Monica, has remained true to her roots and refuses to live up to anyone’s expectations besides her own.…

“In university, I was an active student leader but not a very good student,” laughs 36-year-old Ko Chuan Zhen. “One night, I was preparing my CV and realised just how bad my grades were. I knew then that I had to focus on at least one subject that would interest me.” Backtracking through his course materials, Ko found what he was looking for in the topic of solar energy. His resolve to spend his final year of university learning everything he could about renewable energy was a decision that ultimately saved his grades and shaped his future. Following an internship in Taiwan plus stints at German and Japanese renewable energy firms helped familiarise Ko with the technology and the operations aspects of the industry. Once, on a flight back to…

DISPLACED REFUGEES “The ideal future for Fugee School is that we no longer need to exist,” shared Deborah Henry, the co-founder of the school for stateless and displaced refugee children and youths. She explained, “Once we’ve realised the goal of giving the right to access education for every child no matter where they come from, then Fugee School as an organisation can pivot and address other issues.” Fugee has now grown into an enterprise, with the launch of accessory brand Fugeelah, which sells accessories crafted by refugee youths. Currently there are 58 schools and learning centres in Malaysia that are recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which also includes Fugee School. HIV AIDS 90% of the people living with HIV, locally, is the rate that the…

WITH LOVE Givenchy’s formula of pairing architectural shapes and bold colours is an effortless equation made bolder with the introduction of large stunning ombrelle hats. The haute couture show entitled Une Lettre D’amour is a metaphorical love letter from artistic director Clare Waight Keller to the founder Hubert de Givenchy. The romantic verses she crafted were in the form of asymmetrical dresses finished with tulle and organza as well as vibrant hues of indigo and lavender. HOMECOMING QUEEN “What if women ruled the world?” The question beckoned and Maria Grazia Chiuri, the creative director of Dior countered with a haute couture collection that championed femininity. Draped textiles, feathered capes and gold jewellery from Dior Joaillerie appear striking against the backdrop of banners created by artist Judy Chicago that pose a…

We braved the cold temperatures of Beijing to check out the SS20 collection by Salvatore Ferragamo which was being presented by creative director Paul Andrew. Ferragamo picked a 600-year-old Tibetan Buddhist temple turned stylish boutique hotel to showcase its men’s and women’s collections, which were mostly inspired by the vacation Andrew took with his family as a child. Andrew, not caring that it’s winter, dressed in a shirt, lightweight vest and pants, said the collection “really gives me the feeling of being in the south of Italy.” Whether you’re planning a trip or just needed to update your wardrobe, there are key takeaways from the collection that we can get on board with. Let us count them: VIVA, VIVA! One of the first things Paul Andrew did was to reinvent…

TAKING FLIGHT Taiwanese jeweller Cindy Chao, who is celebrating her company’s 15th anniversary this year, has had her 2008 Black Label Masterpiece I Ruby Butterfly Brooch inducted into the permanent collection of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. IN THE ROUGH Louis Vuitton has unveiled its latest purchase: the world’s second-largest rough diamond, Sewelô. About the size of a tennis ball, the 1,785-carat blackened stone is the largest rough diamond ever found in Botswana and recently made its international debut at the brand’s Place Vendôme store in Paris. LOVE LETTERS Paying tribute to the late American artist Cy Twombly’s swirling calligraphy, Graff’s high jewellery collection Inspired by Twombly features glittering loops of diamonds that are handset by the maison’s master craftsmen and women. WILDFLOWERS Frivole is a series dedicated…

CHOPARD’S STARRING ROLE Perched upon the wrist of male lead Hyun Bin for the South Korean hit TV series, Crash Landing on You, is Chopard’s Alpine Eagle, a timepiece inspired by the majestic imagery of eagles looking down from the Alps. Refined and modern in design, both the hour and minute hands are coated with a Super-LumiNova Grade X1 for increased legibility in the dark, enhancing its performance and perfect for the resolute Ri Jyung Hyuk—who in the drama is an aloof, resolute character as dependable as the maison’s steely invention. FOR THE LOVE OF FOOTBALL As the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final approaches around the corner (May 24th, 2020), Hublot, the official timekeeper and now partner of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2021, eagerly awaits the football season to begin.…

RAJA HAMZAH ABIDIN, RACHEL LAU & JO JO KONG Partners, RHL Ventures RHL Ventures plays an important role in connecting Malaysia’s generational wealth with the next breed of entrepreneurial talents through strategic funding and investments. Its managing partners, Rachel Lau and Raja Hamzah Abidin, bring together with them close to a decade of banking and finance experience. In the past, Lau worked as vice president at Heitman Investment Management in Hong Kong and Australia, while Hamzah was a principal investment analyst at Guoco Management Company based in Hong Kong. “Hamzah and I have known each other since we were kids. It was his idea to start this venture together. To be honest, I was hesitant about coming back after years of working abroad, but after a lot of convincing on…

Of all the questions you could’ve asked of a responsible human being in the 21st century in our collective journey to attain a more sustainable, conscientious lifestyle, why did it have to be this one: would you ever give up travel in the name of climate change? We are all now acutely aware of the real-life impact on this fragile planet we inhabit of what once seemed like harmless, everyday habits. So we gave up fast fashion. We gave up single-use plastic bags and water bottles. We gave up straws. But must we really give up travel, a subject that only in recent times was considered a noble pursuit of the global-minded citizen? Actually, when I was asked that question a few weeks ago, it was rather uncomplicated from a…

Fashion designers have always been obsessed with youth. They parade teenage models down runways, favour millennials over boomers and fall all over themselves to court the latest fresh-faced Hollywood stars. Not Philip Huang—his closest collaborators are grandmas. “It was April 2015, and we went on this road trip to find the indigo grandmas,” recalls Huang. He had recently left his home in New York, where he had enjoyed a successful modelling career, to relocate to Bangkok with his wife, Chomwan Weeraworawit, a co-founder of creative consultancy Mysterious Ordinary and an expert on intellectual property in the textiles industry. The couple had long been intrigued by how clothes and colours are made, having attended indigo dye-making workshops years earlier, and so were intrigued when they started hearing stories of communities in…

FatHopes Energy is an entity that converts waste oil into energy. Vinesh Sinha, who founded the company, claims that it is the only business currently in Malaysia that ensures that the waste oil collected is utilised solely for the production of biofuel, as he stresses on the importance of working together in decreasing our carbon footprint. Sustainability is the cornerstone in everything that we do. All of our stakeholders find that sustainability is extremely crucial in the alignment of our policies —which doesn’t only go well for the consumers of the entire model, but also provides better results for our suppliers, buyers and ourselves. Having sustainable practises also allows us to approach the same problem in different ways, while having our values intact. We need to have an impact on…

When it comes to style and making mindful environmentally-friendly decisions, you can have your cake and eat it too. The latest in green fashion is Mulberry’s 100 per cent sustainable leather tote bag featuring double loop handles and a shoulder strap for the ease of trading a hand-carry for a cross-body accessory. Called the Portobello bag, it’s inspired by Mulberry Green which is the brand’s manifesto to focus on committing to a sustainable legacy. The bag made entirely in the UK is created from heavy grain leather, which is a byproduct of food production and the design is stitched with Epic EcoVerde—a recycled polyester fibre. With a range of earthy and jewel tones, the bag is the essential everyday accessory.…

3.3 One of the reasons the Octo Finissimo GMT Automatic has been awarded the fifth World Record in the Technical Category as the Best 2019 Watch, by the Uhren Magazine in Germany, is its new ultra-thin 3.3mm automatic movement: the BVL 318 Calibre PUSH AT 9 The GMT function of this Octo Finissimo is an absolute must-have for travellers. To adjust the chronograph features (as seen in the three subdials of the watch), simply push the two classically positioned buttons on the right side of the case, while the third button on the 9 o’clock position allows you to adjust time zones Designed by Fabriozo Buonamassa Stigliani himself, the senior director at Bulgari’s Watch Design Centre, Bulgari’s revolutionary Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Automatic was first revealed during Baselworld 2019, alongside…

Being present to watch the Obamas live, it struck me how down-to-earth and charismatic they are. Even as they addressed the packed Connexion Conference and Event Centre in Nexus Bangsar South, it felt as if they were speaking directly to you—showcasing kindness, empathy and dare I say it, vulnerability. It sounds like a paradox, but if you ask the Obamas, they believe that real leadership should stem from the willingness to be vulnerable. “When you work in community building, you have to be vulnerable as a leader. When you do that, you open up other people’s vulnerabilities and everyone can give a little more to what you are working on,” said Michelle Obama in conversation with her friend and Oscar-winning actress, Julia Roberts onstage during the Obama Foundation Leaders: Asia-Pacific…

Jakarta has always been prone to floods, but this was something else entirely. On the first day of this year, the Indonesian capital was inundated by nearly half a metre of rain. Two rivers overflowed their banks. Drains couldn’t handle the downpour and flash floods ripped through the city. Sixty-six people were killed and 60,000 were displaced from their homes. The following month, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency made a declaration: the floods were caused by climate change. “In addition to the increase of rainfall intensity and the continuation of extreme conditions, it turns out that the temperature of Indonesia has also significantly increased,” said the agency’s head, Dwikorita Karnawati. There is no doubt that flooding will become more frequent and more severe in the coming years. It was…

FRANGIPANI EL NIDO This minimalist boutique hotel is adorned with gorgeous rattan pieces from homegrown Philippine furniture brand E Murio. But your eyes will surely be drawn to the suite’s floor-to-ceiling windows, which lovingly frame the island’s sparkling waters and jagged limestone formations. LAGÙN HOTEL EL NIDO Aside from the eclectic interiors by Cecille Ravelas and local design work by Palawan’s Jama Mapun indigenous tribeswomen, the real highlight of this town hotel is its roof deck pool, which boasts a majestic karst mountain backdrop that epitomises El Nido. MAREMEGMEG BEACH CLUB Built into the jungle behind it, this well-appointed cliff side beach resort designed by Eric Lopez offers the best of both worlds—unadulterated ocean views from its chic rooms as well as direct access to one of El Nido’s most…

“There should be a conscious movement as by well the fashion as consumers industry to become more environmentally-friendly” _CHERYL YEOH, SILICON VALLEY The former CEO of the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre and cofounder of the #MovingForward campaign is known for her entrepreneurship and advocacy for harassment-free corporate environments. As the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Silicon Valley Bank and advisor to various startups, her recent venture into fashion took many by surprise. She shared that her interest started when she first created a vegan leather handbag for her bridesmaids during her wedding. Encouraged by the positive response of this ‘experiment,’ she eventually launched the Charleigh bag for sale, made from vegan leather. “We use a material called EPUL (exquisite polyurethane leather), durable thread and quality fabric. Technology has come a long…

TOM HOOPS British photographer Tom Hoops has been shooting portraits and fashion for almost 20 years. His work—which has featured actors, royals and politicians—has been exhibited internationally and appeared in publications such as The Washington Post, Porter and Leica’s S magazine. He now splits his time between the UK and Thailand, where he photographed Philip Huang and Chomwan Weeraworawit with their children (p.212) ANDREA KEE A KL-based fashion stylist and writer, Andrea Kee has attended Fashion Weeks across the globe and conducted styling sessions plus workshops for big brands including Bulgari, Salvatore Ferragamo and Versace throughout her career. She showcases her expertise for Tatler Malaysia this month in Funding the Future (p.170) JESSICA IREDALE Jessica Iredale is a fashion journalist based in New York City. She was previously a senior…

PENANG STREET FOOD FESTIVAL In a country where food is celebrated, Penangites will swear by their local offerings. Taste for yourself as hawkers convene at Lebuh Pantai. piff.com.my 4 THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Catch the Asian World Premiere of the St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet’s renowned performance of The Sleeping Beauty, backed by music from the National Symphony Orchestra. istanabudaya.gov.my 9 MALAYSIAN FILM FESTIVAL This award ceremony pays tribute to the best of Malaysian cinema, with a lineup of film screenings and public forums. finas.gov.my 10 BORNEO MUSIC FESTIVAL LIVE Making the Sarawak Cultural Village, this festival features a star-studded international line-up. airasiaredtix.com 11 ILHAM CONVERSATIONS: INCARCERATED BODIES In this special talk by Azril Ismail, director of ICAD, UCSI University, his ongoing research into prison art is reviewed and explored on…

Since 2020 is Visit Malaysia year, what more do you think our people can offer tourists in terms of arts and culture? Personally when I travel, I want an authentic experience, in terms of places, food and people. I don’t travel to shop in the malls and frankly, I don’t understand why we keep building them in Kuala Lumpur. Tourists look for something that’s unique and I think with Earth Heir, we can offer them goods handcrafted in Malaysia which will benefit the community who made them. Earth Heir is the first Malaysian heritage boutique to be certified by the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO). What does this mean? Buyers are now more confident in our business and custom-made products. We’ve always been transparent about how we manage Earth Heir,…

Affectionately known as Il Pianista (the Pianist) within the realm of football, this 30-year-old Juventus FC player is one of the most skilful and versatile midfielders in Europe, and also Corum’s newly minted brand ambassador. Driven with a calm, focused sense for precision and accuracy, the Swiss maison had found Pjanić’s values aligned with its own in watchmaking. Take for instance his belief that the ‘simple’ things are the hardest to do, which resounds with Corum’s core values for its Golden Bridge collection.…

36 This 36mm case is larger than most women’s wristwatches, but it allows for a more detailed dial. Proof that bigger’s always better 1989 Since its debut in 1989, the Premier collection has been used by Harry Winston to demonstrate the maison’s different artistic crafts. The collection’s distinctive diamond-set lugs at 12 and 6 o’clock recall the arched entrance to the brand’s Fifth Avenue Flagship boutique in New York ROSE GOLD The soft but rich intensity of rose gold enhances this watch’s overall presence, which is further elevated by romantic shades of lilac, rose and cream. Now that’s hard to resist MICROMOSAIC A special type of mosaic that uses unusually small pieces of glass or enamel-like material, micromosaic is the technique behind this captivating depiction of a peacock, an animal…

In a world fixated on novelty, the wine industry manages time and again to make tradition seem like the hot new thing. Go to any region that once had a raging battle between barriquepraising, fruit-fixated modernists and dusty cellared, terroir-obsessed traditionalists and you’ll find scant producers eager to be lumped into the forward-facing camp. In Australia and California, young winemakers will talk up their savoury, “traditional”, wines and even European producers with very clean, fruit-focused wines still tout their “traditional” chops. Then there’s the natural wine movement where everything is jumbled up with a pseudo-historical fixation on minimising intervention (as if anything could be more modern than deliberately eschewing available technology for purely philosophical reasons). So, to celebrate the spring season, here are a few ways to think about “tradition”…