Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2020 i Tatler Malaysia

The thing about Marion Caunter is that she takes things in stride and in style—be it becoming a television-presenter for various programmes like 8TV or E! News Asia, managing her two enterprises, Marno Ro Capital and Hairplay hair salon, being a mother of three and one of Tatler Asia’s newly minted representatives of ‘The New Asia.’ “Style isn’t just about what you wear, but how you choose to wear it,” the fashion icon shares. Her Studio54-inspired outfit gleams underneath the strobing lights of our relaunch party: a glittery, sequinned jumpsuit from Halpern, a London-based ready-to-wear womenswear brand. “And I believe that sentiment applies to The New Asia as well,” she continues. “We have so many remarkable Asian talents hailing from all kinds of cultures, and we see them not only…

In 1986 at Surigao City, Philippines a two-year-old Marcelito Pomoy was abandoned by his parents. And then was adopted not long after by another loving family. However, when he turned seven, he decided to track down his biological parents, and left home. Thus at a very young age, Pomoy had to fend for himself. He lived on the streets and took up various jobs to support himself. It was while working the various odd jobs that he got, that he used to pass his time by singing. With his favourite singer being Celine Dion, he would often try to imitate her vocal prowess, but at the time he hadn’t fully realised his true potential. It was when he turned 18 that he realised he was able to merge his soprano…

What was it like working with Nike on the Victory Swim campaign? The Nike team was looking for a Malaysian model. They contacted me for a phone interview and asked if I could swim. That was the beginning of my epic journey with this iconic brand. I loved spending time with the team and I made a new friend, Ikram Abdi, who is also one of the talents featured in the campaign. Has this been the highlight of your career so far? Most definitely. I used to ask myself, ‘Why haven’t I grown as a model? When am I going to have my moment?’ Then it finally came and I couldn’t be happier or more proud of myself. Of course, I’ve worked with many amazing brands and people all throughout…

T he founder of independent fashion and lifestyle website Man Repeller, Leandra Medine Cohen started her site in 2010, hoping that it would open doors to other writing jobs after her graduation. Three days later, it was featured on Refinery29 and then picked up by other media sites, one-time being listed in the 25 Best Blogs of the year by Time magazine. Now, the self-proclaimed initiator of the #oneleggedselfie has become the face of the latest spring/summer campaign by Louis Vuitton, which sees her strutting in the streets of New York and lounging in her apartment showcasing five shoe models including monogrammed loafers and platform ankle boots. LIGHTWEIGHT GEOX once again perfects the cornerstones of their brand with the release of its spring/summer 2020 line boasting breathability, thermo-regulation and waterproofing.…

1970 MIYAKE DESIGN STUDIO Having studied graphic design (because fashion design was not offered at the time) at Tokyo’s Tama Univeristy, a young Issey Miyake moved to Paris to work under Hubert de Givenchy, Guy Laroche and then Geoffrey Beene in New York. After establishing his design studio, he showed his first collection in New York in 1971, which featured body jerseys hand-painted with traditional Japanese tattoo techniques. 1976 ISSEY MIYAKE MEN Discovering the popularity of his pieces among men, Miyake launched menswear that was presented for the first time with his womenswear during the fall-winter collection. Issey Miyake Men began showing solo during the Paris Collections in 1985 and its resulting success allowed the opening of its Tokyo Aoyama store in 1987. 1986 IRVING PENN Miyake collaborated with Irving…

It began as a collaboration project between Piaget and Salvador Dali in 1967, where the two would create a series of jewellery—from diamond pendants and earrings to gold watches, brooches as well as cufflinks using Dali’s ‘Dali d’Or,’ which were a series of coins minted with portraits of the artist and his wife, Elena Ivanova Diakonova (who was also known to the public as ‘Gala’). The duo’s traditional, hands-on approach to gold-working, a rare skill then, was just as awe-inspiring in the ’60s as it is today. Amassing over a hundred patterns inspired from nature, their gold bracelets now are hand-engraved by artisans at Piaget’s ‘Workshop of Extraordinary Creations’ with ‘Palace Décor’ motifs like frost, fur, scales, bark, waves, and so much more being incorporated. It’s an art form that…

Businessmen transforming their factories into cleanrooms for face mask production. Tycoons donating medical supplies to desperate nations around the world. Doctors rising above politics to deliver guidance for the public and clear reports on the progress of their efforts. Throughout our communities, powerful voices are using their influence to bring hope through their actions, their ideas and their examples…

In a show of solidarity, Malaysia’s biggest names in fashion came together to use their skills to sew PPE for medical frontliners in an initiative led by the Malaysia Official Designers Association. The fashion community, including Datuk Radzuan Radziwill, Khoon Hooi, Celest Thoi, Alia Bastamam and their teams of seamstresses and volunteers, worked to cut fabrics and sew thousands of PPE items to meet the never-ending demand from local hospitals. Touched by the countless acts of kindness she’s seen, MODA president Melinda Looi posted an Instagram video in which she said, “I have so much emotion going on, I can cry anytime, but these are tears of happiness to see people coming together.” She also mentioned instances of frontliners sending private messages “saying how grateful they feel that they are…

“Regina George is flawless. She has two Fendi purses and a silver Lexus. I hear her hair’s insured for US$10,000. I hear she does car commercials ... in Japan. Her favourite movie is Varsity Blues. One time, she met John Stamos on a plane and he told her she was pretty. One time, she punched me in the face. It was awesome.” — Mean Girls Time was, before social media and our complicit acceptance of 21st-century jargon such as ‘content’ and engagement,’ influence could be gauged on good old-fashioned herd hierarchy and gut feelings, like fear—think: Michael Corleone in The Godfather or Regina George in Mean Girls. These days, in an interactive digital world, a newfangled, ever-evolving concept of ‘influencer’ has become a bona fide career path—a recent Harris Poll…

Nature isn’t only the best muse; it’s also proven to be the best therapy. Hence the popularity of shinrin-yoku—a Japanese practice that literally translates to ‘forest bathing.’ Experience it in style at Satoyama Jujo in Niigata, a 12-room hotel ensconced in the forest, whose design is a tribute to traditional building methods and the beauty of wood, with interiors crafted from Zelkova, pine and cedar wood. For a deeper encounter with nature, Walk Japan’s brand-new itinerary, Shio-no-Michi: The Salt Road, takes travellers from the alpine scenery of northern Nagano to the wild Sea of Japan coast in Niigata. Launching in October, this historic trail was established in the 16th century and was formerly used to transport supplies. Apart from traversing wide valleys and mountain paths, travellers will also cross sleepy…

CHINA Leaf Greener Style reporter, fashion consultant Fashion journalists, particularly those born in the social-media era, tend to be typecast as superficial lightweights, but not Greener, who has managed to balance the glamorous responsibilities of becoming a street-style star with some actual serious reporting. When the coronavirus spread in Europe during fashion week, she responded to instances of hostility towards Asians with simple and clear social-media posts calling out xenophobic behaviour and explaining the cultural history of face masks. Her latest project is a book, Runway Dreams (T&G Publishing), featuring her essays on fashion along with surreal collages by the artist Edwin Antonio that combine runway looks with characters from classical paintings. Li Jiaqi Online star known as the King of Lipstick Could this be the world’s greatest lipstick salesman?…

“My mother believed that literacy is the key to progress and championed for education equity. Eventually, her strong belief became mine” – DIPTI KUMAR Influenced by her mother, Dipti Kumar always knew she was destined for social work. Although she studied law under a scholarship at King’s College in London, she never connected to the idea of being a lawyer in a firm. She spent her off-university days volunteering at an NGO in London and worked with underprivileged children in Nepal. This soon landed her a job as co-chair in the United Nations changemaker programme, followed by a role as advisor to Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Trust in the UK. When she returned to Malaysia, it wasn’t long before Dipti was recruited to become CEO of Malaysian Collective Impact Initiative…

SARAH HELLER Tatler Asia’s wine editor, Sarah Heller, became the world’s youngest Master of Wine when she earned the title in 2017. She is a partner and buyer for the Almásy Collection, a central European wine brand; brand ambassador and design collaborator for Lucaris Crystal; sits on the faculty of the Vinitaly International Academy; and is chairman of WINE100, China’s largest wine competition. This month, she reveals which wine experts influence and inspire her (p.202) CHRISTIAN BARKER Singapore-based writer Christian Barker has been covering luxury lifestyle, travel and culture for almost two decades for publications such as How to Spend It, Forbes and Esquire. In this month’s issue, Barker investigates the mechanics behind power reserves in watches (p.156) PERPETUA IP Perpetua Ip is a stylist, art director and writer who…

Valiram: The First Hundred Years was officiated by HRH Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and HRH Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin. During the event, Valiram executive directors Ashvin, Sharan and Mukesh spoke a few words, followed by a heartfelt speech by their mum, Datin Champa Valiram, who was the driving force behind the production - table book. Documenting three generations of Valirams since their arrival in Malaya in the 1800s, the book details the Sindhi family’s legacy, rife with joy, tragedy and tenacity. After the launch, guests adjourned to the foyer of the St Regis Kuala Lumpur grand ballroom for high tea before collecting their signed copies of the book.…

Dahlia describes herself as a culture aficionado, having developed a ferocious appetite for local heritage and tradition. Thus, she showcases local culture through her products, to promote lesser-known subjects entangled in the Malaysian DNA. Our culture and heritage is our identity. It saddens me that many of today’s generation have no inkling of who Mahsuri, Puteri Hang Li Po or even Hang Tuah is. I’ve had a few young customers ask what the Sape (a traditional instrument from Sarawak) and Inang (a type of dance from the old Malaccaan Empire) are. We should be committed to preserve our identity because without it, there is no Malaysia. Most importantly, we must see it as a whole, not just a race-based thing. I don’t simply name my products. I am really interested…

Do those magical, mystical crystals the so-called ‘new age’ folk swear by actually work? Who knows. The quartz crystals used in low-cost watchmaking, however, have well and truly proven their efficacy. In a quartz watch movement, a battery sends an electrical signal through a piece of crystal, driving the watch’s hands and functions. They’ll keep perfect time for three or four years, the life of the battery. A watch’s energy, meanwhile, is stored in a coiled mainspring, and is released as this gradually unwinds, powering the watch’s timekeeping functions and other complications. The number of hours of energy the mainspring provides before it needs winding—or, in the case of an automatic watch, a decent wearing or a thorough shake—is known as power reserve. We won’t go into greater detail about…

The Covid-19 pandemic has seized the world in a standstill, caught in a paralysis that has put a halt to everything we know, leaving us all uncertain as to how or when it will end. At press time, the number of infected cases has passed the 2 million mark, with more than 127,000 deaths. Governments are on the warpath, scrambling to reduce the number of new cases as hospitals everywhere are unable to cope with the sheer number of patients coming in for treatment. Worry for their health, their loved ones and their livelihood has led to increased anxiety; businesses are struggling to survive while some have sadly shuttered down due to the forced lockdown. There’s a bidding war for healthcare essentials like masks and personal protective equipment (PPE), as…

The Edge Media Group launched the Covid-19 Fund with the purpose of buying medical equipment and to assist healthcare workers who are infected in the line of duty. Thanks to generous donations by Malaysian corporations, raising the total sum to RM21.11mil, The Edge donated over 1 million face masks and 35,000 PPEs to 30 hospitals, plus ventilators for patients. The government’s Covid-19 Fund also received donations from various corporations such as Naza Corporation (RM1.25mil) and Puncak Niaga Holdings (RM1mil). Mah Sing Foundation donated 20 units of heavy-duty critical-care ventilators worth RM3.9mil to the National Disaster Management Agency to be distributed to frontline hospitals. Sunway Group not only opened up their private hospital to receive non-Covid patients and allowed the use of its hotel as an isolation centre, but also non-essential…

“I just need to warn you,” the public relations manager says ominously, as I am about to meet Donnie Yen in the VIP suite at Lane Crawford IFC Hong Kong, where the movie star is introducing his second collection of sunglasses under the ‘Donnieye’ label. “There will be about nine people in the room, and a video team will be filming the whole interview.” As I open my mouth to protest, she adds, “Oh, and he’ll be keeping his sunglasses on.” In case the size of his entourage isn’t enough of a clue, Donnie Yen is a big deal. He’s practically a household name in Asia thanks to the Ip Man franchise, in which he embodies the legendary father of wing chun, a form of martial arts, and since his…

CHECKING IN With armchair travelling being the new norm, hotels have come up with creative ways to inspire a five-star experience at home. For the ultimate self-care staycation, peruse the Belmond Care Package, an online guide that offers ideas for a relaxing morning routine, exquisite cocktails for happy hour, and cultural recommendations to fill the day. The Anantara Nomads blog also has stories and videos to help soothe your wanderlust. Of course, it’s impossible to replicate the exceptional destinations in your living room, but it doesn’t hurt to dream your day away. belmond.com/care-package; anantara.com/en/blog WELL AND GOOD Whether you’re looking for a meditation retreat or an integrated medical immersion, there’s something for every wellness connoisseur at Aman. Its new wellness programmes for 2020 are centred on bolstering the body’s natural…

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART, GWACHEON Google’s Arts & Culture tool lets you walk through the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Gwacheon, South Korea as easily as you can walk through a city on Google Street View, giving you a close-up view of the design, craft, architecture and visual arts in the museum’s collection. On top of that, MMCA is currently hosting four online shows—The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Korean Modern Masters: Yoo Youngkuk 1916-2002, Park Hyunki 1942-2002 Mandala, Garden and Birth of a Museum: Documenting the Construction of MMCA, Seoul— all of which feature informative write-ups alongside the artworks. mmca.go.kr RIJKSMUSEUM, AMSTERDAM A Dutch museum dedicated to art and history, the Rijksmuseum houses 8,000 pieces that span 800 years in 80…

DESIGN Chequered, houndstooth and stripes are some of the patterns that have been observed in many of the jacket’s reincarnations, often against the backdrop of silk shantung, denim and cotton wax BUTTONS Whether for a single or double breasted jacket, the number of buttons have varied throughout the years and were even concealed in some designs, using beautifully extravagant belts COLLAR The first version of the Bar Jacket features the notched collar—a timeless trend that was then given a twist in later designs, with rounded necklines or even more daring shawl collars WAIST The jacket is a sculptural marvel with its corseted waist and extended hipline. Retrospective designers lend their touch to the waist such as John Galliano who opted for a fridge finish and Marc Bohan who streamlined the…

Satoshi Kondo began to draw with a red pencil. He scratched lightly on the back of a press release, illustrating an outline of the final look from his latest collection—one garment comprised of several knitted tops that were connected by their sleeves. His interpreter and I stared in silence at this unexpected gesture from a designer who, after commanding the fashion world’s attention with his debut collection for Issey Miyake last September, remains somewhat elusive. “This look is called ‘Hand in Hand’,” says Kondo. “It’s one continuous knit with various fabrics fused together so that there is always a piece of the previous garment in the next.” He then flipped the pencil over and with its end poked around the page. “We didn’t express this explicitly at the show but,…

WENHAO YU / SOTHEBY’S ASIA “The 1927 Cartier bracelet from Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale in November 2019. It had a 47.07-carat, royal-blue Burmese sapphire and I was honoured to bid on behalf of a client from Asia. It went from US$2 million to US$5 million in just two minutes. After a battle that lasted almost half an hour, it was sold for over US$6 million.” JEAN GHIKA / BONHAMS “The cushion-shaped, 10.09-carat antique ‘no oil’ Colombian emerald, which was sold at a Bonhams Hong Kong auction in November 2014 for HK$7.2 million.” LUCIA SILVESTRI / BULGARI “A beautiful cushion-cut, 31-carat Sri Lankan sapphire was auctioned by Christie’s in Geneva in 2011. I almost bought it but at the very end the price shot up and I had…

Truly a princess who cares for her people, Tengku Zatashah is a regular volunteer at Kechara Soup Kitchen, on top of being on the board of trustees at the Food Bank Malaysia Foundation. She is also renowned for her social initiatives, having founded #zerofoodwastage. “Our main goal was to continue getting food to vulnerable communities during the MCO,” she stated. “It has proven tough, as the restrictions meant putting a halt in distributing food and supplies for some time,” she explained. Understanding the extra care needed to be taken now, Kechara Soup Kitchen revised their operations to incorporate distancing, protective gear and sanitisers. “I’ve been helping from afar by getting funding and approvals from the relevant parties,” Tengku Zatashah says, adding that she managed to get the approval of the…

MANNY PACQUIAO Philippines The boxing champ and senator was quick to tap into his resources to send aid, having loaned five buses for the use of frontliners to the Metro Manila Development Authority and pooled money with his entrepreneur friends to donate 700,000 face masks. Though his foundation, in partnership with Jack Ma, 57,000 test kits were donated to the Department of Health (DOH) on March 27. Pacquiao promises that these resources will be prioritised for the poor. Says the senator, “Because of my humble beginnings, I know what it’s like to be poor. And to be poor during a crisis is a serious matter that needs to be addressed by the government,” he said. JAMES DYSON Singapore When Boris Johnson phoned James Dyson in March as the crisis was…

ENTER THE DRAGON (1973) Named by legendary film critic Peter Bradshaw as the greatest martial-arts film of all time, Enter the Dragon solidified Bruce Lee’s status as a cinematic legend. The movie drew global interests towards the Chinese martial-arts scene and prompted the mass importation of kung fu movies to the United States, which were later dubbed in English for western audiences. Enter the Dragon not only revolutionised the portrayal of Asians in western media, with Lee holding a starring role in a Hollywood production, but also kick-started the ‘kung fu craze’ of the 1970s, which saw Hong Kong studios produce and release dozens of films that reached increasingly international audiences. The film’s influence moved beyond the movie screen, inspiring many martial-arts video games, including popular ones like the Street…

Nestled in the majestic fjords, this remote region on Norway’s northwest coast is a destination made for all types of adventurers. Start from the port town of Ålesund, one of the most beautiful towns in Norway and noted for its well-preserved art nouveau architecture. It is also the entry point for exploring Geirangerfjord and Trollstigen, the latter commonly referred to as ‘The Trolls Road.’ Craft your own adventure with 62°Nord, an experiential travel company founded by Norwegian couple Knut and Line Flakk. They arrange tailor-made itineraries that include deep-sea fishing and helicopter tours, as well as exceptional skiing that showcases the region’s unparalleled beauty. 62°Nord also has a privately owned collection of restaurants and boutique accommodation, ensuring that guests enjoy a taste of fresh coastal cuisine and authentic Viking hospitality.…