Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2021 i Tatler Malaysia

TATLER HONG KONG Hong Kong artist Stephen Wong Chunhei captures the city’s dramatic mountains and coastlines in his landscape paintings, which are in demand among local and international collectors, as well as museums—one of his pieces is now in the collection of the Hong Kong Museum of Art. His next solo exhibition opens at Gallery Exit this month. tatlerhongkong.com TATLER INDONESIA Entrepreneur Mario Suntanu is helping revive the local hospitality industry through his catering companies YummyCorp and YummyKitchen. With US$12million raised in Series B funding and an uptick in transactions last year, he now plans to expand outside Jakarta. tatlerindonesia.com TATLER MALAYSIA -winning Bront Palarae talks to Tatler Malaysia about his showbiz journey and his new movie, Edge of the World, which chronicles the ascent of Sir James Brooke, the…

KAREN YIU Make-up artist Karen Yiu is the founder and creative director of HK Makeup Artist. Her editorial and commercial work has been featured in publications including Vogue, i-D and Marie Claire. In this month’s issue, Yiu worked on the jewellery shoot (p.124) AZZA ARIF Azza Arif has styled, conceptualised and brought to life creative visions for various brands and magazines. Her work includes styling Hollywood celebrities like Liv Tyler, Naomi Scott and Lucy Hale to name a few. In this month’s issue, she dispenses some styling advice to innovate a staple wardrobe item (p.58) GREG KAHN Greg Kahn is an American documentary fine art photographer whose work concentrates on issues that shape personal and cultural identity. His images have been exhibited around the world and he was a finalist…

Being a tech entrepreneur wasn’t something that Aaron Sarma naturally aspired to be. Still, it was a path that was always intriguing, and appealed to him because he always loves a good challenge. Over the years Sarma has worn many hats, working his way up from a network marketing company to starting his first company, Touristly, which was subsequently acquired by AirAsia and renamed Vidi. As an entrepreneur, he doesn’t mind exploring different fields including organising gigs for bands, producing a music album and even dabbling in retail fashion, selling men’s clothes. “I don’t think I can box myself into one particular field. I love a challenge, the art of creation and building something new. That is what excites me,” he explains. Sarma attributes his can-do attitude to his early…

“My late grand-uncle was an oil painter who used to paint posters for the Chinese Communist Revolution,” artist Red Hongyi recalls, visibly wistful as she peers over the phone while I scroll through her Instagram story highlights. “He was initially trained and influenced by European paintings, and had even done some of his landscape paintings before most of his original work was destroyed during the revolution.” “The artists had to paint a very specific style, you see,” Red continues. “It was all about using vibrant colours and drawing healthy-looking people—they weren’t allowed to do it their way, nor were they allowed to truly express themselves.” The whole ordeal, Red says, scarred her grand-uncle so much that he never picked up his brush again, but that never stopped him from helping…

There were two important experiences that changed Chin Ren Yi’s life forever. The first was an epiphany he had while camping out—that life was short and working for others just wasn’t going to cut it for him. The second experience? It was realising he liked the satisfaction of presenting others with food that he personally made. This ultimately led the mechanical engineering graduate from Nottingham University to start myBurgerLab in 2012 together with fellow co-founders Cheah Chang Ming and Teoh Wee Kiat. After being in business for 10 years, Chin tells what are the critical lessons he has learnt along the way, his philosophy and his vision for the future of myBurgerLab. The most general misconception that everyone has when they enter the F&B world is that it’s all…

ROYAL FLUSH Chanel’s triumphant Metiers d’Arts collection, which was shown at Château de Chenonceau in France—a castle designed by and lived in by women, including Catherine de’ Medici—finally hits stores this month. The line-up strikes a beautiful balance between Virginie Viard’s casual silhouettes and a rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic, with the maison’s haute couture legacy. Besides pearl-lined biker jackets and glittering leotards, the highlights are the accessories, such as bejewelled flap bags and a netted tote with a detachable coin purse. UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN Nothing marks the arrival of summer like Christian Dior’s Dioriviera collection—the annual capsule dedicated to travelling in style. This season, the French maison not only revealed its iconic Toile de Jouy pattern in high-octane new colours like chartreuse and raspberry, it also partnered with Vespa,…

GUCCI “A lot of people may not know that Gucci is a very important brand for eyewear. Even years ago was one of the best-selling eyewear brands in the world. So I have very high expectations from Gucci compared to other fashion brands; they have the best archive and experience” LOTOS “The most expensive piece we’ve ever sold was HK$6 million by Lotos, a German brand that has been doing expensive eyewear for jewellery brands like Cartier and Chopard, and the only thing they make is eyewear. It wasn’t even a custom order; I just ordered it because I wanted something special and then we sold it within that year” CHROME HEARTS “When you see Chrome Hearts eyewear can , tell it you ’s Chrome Hearts: that’s the mark they…

Tell us about the Flora & Fauna collection. It’s my latest collection, for which geometric, floral designs are made to feel modern. The shapes are very colourful and unique. What inspires you? Gemstones. Jewellery ideas form when I play with them and compare their different shapes, colours and proportions. What’s your first memory of jewellery? My mother gave me an amethyst- and diamond-set pendant and matching ring when I was 13 years old. I remember the set so clearly: it featured a beautiful swirl design. Yellow or white gold? Yellow gold. Sapphires or emeralds? Emeralds. What trends should we look out for? Heart-shaped jewellery is going to become increasingly popular. Who would you love to design for? Charlize Theron. Which celebrity are you most proud of having worn your jewellery?…

PLAY THE GAME The new Chronomaster Sport is the first regular production Zenith to be powered by the watchmaker’s Caliber 3600, which has already been used in a few of the brand’s limited-edition timepieces. The chronograph’s overlapping sub-dials and colour scheme take their cues from the 1969 El Primero A386, while a 41 mm case and sleek steel bracelet bring this wristwatch well and truly into the 21st century. PUSH AND PULL This year marks the 220th anniversary of the tourbillon, which was first created by master watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet in the summer of 1801. A mechanism that constantly rotates a watch’s balance wheel, balance spring and escapement while the movement is running, a tourbillon counters the effect of gravity and increases the timepiece’s accuracy. The pictured 18-karat gold pocket…

VINTAGE STYLE Omega s Seamaster 300 made its debut in 1957 and has remained a sought-after timepiece for divers ever since. For 2021, new novelties have been fitted with sleeker sapphire glass, making these watches thinner than their predecessors. For the first time, a 41 mm model crafted from Omega’s patent-pending Bronze Gold alloy has also been unveiled by the brand. Used for its corrosion resistance and strength, bronze develops a patina, which is the result of copper oxidising from exposure to the air. This natural process takes on different colours and patterns depending on how and where it is worn, meaning this watch has a case that, over time, will become unique to its owner. MADE TO ORDER Bremont has had a slew of new releases over the past…

Derek Tsang was lying on his sofa at home after a long day on March 15 when his phone started lighting up with messages from friends who were congratulating him, just at the moment it was announced he had become the first native Hong Kong director to be nominated for best international feature at the Academy Awards. “I knew it was going to be that day, but I didn’t know there was a live broadcast,” Tsang says, and although he was hopeful for a nod for his teenage film noir Better Days, which handily swept the Hong Kong Film Awards and received multiple international prizes, he was not watching the news very closely. “That’s when it hit me that we were in the final five, and I just became elated,…

The world we live in is rapidly changing with many of today’s jobs that may not be there tomorrow. Even traditional professions such as doctors, engineers and lawyers will be different in the future as the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution changes our world forever. As such, parents need to select the right school that can best prepare their children for the future. Few schools can boast the wealth of experience, excellence and reputation worldwide for providing an outstanding education as Alice Smith School. The 75-year-old institution holds the distinction of being the first British international school in Malaysia when it was founded by Alice Fairfield-Smith back in 1946. The biology graduate from Harvard University was an experienced teacher and sought to set up a school that provided high-quality…

Education is the foundation upon which we build a successful future and most Malaysian parents are committed to providing their children with the best there is to offer. For most parents, funding their children’s education is one of the biggest financial commitments of their lives. Despite the financial challenges, not to mention outside influences—education prices are on the rise while residual income level (or income remaining after expenditure) has dipped since 2014, among others—parents are willing to sacrifice their own needs and future security if need be to send their children for the best education, which often means studying abroad. Besides saving for their children’s education, which parents are inclined to start early, even before the children start school, they are also known to provide for extra tuition, music lessons…

Alice Smith School 2 Jalan Bellamy, 50460 Kuala Lumpur (Primary campus) | 3 Jalan Equine, Taman Equine, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor (Secondary campus) A reputation for outstanding all-round British education and state-of-the-art facilities TYPE: Early Years, Primary, Secondary and A-Levels CURRICULUM: British National Curriculum ESTABLISHED: 1946 LANGUAGE: English ANNUAL FEES: Pre-school (normal day): RM39,690 Pre-school (extended day): RM51,060 Reception: RM52,680 Year 1 and 2: RM69,420 Year 3–6: RM73,170 Year 7–9: RM85,680 Year 10–13: RM93,300 WEBSITE: www.alice-smith-edu.my CONTACT: +603-2148 3674 (Primary campus) or +603-9543 3688 (Secondary campus) EMAIL: klass@alice-smith.edu.my Accreditations and awards: Alice Smith School is an accredited member of the Council of British International Schools and a founding member of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia. It won the International School Awards 2021 in the Inclusion category for…

First launched in Shanghai, then Hong Kong and Singapore, Tatler House is designed to be the physical embodiment of the Tatler brand, and a venue where the Tatler community can gather. Malaysia finally gets its very own Tatler House in Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur’s presidential suite that has been transformed into a contemporary space kitted out in designer furnishing and local artwork. Surrounded by iconic views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline, interior designer Susan Abraham of S Studio Collective, reimagined the luxurious nature of the Tatler lifestyle and infused the space with a sense of locality. The result is a marriage of modern luxury meets youthful playfulness which deftly balances the raw and refined, muted and bold. AN EVOCATIVE JOURNEY Abraham takes guests through a journey of colours and textures,…

Think there is no room left to innovate a crisp white button-up shirt? Well, think again! The most worn item in your wardrobe and a long-standing staple, there’s nothing as reliable as this sartorial favourite. The biggest challenge, however, is rediscovering new ways to style this wardrobe staple. Fret not, as with the summer season in full swing, we have come up with different ways to spruce things up and give the timeless white button-up shirt a summery makeover. Valentino’s crisp, white poplin button-up shirt is the perfect place to start. Its slightly loose fit makes it ideal for wearing it with Loewe’s high-waisted shorts in tangerine for a summer-appropriate take on tonal dressing. Summer would not be complete without prints, and the Dior Palto jacket in multicolour silk and…

How did you first realise you wanted to work in fashion? My background is in political science, but right after my graduation from the Paris Institute of Political Studies, I was at a point in my life when I was asking myself what I wanted to do and discovered that fashion was what made me happy. It’s the best feeling to be able to create products that people love, and I enjoy the whole process, from the challenges and struggles to the successes. What was the first roadblock you had to overcome? Definitely finding the right partners to bring my creations to life and at the quality I required. During my first collection, we didn’t have the quantities to make it worthwhile for the factories to produce our products, so…

NIGHT FEVER As nightlife slowly re-emerges from its slumber, make sure you’ve got a killer look ready for the dance floor. SUN, SAND, STYLE The ultimate beach checklist should include at least one of these summery staples. LOOSE ENDS Unwind through your accessories, starting with these knotty leather goods. HEAR HER ROAR The pièce de résistance from Christian Dior’s pre-fall 2021 collection is the Bar Jacket wrapped in leopard print, a nod to Mizza Bricard, one of Monsieur Dior’s greatest muses. PRINTS CHARMING No longer confined to the scarf, the bandana print has migrated to cover everything from swimwear . POOL RULES Your new swimsuits deserve to be paired with these chicest summer slides from your favourite fashion houses. FARM TO FASHION Cherry-pick your way through the best bucolic pieces…

“I wanted to change my life,” says Nabilah Nazib, founder of haircare brand Sugardoll. At only 23 years old, Nabilah was a struggling single mother working as an insurance agent, faced with the judgement of being a divorcée. “And to make matters worse, I was suffering from post-partum hair fall,” she says. “For an insurance agent, appearance is everything!” As she conducted her own research into solving her personal hair problems, she found a purpose. “At the time, I couldn’t afford the expensive treatments at the fancy salons, so I had to figure out what worked for me,” she says. “And when I did, I wanted to share what I’ve learned with the people out there who are experiencing the same issues.” The secret to her haircare line, based on…

Poppy Delevingne calls me from her home in London. “How is everyone in Hong Kong?” she asks with heartfelt concern. “Oh! To think that there’s a world beyond the four walls of my living room. Just knowing that you’re there gives me butterflies.” Delevingne has visited Hong Kong twice, but hasn’t travelled internationally since last July, which is an unprecedented stretch for the 35 year old, who comes from one of London’s most well-connected high-society families. Her maternal grandmother served as a lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, while her mother, Pandora, was one of the glamorous trendsetters of the 1980s. Delevingne, similarly, knows how to make a statement. She was a top model before younger sister Cara, 28, ever walked a runway, and has since become an outspoken advocate for causes…

Bulgari is largely inspired by its Italian roots. In what ways has this impacted this year’s novelties? We are an Italian brand but, more important than that, we come from Rome. We’re a unique brand in the world of luxury that comes from the Eternal City. This inspiration is particularly present in our Divas’ Dream collection, for which we showcase great savoir-faire. Tell us more about this year’s Divas’ Dream watches. This collection is about the very best in métiers d’art. This year, we have an amazing dial that’s decorated with peacock feathers. We also have tourbillon and skeletonised versions, which are similarly adorned with feathers and diamonds. Which is your favourite Divas’ Dream watch from this year’s releases? The Divas’ Dream Peacock Dischi has a dial that’s just absolutely…

For as long as he can remember, Arthur de Villepin has lived with paintings by the Korean artist Myonghi Kang. “Her art was always hanging in my family’s homes,” says Arthur, who last year opened a gallery in Hong Kong with his father, former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin. “And in 2010, when I was leaving home to move to Hong Kong, my parents said to me, ‘What do you want to take?’ I chose three African masks and a small Myonghi drawing. It has some gold in it—in certain light it sparkles.” Arthur still owns that drawing, which he now keeps in his bedroom next to another painting by Kang. Downstairs, a large canvas dominated by vivid splashes of green hangs above his dining table. Every morning, he…

What does “regenerative travel” mean, and how is it different to sustainable travel? Simply put, being sustainable and eco-friendly means not doing harm or reaching net-zero carbon emissions, while regeneration is looking to restore and replenish the environment and fix the damage that has occurred. Regenerative travel is about creating better conditions for the environment and for the community. Bill Reed, principal at Regenesis Group, who worked with my co-founder on the vision for his resort Playa Viva, explains it well. He says, “You’re not going to make a sustainable planet with 100 million certified LEED Platinum buildings or 100 million living buildings. They don’t make a green planet. They make buildings that are less damaging to the planet. But it doesn’t heal the damage that’s already been done or…

Between the countless tantrums, crying, shouting, all-out meltdown and teenage angst, parents often have a hard time deciphering their children’ mental and emotional state. As adults who have been through the pains of growing up, often alone or mitigated by time with friends and no awareness of such a thing as mental health, it’s natural for parents to see their kids’ apparent struggles as a part of growing up. Still, there may a nagging feeling that something doesn’t seem quite right with your child, perhaps because you don’t remember having this many meltdowns in your time. So, what is normal behaviour and one that signals a mental health struggle? Tatler Malaysia speaks to clinical psychologist Dr Joel Low of The Mind on mental health matters: How do you define good…

VANESSA LEE Although a British curriculum school, Vanessa says that studying at GIS prepared her well for a smooth transition to an American curriculum. “There were a few initial shocks, but the core of it is the same. It’s about learning how to study smart, take effective notes and manage your time. Equipped with the toolbox that I left GIS with, I was well prepared to succeed in a new environment.” A sophomore at Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Vanessa attributes her academic success, as well as her love for learning, to the nurturing, supportive community that surrounded her at GIS during her formative years. She vividly recalls teachers consistently going above and beyond to assist their students: “On the day before my A-Level exams, I remember bombarding my teachers…

RAMI MADANI Head of School “As a young person, my dream was to become a pianist, which I did, then I moved into education. Music taught me precision, quality, discipline, high standards, and high expectations, which are virtues I use in my job today. When I joined ISKL as a mathematics teacher, I was in the theatre one day and saw my math students singing. I was so impressed looking at them—at their passion, energy, and how they cared for each other. That was an ‘aha’ moment for me, that students are not defined by the subjects they study. As leaders, if we were to leave a legacy, that legacy should be about people—to help them be better citizens to improve the world for themselves, others, and the environment. I…

Once your children have gained admission to their choice university, it is time to prepare for their relocation to study abroad. Besides sorting out their student visa and accommodation as well as considering things like how they are going to move about or the kind of protection they will need, it is important to ensure that all their financial requirements are taken care of as well. HSBC Premier not only takes care of all of this and more with a convenient banking solution but also makes the journey abroad smoother for you and your children. The benefits start even before your children leave for university overseas: Open an International Account from Malaysia HSBC can set up a bank account and all the necessary banking facilities including ATM card and internet…

Usually this time of year we’d be enjoying a mid-year break and head for our favourite travel destinations. But with the pandemic still raging on, it’s wiser to stay put and prioritise getting vaccinated. Lest you think you’re stuck with nothing to do, our team has put together a summer guide to rejuvenate both body and soul and to keep you occupied indoors or out, with a great reading list from Lit Books, songs to listen to from our very own Tatler Spotify playlist, some summer glow-up tips from fitness champs Siu Lim and Mark Choo, plus styling advice to spruce up a wardrobe staple from celebrity stylist Azza Arif. To add to your reading list, this issue is packed with great personality interviews from the arts, sports and entertainment…

Evocative and expressive, Johor princess Tunku Kamariah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah’s work is multifaceted as she takes care to mix medias that provoke one’s senses; from sound, light as well as colour, the artist’s illustrations take on a surreal quality. Bestowed an honorary doctorate in creative leadership from Limkokwing University, the interior architecture degree holder is clear in her passionate advocacy for the arts as she is also one of the trustees of the Sultan Iskandar Johor Foundation, which supports underprivileged postgraduates in their endeavours. How did your passion for art come about? I was born with a pen and paper in hand! Art is in my blood. My late mother, Her Royal Highness Enche’ Besar Khalsom Abdullah was an artist and the late Sultan Iskandar of Johor was a very…

DÁO Dáo’s offerings often see a cheeky play on words: their classic Dáo Fu Fah can be served with ginger, brown, white or chrysanthemum syrup and garnished with toppings such as red or black sesame paste, osmanthus jelly, and pumpkin glutinous rice balls. Meanwhile, their Dáo Nai (soy milk) can be made with white or black soy beans; the latter has a surprising green tinge, but shouldn’t be mistaken for matcha. While Dáo also offers soy soft serve and Dáo Bing aka beancurd with shaved ice, what catches our eye is their soy cream puffs, available exclusively on weekends—Dáo recommends dropping them a message to reserve the popular item in advance. Dáo, 12A, Jalan Kuchai Maju 8, Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park, Kuala Lumpur HUÁNG SOY BAR Specialising in fresh soy milk,…

Luck is the intersection of opportunity and preparation, so says Seneca, and for husband and wife team, IDr Lokman Hakim Ahmad Subki (Hakim) and IDr Rabiatul Adawiyah Rasol (Bee), the founders of IDW Design & Build, their remarkable success at a time where many SMEs are folding is a culmination of 15 years of preparation. The young dynamic couple, who are now in their 30s, met while pursuing their interior design degrees at UiTM and took on their first project at 21. Since then, their business has flourished, a result of their shared passion for interior design and unflagging can-do attitude. Their career sparked while they were still students, when a friend recommended two adjacent semi-d house projects that needed to be transformed. Despite their inexperience, Hakim and Bee seized…

THE PASSENGER Satiate the appetite of wanderlust by treading the written path, both familiar and not, of Brazil, India, Turkey as well as Greece through The Passenger series published by Europa Editions. Thematically focused on each issue’s desination, each book comprises essays, stories and journalism by award-winning writers. It functions nominally as a travel magazine but rather than your conventional guide to tourist traps and absolute must-eats, it provides insight into the lesser-known aspects of the country’s contemporary culture, which is further illustrated by stunning photography. For the grounded traveller, The Passenger series is a much-needed getaway. BLACK WATER SISTER by Zen Cho Written by Malaysian-born writer and 2019 Hugo Award winner Zen Cho, Black Water Sister is a fantasy novel set in Malaysia. It follows Jessamyn Teoh, who moves…

Since establishing my own high jewellery brand, Nuò by Cindy Yeung, one request has always stayed with me. As chairwoman and CEO of Emperor Watch and Jewellery, one of Hong Kong’s most prestigious retailers, founded by my grandfather in 1942, I’ve been able to get up close and personal with some of the world’s most extraordinary gemstones and jewellery designs. But when a well-dressed French lady came to see me at my Central boutique about sourcing three beautiful pieces of fei cui jade eight years ago, I was especially moved by the reasons behind her commission. We Chinese call jade the “stone of heaven” and for very good reason. The Chinese word for jade also means “precious stone” and it’s a jewel that has been worn by the region’s nobility…

There’s more to ultra-thin watches than you might expect, and Piaget’s Polo Skeleton is a perfect example. This 42 mm sports watch has very much revolutionised movement architecture, making it extra slim at just 6.5 mm thick. Thirty per cent thinner than the watchmaker’s other Polo watches, this stainless-steel model is powered by a 189-part automatic skeleton 1200S1 calibre and comes in Piaget-blue or slate grey.…

Making leaps and bounds across the global showjumping arena is 24-year-old Flore Giraud, who, described as a ‘true breath of fresh air’ by Richard Mille, has struck an instantaneous chord with the Swiss luxury watch brand. “I was struck by the brand’s commitment to detail,” Giraud says as she notes the similarities between the art of horology as well as showjumping. “Our performance lasts a minute, but many years of preparation go into that minute. Every part of every second counts. I love the minutiae of perfection.” Coupled with a love for all things equestrian, that very dedication is the secret to the Grand Prix champ’s success in competitions such as the Knokke, Equita Lyon, Wellington US as well as the 2019 Longines Masters in Paris, and is what will…

The hotel industry is waking up to the needs of some particularly special family members—our pets. Luxury hotels around the world are now offering five-star stays tailored to our furry friends, featuring everything from massage therapists for dogs to pet perfumes. At the Beverly Hills Hotel in California, dogs are welcomed with personalised homemade cookies—with their names written on them in icing—and dog walkers are on call 24 hours a day. Pet-friendly packages are also available at Belmond’s Splendido hotel in Portofino, Italy, which reopened in May. The 16th-century monastery-turned-hotel now has a dedicated pet concierge who can arrange a trip to Portofino’s luxury shops, where you can buy bespoke bowls, pet perfumes or a pampering grooming session for your dog. The glamorous hotel, which was a favourite of Richard…

Not so long ago, taking a gap year in this part of the world had never even occurred to students that were graduating high school. Asians were accustomed to an unhindered education passage that only culminated with their first job in hand. Even if some of us were aware of the Western idea of taking a year off after graduating high school and before going off to university, it was just that—something only Westerners do. Sushien Ng, a second-year Malaysian student who is studying history and politics in Cambridge says overall people in Asia are still adjusting to the idea. When she took a gap year after her A-Levels, the reactions she received from uncles and aunties were: “I thought only ang mohs do this” and then the cliché “are…

Bullying in schools is not a new phenomenon. We know this because we’ve experienced it in school ourselves, in some form or the other—either we’ve been bullied, witnessed it or maybe bullied someone. Though, rarely did it make the news, which begs the question: does the recent spate of bullying in schools indicate that these incidences are on the rise and that the problem has grown worse or is there something else at play? According to psychologist and expert on the topic of bullying Dr Goh Chee Leong, there is strong indication that the rise in number and frequency is driven by smartphones, social media and more awareness. He says there may be some difference in the way children are getting bullied (i.e, cyberbullying) but the fact that it is…