Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2022 i Tatler Malaysia

TATLER HONG KONG In this edition, acclaimed classical musician Xuefei Yang, the first guitar student to graduate in mainland China, shares her daily routine—from her diet and exercise regime to the rigours of her practice and performance schedule. TATLER INDONESIA Sea Soldier founder Nadine Chandrawinata talks about her fight for a greener and cleaner world, as well as her new role as a mother and the additional perspective parenthood has brought her. TATLER MALAYSIA No stranger to the world of fast-moving consumer goods, Mamee-Double Decker scion Vuitton Pang flexes his entrepreneurial muscles with the rapid expansion of his latest venture emart24, South Korea’s fastest-growing convenience store. TATLER PHILIPPINES Furniture designer, style icon, TV host and mother-of-three Stephanie Kienle Gonzalez gives an exclusive first peek into her new coffee table book,…

What was it that got you to join in on the action? Ihsan Zolkipli (IZ): It was when I co-founded NFXT that my interest in NFT was piqued—we’re a community of creatives looking to experiment, educate, encourage, collaborate and raise awareness about the possibilities one can achieve within the NFT landscape. As a futurologist, I’m inherently interested in technological progression. Blockchain, crypto and NFTs are the next step in the evolution of data-keeping and finance as a whole as they are a relatively new form of assets. Red Hongyi (R): I had no idea what crypto was until I met Joe Lee (founder and CEO of DefiDive, a web3 cryptocurrency terminal) and his friends, who have long been in the space. Joe himself is a former investment banker turned crypto…

Wang Chen Tsai-Hsia, better known as Madame Wang, established Shiatzy Chen in 1978 with a view to modernising the Chinese aesthetic without abandoning traditional silhouettes. The Taiwanese brand was one of the first to introduce neo-Chinese chic—a marriage of western aesthetics with Chinese craftsmanship and cultural traits—to the global fashion stage. Yung Hua Chen represents a new wave of Taiwanese photographers who focus on images of women. The pair created a Chinese New Year campaign with the theme “red sorghum”: rich in colour and traditional charm, it depicts a journey home for the festivities. Here, the pair share their creative process and resolutions for the new year. What was the inspiration behind the theme “red sorghum”? Madame Wang: Red sorghum symbolises a spirit, a resilience. For this photo shoot,…

INTO THE WILD Graff excels in producing dazzling diamonds, and its experienced master jewellers have once again cast its gemstones into an exquisite selection of settings for the Wild Flower collection. Stylish asymmetry defines this line, as do blossoming layers of white diamonds, which form pretty petals that wrap around the finger. Graff Wild Flower rings in white gold set with diamonds SIMPLE PLEASURES Aurelia and Pierre is a brand for modern women who appreciate minimal design and classic luxury. Hot on the heels of its first high jewellery collection, this brand creates clean silhouettes adorned with coloured stones and white diamonds. Aurelia & Pierre Clarisse earring, Sylvie and Alfa-Zulu pendants, all in white gold set with diamonds NATURAL WORLD Italian fine jewellery brand Vendorafa is shining a spotlight on…

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Kay Tse is one of Asia’s most influential recording artists and entertainers, having made music since 2005. Fast-forward to today, and Tse has been photographed wearing French jewellery maison Boucheron’s Serpent Bohème collection. It is inspired by the jeweller’s founder who, believing snakes possessed protective properties, gave his wife a serpent-shaped necklace for their wedding anniversary back in 1888.…

After spending some time with Raphael P Young at Hong Kong’s The Upper House, where we enjoy a stealthy mid-afternoon cocktail together, it becomes obvious that this watch collector is a true original whose character combines passion, precision and panache. Smiling and bespectacled, with shoulder-length hair tied back in the style of a debonair, world-conquering James Bond villain, Young has been buying watches for about 20 years alongside his wife, Linda. His collection runs the gamut from Richard Mille, IWC Schaffhausen and Audemars Piguet to an incredible limited-edition World Time wristwatch by Patek Philippe, which is his most treasured piece. “In 2017, I travelled to the States several times and spent a lot of time in New York, which I found very inspirational,” he tells me. So when Patek launched…

For many Malaysians, particularly those who grew up in the ’80s, the furry, blue monster savoury noodle snack was a large part of their childhood memories. Whether it’s an after-school treat purchased off the friendly neighbourhood roti man (a common sight back then in the suburbs of Malaysia) or a snack you convinced a grandparent/ parent to buy from a nearby kedai runcit (mom-and-pop store), the nostalgic Mamee Monster was a hit with children nationally. Decades on, the beloved blue monster continues to win the hearts of the young ‘uns not just locally but also internationally. Somewhere between then and now, the company that created the Mamee Monster Noodles, Mamee-Double Decker, went on to become one of the leading regional food manufacturers, innovating quickly to launch a slew of foods…

Strains of Bizet’s music waft through the studio as Yui Kyotani and Benjamin Cook rehearse their pas de deux sequence for the ballet Carmen. Choong Wan Chin, the co-founder and artistic director of Ballet Theatre Malaysia (BTM), watches the pair intently from the side, issuing some guidance from time to time as the two portraying the characters of Carmen and Jose work to ensnare the other in a complex arrest scene involving a piece of rope. Adapted from the novella by French author Prosper Merímée, this portrayal is a dramatic tale of passion, jealousy, obsession and tragedy revolving around the free-spirited gypsy named Carmen, a factory girl who got involved with a soldier named Jose after meeting each other in the town square. No doubt Choong has seen varied productions…

Managing wealth takes great skill and it is a subject that interests Devan Linus Rajadurai, co-founder of Malayan Traders Capital. Devan’s family has a long history in investing; his grandfather, Kok Ah Too, was the first Malaysian to head the Stock Exchange of Malaysia and Singapore in the 1960s. In his youth, Devan dipped his toes in the finance world, helping his family manage their overseas investments. While working in a management consulting firm in Australia, Devan formed a friendship with Donovan Ng and Aaron Yew as they all shared a common interest in investments and aspired to one day start their own venture. After returning to Malaysia, the trio founded Malayan Traders Capital (MTC), Malaysia’s first boutique hedge fund in 2012, specialising in global equity value investing. Devan shares…

He may be the son of Sylvia Chang, one of the most acclaimed directors and actors to have worked on Hong Kong, Taiwanese and mainland Chinese movies, but 30-year-old Oscar Wang is far more than “Chang’s son”. He is the founder of Shanghai-based design studio Open Work Studio, which created the Fendidi family—an adorable quartet of pandas—for Fendi in 2019; and Stella Friends, a series of endangered animal cartoon characters for Stella McCartney, in 2021. The Chelsea College of Arts alumnus also manifests his creativity as an interdisciplinary designer and a restaurant owner. Jumping on a call with Tatler while en route to Shanghai following his trip to China’s Changbai Mountains for the Kaws: Holiday tour, Wang explains how he is creating concepts across fashion industry and beyond. Why are…

GOLDEN GLOW Double down on dull skin with YSL Beauté’s Pure Shots Night Reboot Serum and Eye Reboot Concentrate. Infused with moonlight cactus flower from Morocco and glycolic acid, this product helps to regenerate skin cells, making skin look and feel healthier. BOTANICAL BOOST Formulated from 95 per cent naturally derived ingredients, the Red Camellia Revitalising Serum from Chanel’s latest No 1 de Chanel line harnesses the benefits of the house’s signature flower, the camellia—specifically the red camellia. Grown and harvested in southwest France, this key ingredient assists with protecting skin vitality and slowing the first signs of ageing. FIRM BELIEVER Nars’s newest serum aims to improve elasticity and revive skin’s firmness and natural glow. The Light Reflecting Firming Serum contains a blend of gold-fortified peptides and red snow extract,…

While sight and sound may strike many people as the most important of the five senses—research at Britain’s University of York has shown that the accepted hierarchy of senses is sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell—smells, including perfume, can have a huge psychological impact. Parfumerie Trésor, the first store in Hong Kong to focus on multiple, independently owned perfume brands, opened in 2014 to showcase the power of smell and its relationship to personality. The shop’s founders, Benny Tung and Pauline Lau, approached psychologist Andrew Wong to work with them on a new perfume-pairing resource. The 16 Personalities, 16 Perfume service suggests a perfume based on the personality type assigned to you by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a popular personality test. Tatler asked Wong to explain the relationship between personality…

Mushrooms can do it all. From adding earthy flavour to a risotto to being the secret ingredient behind Mylo, the new luxury vegan leather alternative, fungi have now found their way into skincare products and health supplements. They promise a long list of nutritional, medicinal and beautifying benefits that sound almost too good to be true—so how did the humble mushroom become the latest buzz ingredient in the wellness world? Using mushrooms in these spaces is a relatively new concept for western cultures, but our ancestors here in the East have been reaping their benefits for centuries. During the Korean Goryeo Dynasty (918-1382 BCE), Wolfiporia extensa was listed as one of the medicinal ingredients sent to the Chinese Song Dynasty, while medicinal mushroom species from different regions of Korea were…

CATCHING COMETS There’s no doubting Tasaki’s cool Comet ear cuffs deserve a place in your jewellery box this spring. This chic collection also includes earrings, necklaces and rings in an assortment of colourful golds, all of which come set with Akoya pearls. Tasaki Comet Plus Neo ear cuffs and Comet Plus rings in yellow or white gold set with Akoya pearls, either with or without diamonds STYLE MATTERS With three decades as a visionary businesswoman and creative director behind her, Cindy Yeung is known for her exquisite examples of art deco design, which prove that timeless style really does hold up over the years. Her latest Nuò by Cindy Yeung jewellery suites certainly don’t disappoint, and feature breathtaking examples of natural South Sea pearls, purple jade and black chalcedony. Nuò…

Finding the ideal gemstone to set in the reimagined World’s Fair Necklace was years in the making. We knew we wanted to recreate the original necklace’s Art Deco form and we knew we had to rethink the design from a modern perspective, but the challenge was in finding a stone remarkable enough to feature in such an important, symbolic necklace. How it happened was serendipitous. In 2020, Tiffany archivists came across the original sketch of the World’s Fair Necklace. It depicted a large diamond instead of the aquamarine that the necklace later featured. Diamonds are very important to Tiffany’s heritage, so it became clear that the reimagined necklace would have to frame the most exceptional diamond we could acquire. Shortly after that, we were presented with the Empire Diamond—over 80…

British-born New Yorker Miles Chamley-Watson’s audacious attitude and unique style have garnered attention from Richard Mille, who have entered a partnership with the world fencing champion. One of the most recognisable fencers worldwide, Chamley-Watson explains how important time is to his profession. “You can train your whole life, but the merest millisecond means the difference between gold and nothing. I train myself mentally in slow motion. I need to get in touch with my neural system, unblock my mind and establish a ‘flow state’.” He also discusses the similarities between the way he and Richard Mille approach their industries. “We’re both unconventional. It’s a brand that’s all about taking risks. I have ‘risk’ tattooed on my hand and I look at it for inspiration each time I compete.” HEAR ME…

“My God, I think it might actually be The Chairman,” whispered my neighbour as the numbers slowly counted down on the screen. It was March last year, and a contingent of journalists and food influencers were gathered at Hong Kong restaurant VEA to watch the virtual announcement of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, an hour-long live feed of floating graphics and cobbled-together footage that took place in lieu of a physical awards ceremony. The names kept coming in: Gaggan and Le Du in Bangkok, taking fifth and fourth respectively, followed by Den in Tokyo at number three. Everyone knew that the final conclusion would come in the moment that number two was announced—and The Chairman, which did not even rank within the top ten in the previous edition, had been conspicuously…

OLIVIER YOAN French photographer Olivier Yoan has worked with brands such as Calvin Klein, Jimmy Choo and Roger Vivier. He is also the creative director of online platform The Ené, a directory of eco-conscious businesses and retailers around Europe. For this issue, Yoan photographed the fashion shoot (p.74) 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. For Tatler, she styled this month’s cover shoot (p.132) PAULIUS STANIUNAS Hailing from Lithuania, Paulius Staniunas has been photographing the most happening events in Malaysia and beyond, together with his team from All Is Amazing. He’s also ventured into studio portraitures, photographing the likes of Shir…

YUI KYOTANI AND BENJAMIN COOK Principal Artiste and Soloist Artiste Previously a student of Choong Wan Chin at Ena Ballet Studio in Japan, Kyotani began her ballet training at age 8 and eventually furthered her training at Berlin State Ballet School. She has danced principal roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and La Bayadere, to name a few. In 2021, she was inducted into the Moravian Theatre’s Hall of Fame and became the first foreign Emerita member of Moravian Theatre Olomouc, a fixture in the Czech theatre scene since 1920 and where she was a principal dancer since 2012. She came here together with fellow dancer Benjamin Cook, whom she worked with in Czech Republic, on Choong’s invitation to do a ballet gala initially, but because…

Y2K REVISITED In the ultimate early-Noughties nostalgia trip, Louis Vuitton has combined key Y2K trends denim and monograms in its new Monogram Jacquard Denim bags, ranging from the signature Speedy model to a new modern classic: the half-moon Loop baguette handbag. ON THE MOVE A sell-out success, the ongoing collaboration between Prada and Adidas welcomes a new phase in apparel, accessories and bags. The sustainable collection made of Prada’s proudly recycled and infinitely recyclable Re-Nylon fabric includes tracksuits and bucket hats along with elevated takes on the Adidas Forum High and Low silhouettes for a minimalist’s athleisure dream. COLLABORATED AWAY Two masters of artisanship, Loewe and Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, return with a second collaboration. The Loewe x Spirited Away collection, inspired by the 20-year-old cult classic by Hayao…

Perfumer Jérome Epinette has a famous nose. You may not have heard his name, but you have almost certainly heard of some of the fragrances he’s designed. From cult favourites such as Byredo’s Gypsy Water and Pulp, and Boy Smells’ new range, to scents for Victoria’s Secret and L’Occitane en Provence, Epinette is everywhere in the perfume world. “It is hard to keep track, but I would say [I’ve developed] more than a couple of thousand [fragrances]”, Epinette tells Tatler. Finding inspiration in everything around him, from “nature, painting, food, drinks, music, architecture, discussion and sharing emotions”, Epinette’s latest creation, Tiffany & Co’s Rose Gold EDP, draws inspiration from a well-loved natural perfume. “Rose Gold EDP is a modern approach to a very common ingredient: rose,” he explains. “Nothing heady,…

Founded in 1982 as the ultimate expression of elegance and science, Clé de Peau Beauté celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. This commemoration marks the ideal occasion to honour the brand’s achievements while presenting its bold aspirations for the future. To herald the next chapter, Clé de Peau Beauté is proud to introduce Dakota Fanning, Diana Silvers, and Ella Balinska as the new faces of the brand. Each one of these incredible women embody characteristics of the brand’s DNA: intelligent and uncompromising, while representing a global community of women who possess an innate radiance that makes each one so extraordinary. Fanning is a woman of strong traits—a talented actress with over 60 movie credits to her name, and a goal to pursue her dream of becoming a director. Having directed…

DRINK UP To strengthen hair, skin and nails, try Beams’s Beauty Nespressocompatible coffee pods. The blend contains tremella mushroom extract, which helps stimulate enzymes that aid with anti-ageing and improve overall skin health. beamscoffee.com PATITON Made with Japanese red reishi extract and ginseng extract, the Reishi Solution Custom Blended Eye Cream by MTMLabo promises to promote cell renewal and minimise signs of ageing around the eyes. mtmlabo.com REPAIR JOB Formulated to combat signs of stress-induced ageing, such as worry lines, dull skin and redness, Dr Dennis Gross Stress Rescue Super Serum contains three different mushroom extracts—maitake mushroom, Cordyceps sinensis fungus and chaga mushroom—as well as niacinamide, the herb ashwagandha and goji berry. sephora.com…

What do you love about ancient talismans and why do you incorporate them into your jewellery? I’m amazed by their enduring significance and timelessness. I love that medallions have been used throughout history and across civilisations, but still resonate to this day. Historically, they have signified familial lineage or been prescribed to have protective properties, and it’s fascinating to see how something so ancient can acquire new meaning and continue to remain relevant. You’re also inspired by the art deco era. When I started designing, I fell in love with art deco architecture, particularly its use of patterns, form and balance. My initial inspiration came from sculptural buildings and, as a result, my pieces were very angular and minimal. When did you first become interested in history? In elementary school…

INTO THE FUTURE Contemporary and complicated, Gruebel Forsey’s latest sports watch is limited to 88 pieces worldwide and is available with a matching integrated bracelet in lightweight titanium. Exposed mechanics include a balance wheel and escapement, which sit alongside bold charcoal-grey bridges for an ultra-modern look. Greubel Forsey Balancier S² WHO RUNS THE WORLD? Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust hit shelves in 1957 at a time when women were casting off stereotypes and beginning to experiment with their own sense of style. The watchmaker’s founder Hans Wilsdorf broke new ground with the model’s 28mm case size and quickly cemented the watch’s reputation as the ultimate classic women’s timepiece thanks to its robustness—the case’s middle section is crafted from either 18-karat gold or Oystersteel, a rust-free alloy—and its distinctive design. Choose…

THE PERFECT ACE The fourth timepiece in Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal’s name took three years to develop, according to Swiss luxury watchmaker Richard Mille, as it now contains the butterfly rotor, which is an all-new patented complication that allows its wearer precise control over the watch’s winding speed based on their lifestyle and activity levels. This includes rebalancing the rotor, which you can do by activating the push-piece at the 7 o’clock position and prevents the excessive winding of the movement. As it is an entirely skeletonised watch, the butterfly rotor is on full display—its sleek, microblasted grade five titanium perfectly matching the watch’s graceful, ergonomic lines. Available in two versions, one blue Quartz TPT with a white Quartz TPT caseband and one entirely made of Carbon TPT, this…

On December 4, 2021, it was reported that the record for the highest price ever paid for a work by a living artist, set by Jeff Koons’ Rabbit in 2019 at US$91.1 million, had been broken. The new record-holding piece, Merge (2021), had achieved US$91.8 million. But this sale was just the beginning of a controversy. The “artwork” was in fact made up of 266,455 NFTs, each comprising a single dot known as “a mass”. These variously sized and priced dots were purchased, in varying numbers, by approximately 26,000 buyers within a 48-hour window on the platform Nifty Gateway. Every time a collector bought a new mass, it would merge with those they already owned; further, collectors could sell their mass on to other buyers—leading, potentially, to the formation of…

Well, that was unexpected. Half an hour before its VIP preview event was set to end, collective gasps were heard from local celebrities and influencers across the pitch as the news pinged through on people’s phones—it had been abruptly announced that the Kaws: Holiday exhibition had been ordered by the Singapore court to stop. Immediately. Kaws: Holiday was the first major art exhibition Singapore had seen in two years, since the pandemic began. The highly anticipated public installation featured a monumental inflatable sculpture of Kaws’ Companion laying across a floating football pitch dubbed The Float, with Marina Bay Sands in the background. It turned out that The Ryan Foundation, a local non-profit arts organisation, had filed an interim injunction citing reasons such as intellectual property rights infringement and misuse of…

Although there are some high-speed aspects of the wine industry—wine investors saw some wines triple or quadruple in value over 2021—the wine world, as a whole, moves rather slowly. Thus, many observers have reacted with scepticism or bemusement as various major (and less major) wine players have plunged into the lightning-fast world of cryptocurrencies, blockchain and—trendiest and least well understood of all—NFTs. As somebody who also makes digital art and counts many crypto believers as friends, I’m less surprised than most by the wine-NFT mashup. Once you get past the “but why?” aspects of the NFT universe, it does appear that NFTs can offer real benefits to the world of wine, especially collectibles. While the first wave of NFTs involved the sale of digital images, NFTs are now being used…