Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2022 i Tatler Malaysia

TATLER HONG KONG Vivien Khoo is on the cover of this month’s issue, in which the SatoshiWomen co-founder and early adopter and champion of cryptocurrency discusses her career path to date, the opportunities of Web3, and why she is encouraging more women to get into digital finance. TATLER INDONESIA Maudy Ayunda is an Indonesian singer-songwriter, actress, author and activist for education and youth-related interests. This March, she was appointed as a spokesperson for the upcoming G20 summit in Indonesia, scheduled for November 2022. In this issue’s Gen T feature, she talks about being an impactful woman. TATLER MALAYSIA We sit down with David Rocco to find out more about the opening of his first global restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. The celebrity chef, television host and cookbook author also shares the…

Reservations are difficult to come by at Shin’ Labo, the hottest new eatery in town—parked next to the fountain at LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre—and we found out exactly why that is. Shin’ Labo falls under James Won’s latest brand, Metta, which was founded some time last year, and promises to bring brands, venues and experiences that are highly desirable—beginning with this brand-new signature restaurant. What’s in the name, you might ask? Well, in Japanese, shin means “true,” “extend,” “new,” or “heart,” while labo holds the same meaning in both French and Japanese, which is “laboratory.” Then, you may have also noticed the Japanese calligraphy technique incorporated into the restaurant’s logo, which is an origination from the simplified Chinese word ‘Xin’ done in Japanese calligraphy form, thus being an original…

Simon Loong wants people to achieve their dreams. At least, he believes that nobody’s pursuit of a dream should be stymied because of a lack of access to funding. In 2013, Loong co-founded fintech company WeLab, with the goal of using technology to solve the issue of financial inclusion. It has more than 50 million customers across Hong Kong, mainland China and Indonesia, as well as more than 700 enterprise customers. Loong believes that with technology, everyone should be able to access financial services, regardless of their family background or income. “Financial freedom improves people’s lives. So we need to help people to get access to financial services,” he says. “What is stopping people from getting it right now is the cost. For example, if you live in a remote…

Geeks and nerds of all levels, it’s time to celebrate one of our main passions in life. Let’s talk about the iconic video games that we grew up with! Specifically, the ones that defined (or invented) the video game genres we know and love today. STRATEGY Tetris 1984 – present Created by Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov, this tile-matching strategy puzzle game is one that has endured the test of time and has been made to play on over 65 platforms. Civilization 1991 – present A turn-based strategy video game in the ’90s that was initially meant for personal computers, Sid Meier’s Civilization had reportedly sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide in 2016. The game allows players to lead the whole of human civilisation, where they are tasked with…

Telling our nation’s most colourful stories, woven by a multicultural people Somewhere along the way, what started out as an ancient art form became a vital element in Chinese academic institutions, either as an elective or a core subject. Shū fà ( ), which is Mandarin for Chinese calligraphy, is a visual and literary art form with a millennia’s worth of history and is one of China’s many cultural treasures. It was a skill regarded highly among royalty and scholars especially. During the period between the Sui Dynasty (581–619 AD) and the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911 AD), calligraphy was a requisite for civil service candidates who took part in the Imperial civil service examination system. Using only four tools: brush, ink, paper and inkstone, Chinese calligraphy could be found on scrolls,…

Van Cleef & Arpels has long supported ballet. Can you share the motivation behind branching out to more modern genres through the Dance Reflections initiative? Van Cleef & Arpels has a long history with dance, which is reflected in our jewellery creations. In the 1960s, the maison supported the choreographer George Balanchine, who knew how to bring a form of renewal to the world of dance. Modern dance and contemporary dance have helped write a fascinating history that has continued to evolve from the foundations of classical. It therefore seemed essential to us to also contribute to the preservation of this repertoire and to support contemporary creation. We have a strong link with dance, which translates today into a resolutely holistic approach. Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels marks…

GLAM FACTOR Alain Philippe timepieces are known for their top-quality gemstones as well as their exceptional craftsmanship and design. This season, the Swiss haute horology brand launches the GL.05, which embodies all three attributes. Part of the Glamour collection, the wristwatch comprises an 18-karat white-gold case set with round- and taper-cut diamonds totalling 4.26 carats. The piece is powered by a quartz movement and fitted with a black strap. HUBBA BUBBA The Pink Watch, Richard Mille’s fourth collaboration with Bubba Watson, was inspired by the golfer’s “lucky charm” colour. This is the third tourbillon the brand has developed with Watson, who says he’s been pushing for the pink version throughout their ten-year relationship. The Pink RM 38-02 Tourbillon, a limited edition of 50, retains the resilience required of a big-hitter…

The concept of customisable digital avatars isn’t new—if you’ve played videogames like The Sims or joined virtual platforms like Second Life, you’re probably familiar with the mechanics of creating a character from scratch. From skin tone, body size, hair styles, wardrobe and the little facial features that make your character unique, the possibilities are endless when it comes to virtual personas. And the same applies to the virtual influencers we see today; whether it’s a space bun-wearing 19-year-old robot living in LA, an anthropomorphic rabbit with a sense of style (and some very sharp teeth) or an animated sausage with over 4.2 million followers on Instagram, everything, given a good story, can be a virtual influencer. But aside from being digitally programmed avatars, they function, in essence, the same as…

Hailing from Valencia, Spain, Lladró is renowned for its handcrafted porcelain figurines, having been in the business for close to 70 years. Each Lladró piece is delicately made by sculptors and craftsmen following an entirely handmade process that combines ancient techniques with an unmistakable palette of signature colours. From chemistry to modelling, carving, relief, etching and painting, a team of expert artists and designers keep age-old crafts and techniques alive in order to turn porcelain into dreams come true. The brand released a truly creative collection, The Guest, which is a series of masterpieces that came to life through a collaboration with a host of artists. Kickstarted by Jaime Hayon in 2012, The Guest started off as a blank canvas, and have since had input from creatives such as Tim…

WHAT IS CRYPTO? Cryptocurrencies are digital assets designed to be nearly impossible to counterfeit. Transactions are recorded on a digital ledger, called a blockchain, that’s duplicated and distributed across a network of computers. Bitcoin (BTC) is the most famous example, but competition is fierce from newer coins like Ethereum (ETH) and “meme” coins like Dogecoin (Doge), popularised on social media and by Tesla founder Elon Musk. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Blockchain technology will undoubtedly disrupt key industries like logistics, law and finance. Programmable “smart contracts” that automatically execute trades and workflows have already given rise to a decentralised crypto financial sector dubbed “DeFi”. Crypto will also be instrumental in creating and funding the metaverse, the immersive virtual world where we’ll spend more of our time—and money. WHO’S INVESTING? When Bitcoin…

TURQUOISE Signifying good fortune, protection and tranquillity, this smooth and silky gemstone’s hallmark colour is synonymous to Tiffany & Co.’s trademark blue. First offered in the 1860s, it was during the Gilded Age that Tiffany’s turquoise and pearls brooch sets were a favourite wedding gift that grooms gave to their brides. MONTANA SAPPHIRES Founded by one of the world’s leading gemmologists, Dr George Kunz, these vibrant blue sapphires from Montana were displayed during the company’s gold medal exhibit at the 1889 Paris World’s Fair. It was a milestone for American gemstones as it was the country’s first major presentation. In 1990, Tiffany & Co. won the grand prize at the Paris fair that year with their floral corsages, one of them being a nine-inch iris brooch of Montana sapphires, demantoid…

In the movie Chef starring Jon Favreau in the lead role, he tells his son this: “I get to touch people’s lives with what I do, and it keeps me going and I love it.” I have always been struck by this quote and I think this can apply to any work that we do. But in the spirit of delighting in good food made with love, we have a few culinary stars in the local and the international scene gracing our pages this month. On the cover is Canadian celebrity chef, television host and cookbook author David Rocco who is here to tell us about the opening of his first global restaurant in Kuala Lumpur (The Sweet Life, p.120). Famed for his Dolce Vita series, Rocco also hosted two…

The world of Web3 moves at lighting pace. Few outside the tech world knew what an NFT was last year, and even fewer could have predicted the meteoric rise of the Monkey Kingdom NFT project that launched last November. A collection of 2,222 randomly generated 32x32 pixel NFTs, Monkey Kingdom has captured the hearts of many Asians, taking inspiration from the mythical creature Sun Wukong, also known as Monkey King, based on the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en. The legendary creature, known for his strength and capacity for mass destruction, is a favourite among millennials, including Alice Wong, lead developer and CEO of Monkey Kingdom. “It’s a treasured story for me. The story of Sun Wukong is so beloved in Asia, and I think that’s…

Altered Carbon (TV series) “Joel Kinnaman aside, the idea where hundreds of years from now, the fallible mortality of humanity is overcome by uploading one’s consciousness into a singular disc and stored on a satellite. With the onset of the Information Age and how we store our metadata on the internet as well as electronic devices, Altered Carbon presents a stark possibility of where human innovation can take us and how far it can go if left unchecked.” —Koyyi Chin, senior writer Love, Death + Robots (TV series) “I’m not one for dystopian TV shows and films. Call me a coward but they scare me, even though I know the realities and issues they raise are more than true and existent in our world today. So when it comes to…

A TRIO OF LINES Debuting in February at the Exquisite Gucci show, Alessandro Michele’s collaboration with Adidas stands in stark contrast to The Hacker Project, the equestrian-inspired collection he created with Balenciaga last season. The pieces are finally available, and see the Adidas Trefoil and three stripes mixed with Gucci’s Interlocking G, Horsebit, Web and GG monograms across ready-to-wear and accessories, including tracksuits, footwear and gym bags. Launched in mid-June with an Eighties-style lookbook, this is the high fashion-meets-sportswear retro chic collection to not only work out in but also get dressed up in. PHYGITAL VISION Following the success of its collaboration with Blackpink’s Jennie, Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster has teamed up with Moncler Genius on their second collaboration capsule, with a range of products from eyewear to puffer…

‘‘Fashion has always been the starting point of everything I’ve done [in my career]—it has an incredible power to inspire, ignite passion and imagination, and that was certainly the case for me from an early age,” says Wendy Yu, often referred to as China’s fairy godmother of fashion. Yu is the daughter of Jingyuan Yu, who founded Mengtian Group, the largest wooden door manufacturer in the country, but she has made a name for herself as a fashion power player and mentor. Yu has worn several hats since founding investment funding company Yu Capital in 2015, which became Yu Holdings in 2017. “I was not immediately chasing the numbers as most financiers do; I was more interested in long-term impact and the wider vision,” she says of the businesses her…

VEAL BEAUTY Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Queen of Hungary, also known as Sisi, was renowned throughout Europe for her beauty. She had long, luscious hair that took hours to style, kept a slim figure through rigorous exercise and “tight-lacing”, but was most famous for her youthful appearance—which she was allegedly obsessed with maintaining. Sisi famously wore a leather mask filled with raw veal or crushed strawberries to sleep, almost like a modern sheet mask. Strawberries, a natural source of alpha-hydroxy acid and vitamin C, brighten and smooth skin, while the fats and proteins in veal would have kept her skin moisturised. As few people today would sign up to wear raw meat on the face in the name of good skin, just use a glycolic toner for the same…

You have a relationship with the Louvre going back at least a decade. What was your introduction to the museum and how have you collaborated with them over time? I presented my first global exhibition at the Louvre’s Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris back in 2012 to celebrate the launch of my first book: Symphony of Jewels, Opus 1. Over the past decade, I’ve maintained a great relationship with Musée des Arts Décoratifs and its director, Olivier Gabet. Where do you look for inspiration for each new collection? Are there any people, places or artworks that have had a lasting effect on your work? So many things inspire me from daily life: art, nature, literature, culture. Although I have lived abroad for most of my life, I’m proud of…

“As with most things, there’s a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes—especially if you want to achieve a certain success,” says David Rocco. But while many may be envious of the celebrity chef, cookbook author and television host living what appears to be la dolce vita, it’s not all sweetness and light. “What most people don’t realise is that being in front of the camera is tough, and shooting can be physically, mentally and emotionally draining,” he says. Rocco was in Kuala Lumpur to open a new restaurant. He spoke to Tatler about his upcoming ventures, and the truth behind the seeming glamour of his career. Take the process of making his Dolce TV series, which sees him travelling the globe to discover culinary and cultural…

SINGAPORE: RAE Created by: Unknown Debut: October 2020 Collaborations: Audi Singapore, Moschino, Monsoon Patrol, Charles & Keith, Valentino, Gucci Fun fact: In July 2021, Rae became the first Southeast Asian virtual influencer to mint a collectible series. Titled ‘Take A Byte’, the three-piece animated non-fungible token (NFT) art series took 50 hours individually to conceptualise and create. THAILAND: AI AILYNN Created by: SIA Bangkok Debut: September 2021 Collaborations: AIS Thailand Fun fact: SIA Bangkok describes AI Ailynn as a “21-year-old young woman with a bold, smart, modern, mysterious, yet confident character.” SOUTH KOREA: ROZY OH Created by: Sidus Studio X Debut: August 2020 Collaborations: Chevrolet, Shinhan Life Insurance, Calvin Klein, Maison Margiela, Hera Beauty, Jill Stuart, Pandora, Tiffany & Co, W.Concept Fun fact: Her name means ‘one and only’ in…

It’s important to be surrounded by what is real and honest, instead of fake things,” says Axel Vervoordt. “It’s that real thing we’re all looking for, especially now.” Pandemic-induced lockdowns and quarantines have relegated many of us to the domestic sphere, reviving an interest in sprucing up our homes and creating a soothing environment conducive to dealing with social and political upheaval. The Belgian has been engaged in this quest for the “real thing” throughout his career as an interior designer and arts and antiques dealer. In a world where visual culture is oversaturated with artificial, filtered and increasingly digitised imagery, and beauty is synonymous with flawlessness, Vervoordt’s signature rustic elegance offers tangible relief and a point for reflection. “I’m looking for a universal,” says the designer on his end…

High jewellery collectors will know of Tiffany & Co., one of the most iconic jewellery brands in the world with a history dating back to 1837. Not only has the legendary American jeweller withstood the test of time, but it has continued to remain one of the top high jewellery houses in the world since Charles Lewis Tiffany opened shop at 259 Broadway in New York City. Despite its 185 years of history, the brand shows no signs of slowing down as it unveiled its next chapter of high jewellery collection, Botanica: Blue Book 2022. In April this year, Tiffany hosted an exclusive celebration in Miami during the unveiling of its Blue Book 2022 collection. The event lived up to the house’s long-standing heritage in bridging tradition and modernity as…

SAUFI NADZRI Saufi Nadzri left telecommunications engineering to take up photography. His career began at The Star newspaper and he subsequently found his way to nightlife photography which led him to shooting fashion and events. He prides himself in his ability to anticipate the mood of his subject, which allows him to capture them in their best light. For this issue, he photographed the eight chefs in Passion on a Plate (p.128) ERIC CHOW Known for his style of high fashion photography, it’s not surprising to see Eric Chow’s work featured in fashion publications such as Citta Bella and Glam with his flair for the dramatic. For this issue, he photographed cover star David Rocco (p.120) CHRISTINE DE LASSUS Christine de Lassus is a fashion stylist, creative consultant and costume…

No matter the seismic events of past and present, we humans are pretty adaptive when we have to be—even if the whole transitional process towards the future involves a lot of kicking and screaming. Case in point: the creative industry. While it’s not the only sector that suffered great losses, a creative renaissance (of a sort) seems to be emerging in this post-pandemic world, especially with the advent of cryptocurrency, NFTs and the metaverse. For multidisciplinary artist Ernest Zacharevic—whose works can be found along wall murals throughout Penang and the Klang Valley—despite the tumultuous rise and fall of the crypto industry and the ensuing dip in the NFT market, he maintains that economic valuation [of crypto and NFTs] aside, the platforms that operate them will always remain, albeit looking a…

You can take Ping Coombes out of Malaysia, but you can’t take Malaysia out of her. Born in Ipoh and now based in Bath, UK, she has never lost her love for Malaysian food; in fact, living away from Malaysia has only compounded it. Since moving to the UK in 2004, Coombes has been busy cooking Malaysian food and sharpening her skills, keeping her connection to home strong through her adoration for the cuisine. In 2014, she joined MasterChef UK and emerged victorious. She would go on to also win the ultimate prize in the competition and was crowned the MasterChef Champion of Champions in 2022. The home cook published her first cookbook, Malaysia, in 2016, which consists of easy-to-master Malaysian recipes. Coombes then took to educating others about Malaysian…

If a leader is one who sets the tone of the organisation, then Taylor’s University has the good fortune of having Professor Michael Driscoll as its vice-chancellor. Trained as an economist and with over 25 years of experience as a university president and vice-chancellor under his belt, Driscoll’s greatest motivation and reward is helping young people achieve their qualifications and get a good start in their careers. We sit down with the football-loving Englishman as he talks about how he landed in this field, what experiences in university should students have, and his proudest moments for Taylor’s. What got you started in education in the first place? Michael Driscoll (MD): When I graduated, I went on to postgraduate research and I was offered a job teaching. And then at some…

Perfectly rounding up the Johnnie Walker Masters series is the masterpiece that is the Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour—an extremely rare Scotch with an age statement that’s almost half a century old. The final expression is essentially a celebration of the fine art of whisky making, and is one of the last hurrahs of Jim Beveridge the current Johnnie Walker master blender, who will be retiring at the end of this year. And what a fitting parting gift to the world, especially for whisky connoisseurs, as Beveridge brought together some of the top talent in the realm of whisky making for this creation. Living up to its name, the Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour blends the talents of Donna Anderson, a malt master; James Carson, a cask master and Douglas…

Kimhēkim’s love for giant bows, pinned pearl buttons and exaggerated tailoring is captivating. Contrary to what you might imagine of a Korean fashion label, Kiminte Kimhekim’s fame is not necessarily linked to the rise of K-pop culture or dressing Korean celebrities. Instead, the designer, known professionally as Kimhēkim, gained his cult following of 200,000 Instagram fans because of his distinctive aesthetic: minimalist forms with maximalist details. A former intern at Balenciaga during the Nicolas Ghesquière era, Kimhekim is profoundly influenced by the craftsmanship, tailoring and archives of Cristóbal Balenciaga. He launched his label in 2014, debuting with a couture collection in a flower shop. “I spent ten years in Paris and as a natural result, I had all the infrastructure needed there. There was really no reason for me to…

TASTE THE RAINBOW If labels such as Christopher John Rogers and Moschino are anything to go by, rainbows are for life. Add to this the urgent need to see more colour in our wardrobes after two years of pandemic dreariness, the multi-coloured pattern is appearing on apparel and accessories of all descriptions. Perhaps Pantone should consider the seven-shade combo as its next big thing. JOIN THE GLITTERATI A little sparkle goes a long way. Sequins were the embellishment of choice in the Erdem and Brandon Maxwell pre-fall 2022 collectoins; even a single beglittered item—think miniskirt or handbag—makes an outfit much more fun. Don’t wait for New Year’s Eve—start wearing your glitz this summer. AU NATUREL You’ve got the raffia beach bag; now it’s time for this natural fibre to take…

SNAKE EYES An exquisite sight, Bulgari has taken 55 marquise-cut diamonds, as well as 56 emeralds and pavé-set diamonds, and crafted a stunning bracelet that brings its serpent emblem to life. A jewellery piece, more so than any other luxury item perhaps, is an emotional choice; and this one is sure to have a lasting impression. SAFE KEEPING The Hermès Kelly watch with its iconic padlock, synonymous with the handbag of the same name, comes in new incarnations for 2022. The padlock is now attached to a metal bracelet in rose gold or steel, with or without diamonds, and a choice of either a mother-of-pearl or spangled white lacquer dial. Each padlock may also be attached to a leather cordlet to transform the wristwatch into a necklace. INTO THE GREENHOUSE…

GREAT POINT The dial of Parmigiani Fleurier’s latest Tonda Automatic, fully paved with diamonds, was designed as if a painter had used pointillism—a technique of applying small, distinct dots to form an image—on a canvas. Instead of paint, nearly a thousand diamonds of differing sizes are used to form the brand’s distinctive “barley grain” motif. The timepiece is available in either rose gold or white gold with a blue alligator strap. ALL THE BUZZ Marking the 50th anniversary of Gucci Swiss Timepieces, the design house is launching its second haute horologie collection. Among the new additions is the G-Timeless Dancing Bees, featuring 12 bees engineered to shimmer around the dial as the wearer moves. Each wristwatch is presented in either a green or pink opal dial set with diamonds, and…

A big supporter of the culinary arts, BMW chauffeured the chefs in style to Kloé Hotel, the location of our shoot. Scan the QR code to watch the video, which is also on Tatlerasia.com MAKOTO SAITO SAM Sushi Hibiki At Sushi Hibiki’s sushi counter, Tokyo native Makoto Saito Sam is in his element, brandishing each seafood serving with an infectious energy that’s hard to resist. As restaurant owner and chef, Saito believes a good sushi chef must not only be skilled but also able to build rapport with his customers. He picked up this very important tip from his first job at a sushi restaurant where he observed his sushi master making the effort to learn about the preferences and moods of his regular diners. “My sushi master told me,…

Ruangrupa like to have a good time. This was one of the reasons why Farid Rakun joined the group as a student back in 2010. “It didn’t hurt that they liked to party,” Rakun says. “It was a place I knew I would have a good time.” The Jakarta-based collective offers more than just a good time. Loosely translated, ruangrupa, means a “space for art”. It’s hard to define what or who Ruangrupa is at any given moment, but broadly, it is a non-profit group that disseminates artistic ideas through publications, and by holding workshops and staging exhibitions, among other programming. Made up of artists, curators and people with various skill sets, its structure is intentionally fluid, and members adapt it to whatever is best suited for the project they’re…

1 SMART CITIES As Asia continues to urbanise, there is growing demand for smart city solutions to solve operational challenges. From smart transport and telemedicine to electronic identities and state-of-the-art communication networks, smart city applications look set to be a growth area. 2 THE METAVERSE Once confined to the realms of science fiction, the development of metaverses is a trend to watch. Already prevalent in the gaming sector, these virtual shared spaces are now being used as an avenue for digital asset ownership. 3 GOLD The price of gold has been on a broadly upward trend since December due to its status as an inflation hedge. As a safe haven asset, the value has risen further following the uncertainty created by the conflict in Ukraine. 4 DEFENSIVE STOCKS With inflation…

Tiffany & Co. celebrates a legacy of opulence and masterful craftsmanship with the Blue Book 2022: Botanica, featuring contemporary high jewellery designs, including that of Jean Schlumberger’s magnificent interpretations of flora, that showcases the world’s rarest diamonds and coloured gemstones. The French jewellery designer, who designed Tiffany’s famed Bird on a Rock brooch, is a favourite among the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor for his lively, bejewelled creations. One of his iconic designs, the Flowers and Leaves necklace (pictured), has been given a fresh interpretation, now in 18k yellow gold-and-platinum as well as brilliant round diamonds of over 63 total carats. Exceptionally detailed and lifelike, as an investment, his creations have been known to increase in value as demand for the pieces continues to flourish.…