Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2026 i Tatler Malaysia

DINING From high teas to banquets, we’ve got you covered for the best festive food this Lunar New Year LIFESTYLE Y2K, but make it composed: Your guide to surviving a 2000s party in 2026 POWER & PURPOSE Philanthropist and RYTHM Foundation’s Datin Seri Umayal Eswaran tells us about her approach to making values-led education accessible in the AI era Follow us on social media @tatlermalaysia Scan to visit tatlerasia.com…

When Erny Yusmiarty left her corporate banking career in 2012, she was following a feeling. Batik had been part of her life since childhood, when her late mother dressed her in the fabric that would one day inspire her brand. “I was surrounded by it from my teenage years. I fell in love with the material, especially silk, and the elegance it carried,” she says. That quiet, enduring love became Pieces by Raeesa, a modern batik label Erny now leads as founder and creative director. The leap into fashion came almost by accident. “I often wore batik to the office, and my colleagues kept telling me to sell it,” she recalls. The idea lingered, and after marrying her husband—now her business partner—they started selling batik online, aiming to connect the…

PROPORTION PLAY The Chanel Fall-Winter 2025/26 collection campaign stars Lulu Tenney in a dreamlike play on proportion. Iconic House codes—including bows, pearls, and tweed—are reimagined through dramatic scaling and layering: tulle worn over suits and velvet mimicking denim. From pearl-shaped heels to giant clutches and maximalist jewels, the look is defined by a whimsical distortion of classic symbols. GROUNDING FORCES Rimowa has added two beautiful new colours to its Essential collection, inspired by natural, elemental materials. Clay is a warm greige while Terracotta takes on the deep, rich tones of earthy reds. The Essential range is colour-drenched in the new shades, from shell to handles and zippers. DYNAMIC DIMENSION The new Prada eyewear collection explores a contrast between refined workmanship and contemporary attitude. The women’s range blends Art Nouveau-inspired metal…

To mark Michel Parmigiani’s 75th birthday, Parmigiani Fleurier unveils La Ravenale, a remarkable timepiece that unites restoration, craft, and mechanical purity. This unique Lépine pocket watch centres on a revived 1920s Ed. Koehn minute repeater calibre, restored to its original acoustic clarity. Discreet on the outside yet expressive in sound, it strikes hours, quarters, and minutes with refined tonal precision. Engraved palm-inspired bridges echo nature’s geometry. The white gold case features a double back adorned with opal-and-jade marquetry and paired with a dial in deep blue PVD. The hand-forged chain by Laurent Jolliet is crafted in 18k white gold, its hexagonal links mirror the geometry of the bail, while the oval links recall the elliptical purity of the PF emblem.…

Chinese actor Song Jia brought serious wattage to Cartier’s Beijing gala last November, where the maison unveiled fresh En Équilibre creations in Beijing. She wore a full Tutti Frutti suite—the showstopping new Tutti Ta Prohm necklace flanked by a matching watch, ring and earrings. Carved rubies in irregular baroque cuts are the real story here, tumbling around two emeralds, like vines overtaking ancient temples. It’s the sort of delicious tension of contrasts that Cartier does so well. Nearly a century after the original Tutti Frutti pieces were released, the colourful stones still come alive, with nature reclaiming territory from geometry and wildness contained within impeccable craft. Trot on trend with jewellery that’s no one-trick pony…

Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia are just a few of the Asian locations whose populations demonstrate some of the greatest sleep deficiencies in the world, according to a recent YouGov survey. That’s nothing to be proud of. In fact, if you ask sleep expert Matthew Walker, who calls sleep the “fundamental bedrock of life”, today’s global sleep deprivation epidemic has concerning repercussions for individuals and societies, from mental health implications and compromised immunity to increased risk of disease and lower life expectancy. The epidemic is particularly acute in Asia due to social and cultural factors, including longer workdays, family obligations, “face” culture and later bedtimes. I’m speaking to the British neuroscientist and author of the bestselling book Why We Sleep on a video call scheduled for 8pm his time, an…

If you weren’t a tennis player, what career would you love to try? I think I would love to work in fashion—maybe as a designer. Name one song that captures your athletic spirit? We Are the People by Empire of the Sun. It’s my favourite pre-match song. What mantra do you live by? Never give up. How did you celebrate your last birthday? My team made me train on my birthday, obviously, but afterwards I had an amazing dinner with them and my boyfriend, Georgios. What ritual keeps you grounded during matches? Focusing only on the moment in front of me and not thinking too far ahead. You obviously travel a lot for work—what’s your favourite city? So many, but I loved São Paulo when I went for the first…

Welcome to 2026! After a whirlwind few months, we’re appreciating a slower start to the year and I hope you are too. Of course, in the first few weeks of the year people’s thoughts inevitably turn to diets and restriction, resolutions and rules. Every year as this time approaches, I try to be a little kinder to myself, and encourage others to be too. Resolutions are exciting to make and difficult to follow; why set yourself up for failure at a time when we’re all feeling a little vulnerable from overindulging in the holiday season? One of my father-in-law’s favourite concepts to talk about is ‘marginal gains’, the idea that building up tiny changes over a long period of time is more beneficial to improvement than big, dramatic switch-ups. His…

Malaysia’s healthcare ecosystem is shifting in meaningful ways, its evolution marked by the debut of progressive medical facilities such as the newly opened Hospital Picaso. Serving as medical director is Dato’ Dr Luqman Mazlan, a colorectal surgeon with over a decade of specialised experience. He has dedicated his career to refining surgical practice and strengthening standards of care throughout Malaysia and beyond. A former president of the Malaysian Society of Colorectal Surgeons (MSCRS) and now president of the Asia Pacific Federation of Coloproctology (APFCP), he continues to play a defining role in the region’s medical advancement. His leadership in robotic surgery encapsulates a philosophy of healthcare guided by purpose, precision and collective progress. On his perspective across borders, he explains, “When it comes to treating colorectal diseases, especially cancer, there…

Surrounded by her cats, guitar, and scattered lyrics, Timur Flores reflects on how she learned to let go of others’ expectations and trust her own voice, a turning point that brought her clarity. For Timur, clarity was earned over time. Like many young artists in Malaysia’s independent music scene, she had to tune out the noise, endless advice, comparisons, and the pressure to fit a mould. Early years performing and writing with a small creative collective taught her the value of collaboration, but also the importance of self-definition. With a Swiss father and Sarawakian mother, Timur grew up immersed in a mix of cultures, languages, and traditions. This upbringing gave her an appreciation for different ways of seeing the world, from the warmth of Sarawakian community life to the discipline…

There’s a particular clarity that comes with knowing exactly who you are. Hanis Zalikha possesses it in abundance—the kind of quiet assurance that doesn’t announce itself but commands attention nonetheless. Soft-spoken and contemplative for someone so prominent in Malaysia, the 35-year-old founder of homegrown fashion brand Cakenis has built her style empire on a simple yet radical premise: that true style isn’t about keeping up, it’s about staying firmly in your own lane. “The ideal Cakenis woman stays in her lane,” Zalikha says, settling into the conversation with characteristic directness. “She knows her worth, her values. She’s not insecure. If someone wears a nicer bag, she’s content with her own.” It’s a philosophy that extends far beyond handbags—it’s about resisting the endless scroll of comparison that defines contemporary life. This…

DOUBLE THE CARE When it comes to skincare, two really is better than one. That’s why we’re seriously impressed by Pretti5’s new duo: Postbiotic Toning Mist and Postbiotic Perfecting Cream, which work in tandem on the skin’s microbiome—an ecosystem of good bacteria that live on the skin. When this falls out of balance, it can trigger dryness, redness, irritation or breakouts. The Postbiotic range promises to restore this delicate microbial environment, supporting beneficial bacteria while activating your skin’s natural defences. AS SWEET AS HONEY Farmacy’s Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer does what it says on the tin—well, jar: hydrates intensely. The formula contains plant-based ceramides, which are waxy lipid molecules, the building blocks of living cells, as well as buckwheat honey and sweet fig to protect the skin’s moisture barrier.…

DIOR GRAND SOIR CNY HORSE The pink gold horse gallops through a lush garden set with amethysts, spessartites, yellow and blue sapphires, on a mother-of-pearl dial. VACHERON CONSTANTIN MÉTIERS D’ART THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC - YEAR OF THE HORSE Available in platinum or pink gold, the majestic beast is rendered using a combination of relief engraving, micro-painting and Grand Feu enamelling, IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN PORTUGIESER AUTOMATIC 42 YEAR OF THE HORSE The watch pairs a Lunar New Year-inspired burgundy dial with the seven-day Calibre 52011, crowned by a gold-plated galloping-horse rotor visible through the sapphire caseback. LONGINES MASTER COLLECTION YEAR OF THE HORSE Longines celebrates the new Chinese zodiac calendar with the Master Collection watch featuring a festive red dial and a rotor decorated with an engraving of a…

When Aryna Sabalenka won the final point she needed to defend her US Open title last September, she dropped her racket, fell to her knees and covered her face with her hands, trembling with tears and joy. It marked her fourth Grand Slam victory—a moment made all the more meaningful given she had fallen short at the season’s first three majors. “This US Open felt different because I had to fight through so many things—not only on the court but inside myself,” the tennis player, who is currently ranked world No 1 in women’s singles, tells Tatler. “There were moments when my confidence was low, I was tired, and it felt like everything was going wrong, but I kept pushing. Winning after all that made the title feel more emotional—like…

Joanne Ho is living her best life. At 50, this seasoned entrepreneur has helmed numerous successful businesses, from the beloved Malaysian cupcake specialist bakery of 2010s fame, Cupcake Chic, to a thriving online floral gift business. But it is her latest venture that is quite possibly her best work yet. This year, she launched Menopause Asia, the first dedicated digital platform in Malaysia aimed at helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause. We know what you’re thinking. Don’t turn the page. Don’t tune out, because this is important. It’s been predicted that menopause and perimenopause affects more than 450 million women around the world at any given time. The health challenges and changes surrounding this natural stage of life vary wildly from woman to woman. Whether you’re a young woman approaching…

ALEXANDER YEUNG Hong Kong-based photographer Alexander Yeung specialises in fashion, art and commercial photography. Notable clients include Chow Tai Fook and Centrestage, while his work has appeared in magazines including Harper’s Bazaar and Wonderland. Yeung, who photographed the late, great Dr Jane Goodall for Tatler’s February edition, this month captures golfer Lily Muni He. (p.78) ROSANA LAI Hong Kong-born Rosana Lai is a seasoned fashion editor and brand consultant based in London. Previously the fashion director of Tatler Asia, her work has more recently been featured in publications including the Financial Times, Elle and Marie Claire. For Tatler, she speaks to the brands making activewear sexy for 2026. When she’s not writing fashion features or hosting events, she can be found plotting her next sunny escape to a far-flung destination.…

Before he became the young CEO whose digital marketing agency would be acquired by global PR powerhouse Ruder Finn, Daniel Woodroof learned to make decisions at 200 kilometres an hour. The former Formula 3 driver grew up in the high-pressure world of international motorsport—where instinct, precision and discipline make the difference between the podium and anonymity. Focus? Important. Determination? Vital. The ability to bounce back with humour in the face of rejection? That took a little more time, as Woodroof learnt the hard way. “If you look at the genesis of my marketing journey, it was because motorsports is so damn expensive and I had to fund my career,” he remarks with candid humour. “I’m looking at quantums of millions of ringgit per year, like base cost, right? So I’m…

Biohacking is not new. The pursuit of technology-enhanced performance is a tale as old as time; the pursuit of wellness, even older. As with all zeitgeists (see also: pickleball, Y2K, even AI), these interests and anxieties have existed long before they had a buzzword attached to them, and ‘biohacking’ has been floating around in popular parlance since the 1980s. It was a trickle that became a stream that became a slew of Netflix documentaries, and now biohacking is occupying a prominent spot at the forefront of the collective imagination. But beyond Blue Zones and IV drips, what is biohacking, exactly? “In the proper medically trained biohacking community, the term biohacking simply means using science, technology, data, knowledge to improve a biological component—commonly performance,” Dr Jeffrey Chew tells us. “How do…

Jonathan Anderson’s womenswear debut for Dior’s Spring Summer 2026 ready-to-wear collection carries a significance that extends beyond the runway. For the first time since Monsieur Christian Dior himself, all Dior lines now sit under the vision of a single designer. It is a moment that invites scrutiny, but also demands clarity of intent. Anderson responds not with reverence alone, but with a confident reworking of the house codes, signalling a new chapter grounded in understanding rather than imitation. Working closely with the archives, Anderson approaches Dior’s heritage as material to be shaped rather than preserved in amber. His collection becomes a study in evolution, where familiar symbols are gently distorted, expanded or reframed. The result is a wardrobe that balances wearability with experimentation, introducing geometry and deconstruction that reads as…

In the world of haute parfumerie, few challenges are as daunting—or as compelling—as reinventing a classic. For Francis Kurkdjian, Perfume Creation Director at Parfums Christian Dior, the mandate was not just to compose a scent but to translate the soul of the House into an olfactory experience. With the launch of La Collection Privée Cuir Saddle, Kurkdjian turned his gaze to one of Dior’s most distinct fashion legends: the Saddle Bag. Originally created by John Galliano at the dawn of the 2000s, the bag became an immediate It Bag, celebrated for its shape that adopted the classical lines of a riding saddle. However, for Kurkdjian, the allure of the Saddle bag goes beyond its visual status as a fashion icon. “It’s an iconic bag, the shape is very relevant,” Kurkdjian…

WRIST ART Bvlgari’s iconic ultra-thin Octo Finissimo receives an artistic Emirati touch from Mattar Bin Lahej, whose Arabic calligraphy is laser-engraved across the titanium case, dial and bracelet. It draws inspiration from the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: “The future will be for those who can imagine, design, and implement it. The future does not wait, but it can be designed and built today.” Bvlgari Mattar Bin Lahej x Octo Finissimo COSMIC TIMEPLAY Czapek catapults 19th-century pocket-watch charm into the future with the 40.5mm Time Jumper, featuring the new in-house Calibre 10.1 and a patent-pending jumping hours mechanism across two sapphire discs. A half-hunter cover plays optical tricks with a three-dimensional guilloché “black hole” loupe, teasing glimpses of the open-worked movement beneath sapphire crystal. Skeletonised…

If you had the power to manipulate time, what would you do? Judging from his “fictional archaeology” artworks, artist Daniel Arsham would enjoy blurring the boundaries between past, present, and future. Transforming everyday objects into eroded relics, he imagines what is modern today as a piece of history in decay. In his universe, time collapses—the future is already the past. As a modern watch brand, Hublot challenges traditional notions of Swiss watchmaking with its Art of Fusion, causing a sensation in the 1980s when it did the unthinkable for a luxury watch: pairing precious gold and utilitarian rubber. So it was only a matter of time before the two mavericks crossed paths. In 2023, Arsham collaborated with Hublot on a 20m sundial called Light & Time in the Swiss resort…

You’ve spent decades rooted in Notting Hill but carry influences from Hong Kong, where you were born, and beyond. How has that blend of east and west informed your aesthetic—not just visually, but philosophically? I am English and there are definitely classical western traditions in my designs; but I have been fascinated by Asian art and crafts all my life. Chinese symbolism, Japanese shibori, Indian carving, Thai and Sri Lankan religious architecture: all these decorative traditions deeply influence my shapes, colours and forms. The philosophy of monozukuri [“the making of things”] is extremely important to me. In Japan it has a name, but all across Asia there is generally a deep respect for artistry, tradition and making things with a high degree of skill, dedication and perfection. The power of…

When considering the connection between artificial intelligence (AI) and wellbeing, the adage “the dose makes the poison,” comes to mind. This retrospective highlights some notable ways AI has changed the face of medicine, psychology, public and social health in the last year—for better or worse. OpenAI officially launched ChatGPT on November 30, 2022, combining generative AI with large language models (LLMs). Since then, ChatGPT and other models have disrupted numerous knowledge-based industries with its rapidly improved capabilities. Not only can AI ‘generate’ realistic images, video and audio, but it has also improved in multimodal processing (ie responding to prompts combining images with text), reasoning, context length and multilingual accuracy. With models now able to remember users across prompts, AI chatbots have become informal companions, serving roles that range from friend…

Wim Hof is on a mission. The Dutch extreme athlete goes one further: “I’m a missionary,” he says, though, “not because I wanted to be.” He says it’s because of a vow his mother made when she feared she might lose him at birth. “Oh God, let this child live. I will make him a missionary,” she prayed. “It’s that invocation coming through,” says Hof, who today heads not a church, but a global wellness movement. Hof ’s ascension has been decades in the making. He first made a name for himself through extreme physical stunts, most showcasing his unusual ability to withstand cold. The 66-year-old achieved his first Guinness World Record in 1999 for the longest swim under ice, 50 metres—the following year, he broke his own record with…