Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2020 i Tatler Singapore

Cover star Charles Chen Yidan reveals why he left behind his high-flying career as co-founder of tech giant Tencent to establish the Yidan Prize, an annual award that celebrates innovators working in the field of education. Philanthropist Nancy Lee and art patrons Nadia and Rajeeb Samdani are also profiled. Natasha Cinta Vinski is the force behind Love for Humanity by NCV, a foundation that works to improve sanitation and reduce forest fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan Tengah province—a region dominated by dense tropical jungle that is a crucial home to endangered orangutans. On the cover are mother-daughter duo Lee Jim Leng and Nicole Tham who discuss their respective philanthropic initiatives. Also profiled is Merrill Joseph Fernando, founder of Dilmah Tea, whose foundation helps plantation workers prosper. Nanette Medved-Po, the founder and…

The World Health Organisation reports that around 235 million people are living with asthma globally, while the respiratory condition affects 5 per cent of adults and 20 per cent of children in Singapore, according to current figures from the Ministry of Health. Having suffered from asthma as a child, Adrian Ang understands the effects of the disease and hopes to improve the way care and treatments are dispensed to patients. After reconnecting with associate professor Ser Wee, his mentor from the Nanyang Technological University School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the duo founded AEvice Health in 2016 to “develop technologies that can help patients with chronic respiratory diseases”. Adrian is the start-up’s CEO, while Ser is its chief scientist. Four years on, the firm has invented a smart wearable device,…

“ONLINE RETAIL IS INEVITABLE TODAY, AND WE KNOW THE CHALLENGES AHEAD AND HOW TO COMPLEMENT AND EMBRACE CHANGE” Like most captains of industry, Arthur Tay is usually clad in corporate attire when he meets the press. But since our interview with the chairman of the SUTL Group of Companies takes place in the Nike store at Jewel Changi Airport, it appears Tay has decided to switch gears today, showing up in a polo tee and sneakers that complement the store’s energetic colour scheme perfectly. This may actually be the more natural look for this avid sportsman. Tay loves skiing (on both water and snow), diving and playing tennis, and follows everything from the Rugby World Cup to the MotoGP (he used to ride motorcycles himself). In fact, he says, “watching…

You are on the road a lot. Do your travels inspire the formulation of your products? Yes! For instance, I thought of the concept of using two different shampoos after meeting clients living in hotter regions. They have gorgeous long hair, but their roots can get oily as they’re always sweating. So I created a deep cleansing shampoo for the roots and a nourishing one for the ends. What was the most memorable experience with your own hair? The first time I chopped off my long hair. It was scary to cut it short—I’m usually the first one to tell my clients to just go ahead and cut their hair because it’ll grow back. When I finally took my own advice, it felt amazing. The shorter look is so much…

“Beauty is having great skin that looks fresh all the time. I’ve always believed in investing in skincare rather than buying make-up.” – Kim Lim, brand ambassador and entrepreneur “I lead a hectic lifestyle, so it’s important for me to make smart choices when it comes to self-maintenance. I believe in Illumia Therapeutics because of its Hybrid2 Protocol.” – Xu Bin, brand ambassador and actor “I trust Illumia Therapeutics to take care of all my medical beauty needs. Its high-quality products and first-class treatments mean that my skin always gets the care it needs.” – Sharon Tang, satisfied client…

1 Prep freshly cleansed skin with the Skin Hyper Idealizer to help it absorb the following products more effectively. 2 Next, apply the Double Moisturizer on your face. The serum penetrates deeply into the skin to increase its moisture levels and lock in hydration. 3 Finally, fortify the eye area by gently patting on the Eye Firming Essence to give it a more lifted appearance.…

“I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls” — Audrey Hepburn Looking on the bright side has plenty of benefits, from reducing stress to increasing happiness. But according to recent studies, optimism has another clear perk: it can help you sleep better. Optimistic people log more hours of quality sleep time than pessimists—and they’re less likely to experience daytime sleepiness, too. Optimism may be a state of mind, but Susan D’Addario, certified sleep science coach, says it affects the body, too: positivity releases endorphins, dopamine and serotonins—three essential ingredients to quality sleep. What’s more, serotonin is a precursor to melatonin, more colloquially known as the “sleep hormone”, as it encourages a state of sleepiness in most people. Plus, in today’s world, worry and fear can often drive insomnia, says…

Naomi Campbell’s flight-bag make-up remover wipes of choice are alcohol-free and suitable for sensitive skin types. Antioxidant vitamin C not only fights free radical damage, it also boosts the efficacy of sunscreen—which you’ll need when you’re 36,000ft closer to the sun than you are on an ordinary day. A full-spectrum sunscreen will help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays—choose a tinted product or one with SPF coverage if you prefer not to be make-up free. For supple lip protection, choose a product with ginseng, gingko biloba leaf, argan oil and vitamin E. Apply a layer of rich, luxurious cream before boarding—and reapply liberally throughout the flight to keep skin protected and fresh.…

FRANCK MULLER Invisible Setting Tourbillon Swiss watchmaker Franck Muller’s Round collection is defined by sleek and sophisticated designs that ensure its watches are as timeless as they are coveted. The Invisible Setting Tourbillon model is especially notable because of the arrangement of its baguette-cut diamonds. Hundreds of them adorn the case, dial and bracelet and are hand-set in white gold alongside blood-red rubies. One of these watches is now in the collection of professional footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who was pictured wearing the diamond-drenched piece at a press conference in 2018. VACHERON CONSTANTIN Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac—Year of the Rat It’s finally out: the very first Year of the Rat Chinese zodiac watch for 2020. The rat symbolises intelligence and Vacheron Constantin’s artisans took inspiration from the…

The Harry Winston Emerald timepiece is the perfect amalgamation of the brand’s jewellery signature with a ladies’ watch. The elegant ticker bears the shape of its namesake founder’s favourite gemstone cut framing its clean, classic dial. With its art deco-style lines, the emerald cut gives a gemstone a vintage-looking yet timeless allure, which works similarly well when interpreted on a watch. It has been four years since the Emerald debuted in 2016 and now, the collection welcomes a new size variation that will provide women with an option of a larger watch. While the original petite case size—24mm by 17.75mm—complements women’s wrists in a more traditionally elegant way, the bolder Emerald 33mm (as it is named by the brand) is a response to modern-day demands. The new variant measures 39.3mm…

“To me, freedom means the opportunity to choose. I feel very lucky to have been able to make my own choices every day” While most millennials are grappling with moving to a new city and entry-level employment, Cara Delevingne, who turned 27 last August, has not only achieved worldwide celebrity but reinvented it while she is at it. A veracious blonde crackling with energy, the model-turned-actress-turned-singer playfully blows kisses into the camera while on set with Dior Joaillerie. The French fashion house’s latest Rose des Vents collection, designed by jeweller extraordinaire Victoire de Castellane, swings comfortably around her neck and wrists as she twists and turns in a bewitching black dress. “Filming this campaign was so much fun,” she says afterwards. “We were really able to be creative and playful.”…

Monaco is hardly the ideal place to test the dynamics of the new Bentley Flying Spur, what with its narrow roads and limited space, but it is the perfect place to launch it. The glitzy sovereign city state is not only known for its altruistic monarchy, but its incredible wealth—nearly one third of its residents are millionaires, according to Knight Frank’s The Wealth Report 2019. When the global launch event took place last October, even jaded residents came to have a gander at the fleet of Flying Spurs parked at Casino Square outside the iconic Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. The model’s name was taken from the 1957 Bentley S1 Continental Flying Spur, and the first of the modern series continued in 2005 with the name Continental Flying Spur as it…

Crystal Jade has spared no effort to ramp up its gourmet offerings for the Lunar New Year. Whether you are dining at one of its exquisitely designed restaurants or indulging in its takeaway delights in the comfort of your own home, there is no shortage of tasty options this festive season to satisfy your inner gourmand. Created by Crystal Jade’s group executive chef Martin Foo and his team, the dishes have been thoughtfully conceived to reflect the dining concepts of each restaurant. At Crystal Jade Palace, located at Takashimaya Shopping Centre, for example, chef Foo’s renowned culinary skill is evident in the luxurious menu. The pan-fried tiger prawn with prawn paste and chardonnay cream sauce will leave you wanting more, while the Hakka yam abacus seeds with Boston lobster showcases…

In Singapore, when a group of men get together, topics of conversation typically revolve around National Service, careers or cars. And with refreshing drinks as a social lubricant, you can expect the conversations to flow for hours on end. With this in mind, Singapore Tatler and CNA Luxury sought the expertise of Diageo, the world’s second-largest distiller, to organise a boys-only evening, aptly named The Gentlemen’s Series, at Vineyard restaurant last November. The guest list comprised businessmen, opinion leaders and tastemakers, including Contemporara Holdings chairman and CEO Tan Puay Hiang, Jean Yip Group creative and managing director Mervin Wee and Lanzavecchia + Wai Design Studio creative director Hunn Wai. Over a four-course dinner at the French-Italian restaurant, guests indulged in a selection of rare whiskies curated by Diageo’s whisky specialist,…

One can always hear the powerful engines of Maserati sports cars outside its showroom at Leng Kee Road. But the mechanical symphony that October evening when Singapore Tatler partnered Tridente Automobili, Maserati’s authorised importer and distributor in Singapore, to host a test-drive session was particularly masterful. The petrolheads among our society friends took thoroughbred rides such as the Ghibli, Levante and Quattroporte out on the road and many returned showing the thumbs up. During dinner, Tatler editor Terence Lim unveiled the magazine’s video collaboration with Maserati, featuring tastemakers including entrepreneur Shireena Shroff Manchharam. In it, they shared how their work philosophy matched the marque’s dedication to craftsmanship and performance. Driving FORCE Entrepreneur Benjamin Swan was beaming after his brief drive in the Maserati Quattroporte…

In what feels like a blink of an eye, here we are: at the beginning of a brand-new decade. There’s nothing like a fresh start to inspire hope—a transition that poet and publisher T S Eliot put so eloquently when he said, “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” The top of each year is a chance to start anew and like me, I’m sure many of you have written down goals and resolutions to kick-start 2020 in the right direction. However, in our quest to improve our lives and achieve that next milestone, we must not forget how important balance is in the equation. Striking a balance is something that…

Stem cells—they are one of the biggest trends in beauty today, but do you really know how they relate to your skin or are you blindly buying into all the hype around it? These wonder cells are known for their unique ability to divide and produce new body tissues, which spells great possibilities for medical use in repairing other cells that are damaged by disease. But how does this translate to benefits for the beauty industry? Some beauty brands use plant-derived stem cell extracts in their products, which purportedly have the same regenerative effects on our skin’s cells. But while these ingredients may truly have some anti-ageing benefits, it has yet to be scientifically traced to the same regenerative behaviour that is seen in human stem cells. In other words,…

We’ve all done it—gone to bed with make-up still on, or settled for simply cleansing when our skin was crying out for a deep exfoliation. When we’re busy, our skin can pay the price. Dermatologists understand. Their hectic schedules often leave little time for proper skincare. But there are some skincare steps, they say, that they would never skip, no matter how busy they are. Here are five skincare habits of super-busy dermatologists. These are the things they make time for regardless of their schedules—and which they believe you should work into your skincare routine. WASH Even the busiest dermatologists wash their faces twice a day. “If the dirt and dead skin cells are not removed, how can your expensive serum seep into your skin and take effect?” asks Jasmine…

Smythson notebook Making a daily habit of journaling gratitude becomes so much easier when you have a beautifully-bound dedicated notebook to fill. Alani Nu Sleep This gentle, nutrient- and antioxidant-rich, lemon-flavoured drink can be taken hot or cold and includes magnesium, potassium, gamma-Aminobutyric acid and 1mg of melatonin per serving. Together, these ingredients support deep, restorative sleep and diminish insomnia. Gravity Blanket Long used to help calm people with psychological disorders, autism and PTSD, weighted blankets are relatively new to the mainstream. Gravity was one of the first companies to bring the 7 to 11kg duvets to consumers in 2017. The brand has since expanded its range of products to include sleep masks and pillows.…

While you are pampering your skin with the most luxurious creams and lotions, don’t forget to show your crowning glory some tender loving care, too. Beautiful tresses require plenty of effort and dedication to upkeep, but when you are faced with unfortunate scalp ailments or hair-loss issues, however, maintaining its volume and healthy shine can seem like an uphill task. SCIENTIFICALLY FORMULATED Thankfully, advances in science and technology can help alleviate many hair-related problems. Hair loss and scalp care centre Papilla Haircare has the latest innovative solutions. Located at Ngee Ann City, it is a one-stop hub that utilises the latest medically-backed technologies. The centre collaborates with doctors and scientists to concoct serums rich in stem cells in its own Korean laboratory to ensure the highest safety standards. TRUSTED BY…

It’s -4°C in Niseko, powdery snow is blowing almost sideways and I’m about to step outside—totally naked. I’m at one of the hundreds of outdoor onsens that dot Japan, where locals and tourists alike slip into pools of hot, cloudy water that’s naturally heated by volcanic rocks deep underground. Tales of the miraculous powers of these baths have been told for centuries. More than 3,000 years ago, people in Matsuyama were said to have seen an injured heron return day after day to bathe in a hot spring until it was healed, and Japanese legends claim brave samurais recovered from their battle wounds after a long soak. They may sound apocryphal, but it’s likely these stories contain a grain of truth. Scientific studies suggest onsens improve circulation and sleep, lower…

“We are looking beyond the 40th year and into the future,” shared The Hour Glass group managing director Michael Tay, who embraces an optimistic outlook on what lies ahead for the watchmaking industry. The trade has changed vastly, but 40 years into its operations, sustaining the business well for the next few generations is of utmost importance to him. “In this organisation, we don’t speak so much about how big we want sales to be or what we want our number of store counts to grow to because we are focused on qualitative growth.” Having been in this industry for the past 20 years, he said that the biggest factor that has shaken the industry is the onset of digitalisation, as it has changed the demand equation of timepieces in…

So... what’s the link between fermentation and health? Bacteria, that’s what! They’re everywhere, from the start of the fermentation process to the insides of our stomachs during digestion. Bacteria are responsible not only for digesting things inside our intestines, but also things outside of them. Bacteria aren’t happy simply breaking down our food for digestion, they also reduce it into molecules that are more easily absorbed by our bodies. This is called bioavailability. Besides that, the microbial community makes vitamins, breaks up toxins and medicines, and strengthens our immune systems. And all those things are a big plus for our health! THE STOMACH, OUR SECOND BRAIN Just as Giulia Enders tells us so brilliantly in her best-selling book Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ, we humans…

Italian white wines are often dismissed as unserious—and relegated to drinking only during carefree summer months. But this hasn’t always been the case. This reputation largely stems from post-war technological innovations and industrialised farming, which made a diverse category increasingly homogenous. Along the way, “don’t they all taste like pinot grigio?” became a not-unreasonable question. Today, though, the answer to that question is a firm no. I should admit my own bias, as a faculty member of the Vinitaly International Academy, an educational body designed to spread the gospel of Italian native grapes, but I fervently believe that there are some dynamite whites being produced in Italy. Unlike riesling or sauvignon blanc, most Italian white grapes are not explicitly fruity. It’s their varied non-fruit aromas—such as fennel and anise (in…

From Frankenstein to Pennywise, Tatlings (our littlest Singapore Tatler friends) and their parents came out to play in their best costumes for a Halloween party held at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, in collaboration with Tatlings magazine. The Shoppes’ Digital Light Canvas space was transformed into a grand runway for a luxury childrenswear fashion show featuring Fendi Kids, Dolce & Gabbana Junior, Ralph Lauren Children and Kids21 (Stella McCartney Kids, Kenzo Kids, Paul Smith Junior, Bonpoint and Emporio Armani Junior). After the show, The Shoppes’ Little Superstar contest winners were announced. Thereafter, guests adjourned upstairs to the Kids Precinct for a host of activities held in the various boutiques, from slime making at Kids21 to origami at Gucci Kids. There was also balloon twisting at Fendi Kids, while In…

HUNGER PANGS It was an embarrassing evening for a presumptuous entrepreneur, who hosted guests at his new bungalow for dinner but failed to cater to their dietary needs. The vegans in the group left with stomachs still rumbling, as there was no main course option for them. SECRET RENDEZVOUS An outdoor charity fundraiser turned out to be the best place for a group of businessmen to flaunt their mistresses. Naturally, they declined any phototaking for fear of their wives finding out about their not-so-secret affairs.…

From her Walter the Rabbit (2010) series of guerrilla installations around Singapore to her performance piece 11 at the Telok Ayer Arts Club last year, Dawn Ng is no stranger to presenting her art outside of the traditional “white cube” gallery space. This month, the Singaporean visual artist presents her latest work, Merry Go Round, on the ground floor of 2 Cavan Road. The site-specific installation takes inspiration from the history and architecture of the conserved building, which has been transformed by the Singapore Arts Club for a six-month art takeover with the experiential show, Twenty Twenty. Ng tells us about the space and her monumental installation. What is it about presenting art outside the gallery space that excites you? The uniqueness of each environment gives the work something to…

FIJI: ART & LIFE IN THE PACIFIC LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART, LOS ANGELES UNTIL JULY 19 Lacma has drawn from major international collections such as the Fiji Museum, the British Museum and the Smithsonian to put on this exhibition, which is the first major showcase of Fijian art in the US. Expect a variety of pieces, from paintings and figurative sculptures to weapons and armour. lacma.org NAUM GABO TATE ST IVES, UK JANUARY 25 TO MAY 3 Making the centenary of the Realistic Manifesto, an artistic statement penned in Moscow by artist Naum Gabo and his brother Antoine Pevsner, this exhibition is the first large-scale show dedicated to Gabo in the UK in more than 30 years. The exhibition includes sculptures, paintings, drawings and architectural designs in the…

The TREND Lone Ranger Featuring utilitarian pockets, belt bags and all things khaki, the resort collections from Chanel and Celine all but beg you to go on safari The ACCESSORY Tall Tale March into the new year with the slouchy boot trend that’s still going strong— and made more dramatic by exaggerated proportions. We’re talking lower stems and hems way over the knee, complete with fierce reptilian prints. The LABEL Christopher John Rogers Already counting Michelle Obama and Tracee Ellis Ross as fans, 25-year-old designer Christopher John Rogers won last year’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund prize. Hailing from Baton Rouge in Louisiana and based in Brooklyn, Rogers makes signature dazzling eveningwear laced with a touch of surrealism, taking inspiration from cinematic clowns and their Pierrot collars, and Paul Gauguin’s paintings and…

If you haven’t had the chance to visit Illumia Therapeutics, the latest hotspot on Orchard Road for transformative, next-level facial and body treatments, then you are missing out on an opportunity that is hard to find anywhere else. The newly opened full-service medispa allows you to address your beauty and wellness needs all in one place, with skilled experts and staff focused on providing a restful escape from your hectic schedule. BEAUTIFYING LIFE THROUGH SCIENCE Founded by aesthetic doctors and backed by plastic surgeons, Illumia Therapeutics offers clients the star treatment whenever they visit. “The name ‘Illumia’ was chosen to signify that clients are at the centre of what we do. It all starts with ‘u’, the client,” says CEO Elizabeth Leong. All the treatments at Illumia Therapeutics are non-invasive,…

This lightweight oil helps combat fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and redness, and contains trans-retinol ester, which is less irritating than traditional retinol, making the product suitable for normal, combination and oily skin. Rich with rosehip seed oil, neroli and nutrient-rich botanicals, this face oil is infused with a natural form of retinoic acid from vitamin A that addresses fine lines, wrinkles, dullness and skin texture issues. The natural- and pro-vitamin A combined with retinoid analogue in this anti-ageing oil help enhance collagen production and repair damage from sun exposure. For challenging mornings-after-the-night-before or as an intensive treatment, these retinol-infused eye masks help promote cell regeneration and hydration after just 15min of use. Customise your skincare with these vitamin C and vitamin A (retinol) boosters, designed to be added to…

On a chilly November evening in Beijing, surrounding the Aman Summer Palace, which once served as the emperor’s holiday home, trees adorned in autumn foliage rustled in the wind. Inside, the fashion set, who had descended en masse on the Chinese capital from every corner of the world, waited with bated breath for couture master Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Valentino show to begin. All we knew about the exclusive capsule collection, shown outside the haute couture calendar for the first time, was its name: Daydream. “By the time Shanghai-born supermodel Du Juan appeared, guests were wiping away tears” What populated Piccioli’s dreams? A marriage of two disparate cultures—part of his ongoing vision of greater inclusiveness in the industry, wrapped in frothy frocks, big bows and tiers of tulle. Showcasing the spirit of…

At the epicentre of exceptional jewellery lies one Parisian address: Place Vendôme. Its history, punctuated by war, revolt and the rise and fall of dynasties, is almost as dazzling as the pieces its workshops produce. Completed in 1699 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, whose design stamp can be traced across France’s architectural high points, from the Palace of Versailles to the Notre-Dame de Paris, the ambitious feat of urban design was initiated to frame the statue of then-ruler Louis XIV. Breaking away from the typical square format, Hardouin-Mansart traced out a perfect octagon, with the clean lines of the sandstone-clad, neoclassical townhouses forming its perimeter. More than a symbol of monarchy, Place Vendôme was a rare open space, where people could breathe freely beyond the maze of winding Parisian streets. It could…

It is a balmy morning in a tranquil corner of Singapore’s Upper Peirce Reservoir Park, the spot that we have chosen for this photo shoot with model-turned-fitness entrepreneur Liv Lo. Outdoor shoots can be tricky; this one, however, proceeds so smoothly that even our cover girl remarks on it. “That’s one of the fastest cover shoots I’ve ever done,” Liv says after we wrap. “It’s really hard to do what you guys just did.” We will gladly accept the compliment but let us also point out the obvious reason why the morning went so well: Liv hasn’t been a professional model for a while now, but the decade she spent in that job has clearly etched a kind of muscle memory into her body. It is really hard to do…

It’s hard to keep up with a man who does it all. Waris Ahluwalia is many things—actor, activist, designer of clothing, fine jewellery and ceramics—but, at the end of the day, he’s a storyteller. And his latest tale is House of Waris Botanicals, a collection of teas and elixirs. “Tea has been connecting people for centuries. In every indigenous culture across the planet, tea has always served a purpose. It was a way to bond and a way to heal,” says Ahluwalia. We’re at his office in New York’s Lower East Side, and I’m sipping one of his blends from a rustic steel cup—it’s a mix of turmeric, black pepper, rooibos, ginger, honeybush, cinnamon and bee pollen, and it feels like a hug from the inside. House of Waris has…

CLASSIC WHITES Gini Soave Classico Contrada Selvarenza Vecchie Vigne 2014 Never a flashy producer, Gini has been quietly growing some of northern Italy’s finest white grapes for 400 years. Made principally from garganega, this old-vine bottling of 100+ years has the lusciousness of a honey-poached pear. It billows over the palate, revealing a bituminous nuttiness on the back, though acidity pushes it away from overt heaviness. La Staffa Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi Superiore 2017 Verdicchio, known for an energetic greenness and vivacity, comes in two distinct regional flavours. Jesi, the more famous, comes from a gently hilly stretch of the Adriatic coast, yielding a less extreme, more pliant expression. This youthful version evokes white grapefruit and quartz; it is pristine and radiant. Its structure is upright, its acid bracing but…