Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2022 i Tatler Singapore

TATLER HONG KONG He raps, acts, makes YouTube videos and runs a T-shirt company: Zain Syed explores Hong Kong’s cultural tropes while himself moving the needle. In an illuminating interview, the trilingual rising star discusses his burgeoning hip-hop profile, the notion of belonging, and why he refuses to be pigeonholed. TATLER INDONESIA Having advised some of the largest international companies in the world, Sonita Lontoh is an accomplished leader in innovation, green technology, digital transformation and the fourth industrial revolution, creating programmes that have positively impacted businesses, consumers, and society. She discusses the future of green technology, and how she empowers Asian women in the US. TATLER MALAYSIA Sarawak-born pianist Hii Mei Lin has performed on stages all over the world. The Kuala Lumpur-based musician is transforming society’s general perception…

A music maven and curator of good times, Dean Chew is the co‑founder and artistic director of Singapore‑based music collective Darker Than Wax. As well as being a globally respected underground electronic music label, Darker Than Wax knows how to throw a party. And with live music back on the menu in Singapore, Chew says he feels “an incredible sense of relief and happiness”, and that it has “given life back to this island”. Chew recently revived Darker Than Wax’s beloved Brew parties in the courtyard of Chye Seng Huat Hardware coffee shop at Jalan Besar. “The turnout was incredible,” he says. “We could feel the love and energy in the atmosphere, and it was gratifying to see how music has such a positive impact on peoples’ lives.” Videos from…

Ellana Lee was in London for meetings in early 2020 when Covid-19 hit. Walking down Oxford Street, she was startled to find the crowds parting before her. “It was like the Red Sea; people wouldn’t even come near me,” says Lee. “That was my first experience in understanding that this [the pandemic] was going to be bigger than a virus story; this was going to trickle down to racism and how people are perceived.” It was a pivotal moment for the Korean American that reinforced her conviction that a diverse newsroom was important—employing people who can bring their varied life experiences to bear, contextualise news and identify underreported angles. As a founding member of CNN’s International Diversity Council, Lee has been making a concerted effort to reassess hiring, diversify storytelling…

“My alarm usually goes off before 5 am,” says Tariq Ahmad, Franklin Templeton’s co‑head of Asia‑Pacific, on how he starts his day. “From a young age, the early mornings have been a natural fit for me. Now, I use the time to think, absorb market news from the US and Europe, fit in a session at the gym and prepare for the day as we focus on the strategic priorities for our clients across Apac. We’re busy but energised, and the morning provides that excitement of the day to come.” To say it has been a busy 24 months for Ahmad and the firm is an understatement. Ahmad’s recent appointment as co‑head of Apac aside, Franklin Templeton will be celebrating the two‑year anniversary of its acquisition of Legg Mason—one that…

Singapore plans to achieve net‑zero emissions by or around mid‑century. One home‑grown company is already setting an example for how this can be done, particularly in the highly polluting food industry. Last month, SaladStop! Group launched its very first net‑zero food and beverage outlet, which is said to also be the first such store certified net zero in Southeast Asia. According to its CEO, Adrien Desbaillets, who started the business with his father in 2009, the launch marks the group’s first step towards reducing the emissions of all its new and existing stores to net zero by 2030. It currently has 69 stores in 11 cities worldwide. Before it opened, the new SaladStop! store underwent a full carbon assessment to calculate its estimated annual operational emissions as well as the…

For much of its history, Christian Dior has kept its fashion archives hidden away from the world. Like crown jewels, the paradigmatic designs of its namesake founder and his successors have only occasionally been exhibited to outsiders, although glimmers of them still shine through in the work of the maison’s current custodian, Maria Grazia Chiuri. Those rarefied archives can now see the light of day at 30 Avenue Montaigne. The brand’s flagship boutique in Paris has reopened its doors after a two‑year makeover that turned it into more than a store: it now houses a restaurant helmed by Jean Imbert, a café, a suite and, most importantly for brand devotees, a museum—La Galerie Dior. Designed by scenographer Nathalie Crinière, who brought to life the fashion brand’s 70th anniversary exhibition, Christian…

MY HEART WILL GO ON Inspired by the Heart of the Ocean necklace from the 1997 classic Titanic and featuring a stunning heart-shaped, natural vivid blue Ceylon sapphire framed by diamonds, Chopard’s haute take—dare we say it?—trumps the original. A happy coincidence? The heart motif is an important symbol of the Swiss jeweller. A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME It might have been the Little Tramp’s first sound film, but what struck Chopard’s co-president and artistic director Caroline Scheufele about Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights was its recurring rose motif, to which she pays tribute with this lifelike rendition of the bloom in brooch form, blinged out with black and white diamonds, and complete with mobile petals. MONEY, POWER, GLORY Carnal desire and passion are two of the central themes in…

NET RESULT Extending its use of alternative, sustainable materials, Ulysse Nardin has launched its first Diver timepiece made from upcycled fishing nets—one of the main sources of plastic pollution in the sea. The Ocean Race Diver model comes ahead of the brand’s partnership with The Ocean Race open sea sailing event starting in Spain next January. The environmentally friendly wristwatch, a limited edition of 200 pieces, is also made using 85 per cent recycled steel. RACY IN BLACK Larger-than-life extravagance, out-of-the-box design and boundary-pushing technical sophistication are the raisons d’etre of Roger Dubuis. And true to form, the self-styled hyper horologist has launched its first two models crafted from black ceramic—a material recognised as being exceptionally challenging to work with in the watch world. Both the Excalibur Double Tourbillon and…

A TOUCH OF TWEED Once considered conservative, tweed is now seen as eclectic and cool; the dense, textured, woven fabric has become synonymous with elegance and is a working woman’s essential. The coming season offers a new generation of tweed separates and accessories—be it a Chanel jacket or pair of Valentino shorts—that carry a vintage appeal with a playful finish. MONOGRAM MAJESTY Like it or not, Nineties and early Noughties fashion continue to rule, meaning anything and everything with a logo is a hit this year. But to keep things fresh, designers are getting more creative with how they’re reviving their brand’s heritage. SLICE IT UP If the cut-out trend is a little too daring for you, consider instead a sleek slice detail. Major fashion houses are injecting the party-inspired…

The decade and a half since I joined the wine industry has been fascinating for Chinese wine. China’s vineyard land grew until it (briefly) outstripped that of France; a Chinese wine won a trophy in a major global wine competition, and reactions to the term “Chinese wine” went from “That Great Wall stuff?” or “You mean Maotai?” to “Grace Vineyards, Ao Yun or Long Dai?” Few could have foreseen in 2008 that today we would be in a position to speak in all earnestness about Chinese “icon” wines. For context, this sort of meteoric rise took over a century in the United States, the only producer (and market) that provides a reasonable comparison. Though China also opened its first major winery in the 1800s (Changyu, established in 1892), its wine…

Parties (and partying) are back with a vengeance on our Little Red Dot. As I write this, Cartier just held its Beautés du Monde high jewellery gala dinner—its first gala in Singapore since 2015—where guests from Southeast Asia were dazzled by its magnificently wrought creations, a decadent dinner curated by three-Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco, and grooved the night away to a surprise performance by American musical group Sister Sledge under a shimmering disco ball at the Esplanade. Hot on the heels of that, Burberry’s Sunset Monogram takeover of Tanjong Beach Club was marked by, what else, a party with some big Thai celebrities in attendance (boy love series stars Vachirawit Chivaaree and Metawin Opas-iamkajorn caused a frenzy); and Dior commemorated the reopening of its store at The Shoppes at Marina…

The Watch Romance is just a glance away, especially when you have Rolex’s new Oyster Perpetual Datejust with its efflorescent dial. The Shoes With their slightly retro shape and ladylike hue tempered by ombré details, Prada’s chunky heels will set you up for the new season. The Brooch Chaumet’s colourful high jewellery brooch brings together the wonders of the sea for a seductive addition to a jewellery lover’s ensemble. The Bag Channel Nirvana’s renegade rock spirit with Celine’s new Teen Besace Triomphe bag.…

The global beauty landscape is ever evolving and often seen as moving more quickly than fashion in matters of inclusivity—from product development to accessibility to beauty standards. Can the same be said of the industry in Asia? We could think of few better people to answer that question than a fixture who has represented what Asian beauty means for more than 30 years: QiQi, Hong Kong’s original supermodel. Her decades of experience and appearances in countless campaigns and on glossy pages all started with a summer job: the 17-year-old QiQi was scouted by a modelling agent on the streets of Vienna, where her family lived during her teenage years. “In Austria, I was constantly approached from the age of 13 by Japanese people and westerners who asked me to model,”…

“I wanted to cover women with constellations. Stars! Stars of all sizes”– GABRIELLE CHANEL There is the little black dress. There is the bouclé tweed suit. And there is, of course, Chanel No. 5. Gabrielle Chanel was a couturier so ahead of her time that she had many firsts to her name; naturally, it should come as no surprise that the first high jewellery collection she designed in 1932 was a stellar success. The Bijoux de Diamants collection, as it came to be called, was historically the first high jewellery collection ever created, and was produced at the height of the Great Depression with the intention to bring hope and renewal to the world. The couturier was tapped by the London Diamond Corporation for this significant moment and the stunning…

JJ Lin is kind of a geek—and he’ll be the first to tell you so. Growing up, the pop star immersed himself in the world of comic books and sci‑fi novels by the genre’s greats, including Isaac Asimov and Ernest Cline. “I’ve always imagined a world where we’d be living like they do in [Cline’s 2011 novel] Ready Player One, where everything is seamless and connected,” says Lin. “It’s really coming to life now.” He’s talking about the metaverse, of course. For Lin, the mainstream culture’s growing affinity for virtual realms offers sweet vindication. “You feel liberated because it’s something you’ve been passionate about for so long and now, everyone is paying attention,” he says. “You feel happy for the community; they’re finally being understood a little bit better.” Last…

LARA JADE Lara Jade is a fashion and beauty photographer who finds inspiration in feminine strength, unique beauty and timeless style. She first picked up a camera when she was 14, and growing up alongside social media and digital techniques enabled her to see the bigger picture of an international industry. She began her career in London before moving to New York. Her work has appeared in luxury fashion publications worldwide and her client collaborations include Monique Lhuillier, Nars and Graff. She photographed this month’s fashion shoot (p.78). AFFA CHAN Tatler Asia’s senior photographer Affa Chan was born in Hong Kong and raised in the UK. After graduating from Goldsmiths College of Art with master’s degrees in fine art and image and communication, he worked as a photographic assistant in…

As was the case for many people, when the pandemic struck, it put a stop to Shavonne Wong’s work. The fashion photographer could no longer work with real models; so, in the name of future-proofing her career, she decided to create her own. Tatler Hong Kong interviewed Wong for Tatler TV: Meta Versed about how she’s pushing boundaries in the world of photography, celebrating “real” beauty via her virtual models and supporting minorities in the space, and how she felt about one of the pieces from her Love is Love collection being actor Idris Elba’s first NFT purchase. Wong discussed how she was excited to find that her skills as a photographer transferred easily to working in 3D art, and that they could be used to fill a gap in…

FALL FOR EARTH It girl-favourite accessory label Manu Atelier is combining boldness and sustainability for the upcoming season. In the campaign photographed by Harley Weir, Chinese model Chu Wong poses with arm candy handcrafted by local ateliers who used leather selected from Leather Working Group-certified tanneries. Moving towards the goal of being zero waste, the Turkish brand’s ethos is further expressed in a collaboration with emerging designer Lou de Betoly; the collection of upcycled garments is handmade using surplus fabrics from the fashion house’s production. MARRIED TO COMFORT Modern brides-to-be are swapping out pretty party shoes for something unexpected—and comfortable. If you’re looking to say “I do” in a pair of bridal-worthy sneakers, the Atelier Collection from Italian luxury footwear brand Hogan reinterprets elegance with statement sneakers that feature haute…

MONOCHROME CHIC Chanel’s celebrated logo is the focus of the maison’s new Wanted timepiece collection; the Premiere model with steel case and black lacquer dial is part-wristwatch, part-bracelet. The strap combines interlaced black leather and steel, reminiscent of Chanel’s classic shoulder bags and the brand’s use of chains to weight the hems of its iconic tweed jackets, while six steel and black lacquer pendants dangle from the bracelet. IT’S A WRAP Omega has released its classic De Ville Trésor timepiece in an even slimmer size this year, complete with beautiful new straps. The new De Ville Mini Trésor is sized at just 26mm and comes with strap designs inspired by Toile de Jouy, the traditional 18th-century French print. Three patterns have been designed in-house, including this Red Floral “double tour”…

Among Bulgari’s new watches this year, the Octo Finissimo Ultra is the undisputed highlight. At just 1.80 mm thick, the timepiece broke yet another record in ultra‑thin watchmaking for the brand upon its release—the eighth such record since 2014, by the way—and bookends the first decade of the Octo line, which was established in 2012. The watch can rightly be interpreted as the culmination of Bulgari’s design and technical savoir faire, of course. It is, however, also important to recognise that this is but the latest chapter in the brand’s chosen specialisation of ultra‑thin watchmaking, and that the saga is far from complete. In this exclusive interview, Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, executive director of product creation at Bulgari, shares his insights on the Octo Finissimo Ultra and its place in the…

“It’s still not diverse enough,” says art dealer and activist Amar Singh of the art world. But he is part of a movement calling for better representation and the decolonisation of art history. “We’re just at the beginning.” For a long time, the programming at museums and galleries has championed straight, white, male artists and reflected the dominant trend throughout art history. In recent years, however, an increased demand for works by female artists, LGBTQ+ artists, and artists of colour has resulted in a significant inflation in both their monetary and cultural value. Art institutions have been forced to seriously reconsider the diversity of their collections and artist rosters. While this socio-cultural reckoning has gained immense traction (fuelled further by the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter cultural movements), Singh hopes…

Once upon a time, the title sommelier was only used to refer to wine experts who had years of rigorous training and certification to be masters of their field. But as diners in Singapore and beyond become more discerning and, quite frankly, connoisseurs themselves, the need for educated palates or “sommeliers” in other fields—be it olive oil, tea or even fermented juices—has risen to give one-of-a-kind dining experiences. Meet three taste experts who are offering their invaluable knowledge on specific gourmet products that they have earned from studies, on-the-job training and immersive experiences. OLIVE BRANCH Hervé Pennequin, general manager and wine director of Les Amis Sebastien Lepinoy, the executive chef of three-Michelinstarred French restaurant Les Amis is always chasing for the “fourth Michelin star”—the one that doesn’t exist. In this…