Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2024 i Tatler Singapore

TATLER HONG KONG The eponymous founder of Nadine Ghosn Fine Jewellery talked about her connection to Asia and why lacking formal design training is a blessing, not a burden. TATLER MALAYSIA Author Vanessa Chan spoke to Tatler about her debut novel The Storm We Made, her decision to write historical fiction, and how writing helped her manage her grief. TATLER PHILIPPINES Josef Werker, a Gen.T honouree and the co‑founder and CEO of Humble, a circular economy solutions start‑up, told Tatler how his company aims to prolong the lifespan of consumer products, reducing their impact on the environment. TATLER TAIWAN Sky Yen, the founder and CEO of the non‑profit Learning Is Science Education (LIS) and an Asia’s Most Influential honouree, has been on a quest to improve Taiwanese education. Through the…

KAREN TEE Karen Tee finds joy in sparking inspiration and positive action through her work. Her love for writing is only surpassed by her love for yoga, which is why she considers the mat her second home. In this issue, she went glamping in Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. DARREN GABRIEL LEOW A fashion and commercial photographer based in Singapore, Darren Gabriel Leow frequently contributes to Tatler Singapore and other luxury lifestyle and fashion publications, as well as shoots campaigns for various local and international brands. He shot entrepreneur Carolyn Choo, who is on the cover this month, as well as the jewellery spread. MUNSTER Obsessed with the power of the visual language, Munster believes in its profound influence by way of creating new realities and experiences for…

He was the longest-serving chief at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), whose role included regulating the financial sector, managing the government’s financial reserves, and developing the city into a financial centre. Having been at the helm since 2011, Ravi Menon stepped down on January 1 this year, retiring from a 36-year career in public service, which also included stints at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. But barely three months later, from April 1, Menon returned to the fold in a newly created role as Singapore’s first ambassador for climate action, and senior adviser at the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS), which falls under the Prime Minister’s Office. In a statement, the NCCS said that Menon “will play a leading role in Singapore’s climate…

CAUSES At the heart of the movement for gender equality in Singapore today are dedicated advocates such as Georgette Tan, who leverages her extensive experience in corporate communications and leadership to champion women’s empowerment on multiple fronts. As part of her former role as senior vice‑president of communications at Mastercard Asia Pacific, she led corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes as well as partnerships with non‑governmental organisations (NGOs), which involved working with women’s groups and rural communities. Through that, she found her calling. “I visited women in rural areas who farm and take on sewing projects to earn money,” recalls Tan. “In the Philippines, women operate sari‑sari stores (neighbourhood retail shops) in front of their homes, serving their communities by selling essential items and in smaller quantities—such as shampoo sold in…

ARTISANAL FUTURISM Still dreaming about Maison Margiela’s spring-summer 2024 artisanal show? Experience a touch of its magic in the form of sunglasses: the latest chapter in the ongoing eyewear collaboration between Maison Margiela and Gentle Monster. Designed by the former’s creative director John Galliano, the experimental collection consists of ten sunglasses styles, as well as seven spectacles. The avant-garde, mask-like MM101 and MM102 styles come with rubber-wrapped or rimless frames, and bolted temples adorned with the house’s signature four white stitches. Additionally, acetate frames are available in various colours, along with a selection of leather-framed editions in black, ivory, khaki and blue tones. GREEN CITIZENS Emporio Armani’s capsule collection for spring-summer 2024 emphasises sustainability as well as a stylish urban life. Made exclusively from organic or recycled materials, the collection…

GOLDEN HOUR Metallics were the main event on many runways this season, with gold taking pride of place at Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford and Miu Miu. The epitome of glamour and opulence, gold is the ultimate must-have of the season. It shines not only when it comes to show-stopping evening gowns and sleek, modern formal jackets but also chic footwear and statement bags. TWEED FOR ALL This season, classic tweed is having its moment. Designers have embraced its versatility, as seen in the tailored shapes showcased at Dsquared2. Balmain, meanwhile, has ventured into the artistic realm by creating glittery pieces, and Chanel has reaffirmed the iconic status of its tweed bag, cementing its place as a classic wardrobe staple. But tweed will never just be a trend; its current “fashionable”…

HAPPY TIMES Chopard unveiled the Happy Sport Rose de Caroline earlier this year in conjunction with International Day of Happiness, which takes place on March 20. This timepiece, inspired by a world blooming with roses, is a masterclass in gem setting: pink sapphires and rubies encircle the dance of Chopard’s signature diamonds atop ethical 18-karat rose gold. Underneath, a precision self-winding movement animates a guilloché-patterned mother-of-pearl dial. The brand donates a proportion of the proceeds from sales to children’s welfare—a move that befits the watch’s joyous spirit. GALLOP AWAY Hermès’s Arceau Mon Premier Galop is a canvas to showcase the artistry of the Mon Premier Galop shawl, created by Helsinki-based Chinese artist Tong Ren. His work has been translated into a jigsaw of enamel, silk and leather; the dial, a…

Local news outlets were abuzz when English singer‑songwriter Ed Sheeran was in Singapore this February, not just because he played two sold‑out shows but also for what he was wearing on his wrist. Images of the four‑time Grammy Award‑winner and avid watch collector performing on the Capitol Theatre stage wearing his bespoke Patek Philippe World Time 5230G watch were shared across various platforms. Granted, the watch is a one‑of‑kind masterpiece, but the topic of conversation was how Sheeran had paired the luxury dress watch with a navy rubber strap from homegrown brand, Delugs. The headlines certainly brought the watch strap and accessories brand on the radar of more Singaporeans. Co‑founders Kenneth Kuan and Chia Pei Qi say they experienced increased interest from locals through Instagram, the Delugs website and at…

Gabrielle Chanel was ahead of her time in many ways. The late French designer and founder of her namesake luxury fashion house often went against society’s expectations of what women should look like through her audacious rule-breaking fashion, beauty and jewellery creations. Her clothes prioritised comfort and freedom of movement; she popularised trousers and sailor shirts that helped liberate women from corsets. Her little black dress, a simple and sophisticated garment meant to be accessible to all was a symbol of democracy and went on to become a fashion staple known simply as LBD. She created Chanel No 5, the first perfume that showed women they could eschew the tradition of smelling only like flowers or musk, and instead wear a blend of both pure and seductive notes. These are…

FEATURE It all started with an emerald. Not just any emerald but the Insofu emerald, a rare 6,225-carat gem unearthed from the Kagem mine in Zambia that Chopard bought at auction in 2018. Not only did this monumental acquisition spark conversations in the jewellery world, years later, its resplendence and magic has inspired a momentous collaboration between two creative minds. Chopard’s co-president and artistic director Caroline Scheufele had enlisted expert emerald cutters from India to carefully study the Insofu emerald, in order to best reveal its unique characteristics. After the cutting process took place in Chopard’s Geneva workshops and in Jaipur, India, the first stones from the special rough have finally been unveiled in a unique project befitting the occasion: a high jewellery capsule collection, in collaboration with American actress…

The best thing about Colombo is … the quintessentially Sri Lankan hospitality. Nothing is too much trouble and “no” is simply not in the vocabulary. There’s a Sri Lankan tradition of care and empathy, and the Sri Lankans take pride in inviting you into their homes and piling food on your plate, serving after serving. I find myself in Colombo … two to three times a year to visit family and friends as well as to attend various celebrations and gatherings. The best place for a meal is … the Ministry of Crab. Located in a former Dutch hospital, it has been a firm favourite of mine well before it was recognised as one of Asia’s 50 best restaurants. Another is Nuga Gama, a restaurant in a traditional village setting…

This month, we shine a spotlight on travel, but not in the way you might imagine. While we do have a fabulously poetic travel story—on andBeyond’s first and achingly gorgeous Bhutanese property—most of our travel‑themed stories focus more on the business of travel. (For those of you who do love first‑person travel narratives accompanied by gorgeous pictures, our annual travel supplement will come out in a few months.) To grace our cover, we decided to ask the dynamic Carolyn Choo, CEO and managing director of Worldwide Hotels Group, the hospitality group her father, hotel tycoon Choo Chong Ngen, founded. She has hyper‑accelerated its growth since she assumed office in 2017, and what she has achieved over the past few years particularly has been extraordinary. She certainly deserves the numerous accolades…

Contactless check‑ins at airports and hotels are fairly commonplace today, but a decade ago, it was an alien concept. For time‑poor frequent fliers such as Maxim Tint, the frustration at having to fill out multiple forms can be particularly acute, and it was exactly that that spurred the technopreneur to devise a workaround. His now 10‑year‑old start‑up, Gtriip, developed a platform allowing hotel guests to check in with a selfie. Over time, this digital identity verification system was extended to include offices and institutions. To date, more than a million check‑ins and photo IDs have been verified, and Tint counts Amara Hotels & Resorts, Park Hotel Group, Singapore Press Holdings and the National University of Singapore as clients. His end goal is for people to be able to travel without…

In the world of haute couture, where creativity and imagination know no bounds, Gaurav Gupta sets himself apart with a design language rooted in surrealism and fantasy. “What is amazing about being from somewhere like India is that you are able to see the endlessness and vastness of the universe in a very absolute way. That’s what I tried to reflect in my artistic expression,” the Indian couturier says. Indeed, Gupta’s creations evoke a sense of otherworldly beauty. They have carved out a world that is Indian at its core while remaining boundless in its forms—merging indigenous construction and embellishment techniques with what he terms a “future-primitive aesthetic”. The visionary designer also holds the distinction of being the third Indian ever to present at the prestigious Paris Couture Week. Tatler…

FASHION If Tumi’s creative director Victor Sanz could encapsulate the brand’s latest Asra collection of women’s bags in one word, it would be “elegance”. And there is no one who better embodies the spirit of elegance than its newest global brand ambassador Mun Ka‑young. Best known for her roles in the popular K‑dramas True Beauty (2020), Exo Next Door (2015) and Heartstrings (2011), the South Korean actress joins the brand’s roster of international ambassadors, which includes South Korean footballer Son Heung‑min, the captain of both Tottenham Hotspur and the South Korea national team. This March, Mun made her first appearance for the premium travel and lifestyle brand at the global launch event of its new collection, Asra, held in Singapore—fitting, given that she embodies the collection’s modern allure, according to…

YI LEATHER Ng Shuyi founded Yi Leather in 2014 to offer quality bespoke handmade leather straps that would not break the bank. A one‑woman show, she enjoys adding hidden details for the wearer like using supple goat leather for the strap backing. RSM RSM founder Lin Yiyan believes fabric straps are the most comfortable material for Singapore’s humid weather, but found few quality options. Taking matters into his own hands, he designs high‑quality nylon, poly‑cotton and silk straps with curated weave patterns, stitching and hardware. ATELIER KAI A day trader by profession, Philip Chuah started making bespoke leather straps as a hobby, which evolved into Atelier Kai. He offers a large selection of leathers including lesser‑known ones like Beaver Tail, Tilapia, Salmon and Shark.…

We’re getting choked up over our favourite jewels this summer TIED IN TRADITION The Cartier Agrafe collection, with its Pluie de Cartier bracelet, marries the craftsmanship of haute couture with the art of fine jewellery. Drawing on the iconic corset clasps that sculpted the quintessential Parisian figures, this piece boasts 342 brilliant-cut diamonds and nine square-cut gems, totalling 14.83 carats. Set in white gold, its design embodies a heritage of sophistication, making it more than an accessory—it’s a wearable piece of history. ONWARDS AND UPWARDS The Lucky Arrows collection by Mikimoto marries features the Yaguruma motif, revered in Japanese culture. “Yaguruma” combines the words ya, or arrow, and guruma, which means wheel, and can be interpreted as a quiver with arrows. Central to this line is the pendant, made of…

THE LUGGAGE Rimowa’s Hammerschlag Cabin honours the brand’s iconic 1966 Hand‑Carry Case with its textured aluminium shell and vintage‑inspired leather grab handles. It is limited to 1,898 numbered pieces, to commemorate the maison’s founding year. THE NECKLACE Cartier embarked on a journey of looking at and expressing its savoir faire and creative practices from new, unexpected angles through its Le Voyage Recommencé high jewellery collection, which has culminated in its third and final chapter. The new Yfalos necklace captures the beauty and dialogue between the sea and the sky through two central turquoise cabochons—one a pure azure blue and the other, streaked with brown veins—on a chain of ribbed coral beads topped with turquoise beads, threaded through with diamonds and dotted with emerald beads. THE BAG Echoing the maison’s love…

For Singaporean millennials, Lloyd’s Inn serves as a significant cultural touchstone. Its rebrand in 2014 coincided with social trends that have come to define the generation, notably the bloom of the fourth wave of Singapore’s coffee culture, characterised by a surge in local, barista‑run cafes. The same era also saw the rise of the photo‑sharing platform Instagram and the photo‑editing app VSCO, known for its distinctive, transformative filters, that can be used to capture flatlays, #OOTDs and Insta‑worthy places. The penchant for aesthetically pleasing photographs cemented Lloyd’s Inn as one of the key cultural zeitgeists of the 2010s; the boutique property channels the Kinfolk look—defined by minimalist design elements such as clean lines, natural materials and raw finishes, and serene palettes complemented by generous daylight—that anchored the Instagram accounts of…

“Please go easy on me [today],” laments Zoen Tay, when we meet for the photo shoot for this story. “My body organs still haven’t caught up with me since I survived my stunt training two days ago.” Tay has been undergoing intensive training to prepare herself for a new acting role in an action comedy. “I’m afraid I’m not allowed to say much, but I can tell you that we’ll be filming in northern Thailand.” With pre-production for the drama underway, it is as if by stroke of luck that we manage to sit down with the daughter of entrepreneurs Jerome Tay and Alice Neo, who are in the business of beauty and wellness, for this interview despite her demanding schedule as a junior doctor. More than just a rising…

FEATURE Andy Goh’s passion for Asia is palpable. The founder and CEO of hospitality brand R+ has dedicated the past two decades to exploring the continent. Reflecting on his journey, Goh says: “My early beginnings showed me the united front of Asia in terms of its vibrancy, richness and connectivity. Many people look beyond our region, but there are so many treasures in this part of the world still waiting to be uncovered.” When we meet Goh for this interview, he had just returned from a spontaneous trip to Medan in Indonesia, which he chose as a destination on a whim just days before. This adventurous spirit not only deepens his love of the region, but also fuels his vision for R+. He seeks to embody the brand’s ethos of…

STRAIGHT AND SHINY Ever wanted a hair styling tool that can dry and straighten your hair at the same time? Dyson has once again upped the ante by debuting the Airstrait straightener that allows for wet-to-dry straightening with powerful airflow. That is right: the straightener does not have any hot plates, thus avoiding the risk of heat damage associated with traditional hot hair styling tools. Although the size of the straightener is similar to most in the market, it is a game-changer for those looking for a quicker way to achieve a straight and sleek hairstyle as it reduces two steps—drying and styling—into just one. GOING BOLD Givenchy Beauty’s new L’Interdit Mascara eliminates the need for eyelash extensions as it offers a full lash look with a few swipes. The…

Hypnotised by tourbillons?…

Renowned for its innovation, high-performance materials and unyielding dedication to pushing boundaries, Richard Mille is recognised as one of the pinnacles in modern luxury watchmaking. Among the Swiss manufacture’s illustrious offerings, the RM 07-01 holds a special place as a core collection dedicated to women. Also one of the brand’s most popular models, the RM 07-01 defies the traditional assumption that women’s watches are fashionable but not functional. The timepiece seamlessly merges aesthetics and cutting-edge engineering, proving that femininity and technical prowess are not mutually exclusive. Central to the allure of the RM 07-01 is its meticulously crafted movement, the CRMA2. Developed in 2014 as Richard Mille’s second in-house calibre, the skeletonised automatic winding CRMA2 is tailored specifically for this collection with features such as a variable-geometry rotor that optimises…

PATEK PHILIPPE The Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Chronograph Ref 5924G-001 is Patek Philippe’s first chronograph in its line of Pilot watches. With a 42 mm white gold case featuring a sunburst blue-grey dial, the watch is equipped with the self-winding Caliber CH 28-520 C FUS with a flyback chronograph as well as a Travel Time function, which displays the home time as indicated by the skeletonised hand and the local time indicated by the solid hand. OMEGA The new Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean “Dark Grey” is made to brave any adventure. Not only is its 45.5 mm dark grey case crafted in light yet robust silicon nitride ceramic, it also features other elements made from lightweight grade 5 titanium, including the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8906 with a GMT function.…

Tell us about your early years before you joined John Hardy. My career in luxury started with a pretty well-known pen maker [Montblanc], which has grown over 100 years into a wonderful luxury brand. I started off my career in my hometown in Germany; I was born, raised and educated in Germany and then the United States. I started off with [Montblanc in 1994], but very quickly, I moved to Asia: first [in 1996] to Hong Kong, and then to Japan. I worked with this pen maker for over 20 years and even launched their jewellery line. I ended up staying for over six years [in Hong Kong] and I deeply fell in love with [Asian] countries. I learnt a lot about how diverse and wonderful the world is, when…

THIMPHU Located about an hour’s drive from Paro, where the airport is located, the capital city of Thimphu is the country’s beating heart for art, culture and architecture. Spend a night or two here to fully take in its unique Bhutanese‑inflected cosmopolitan charm, from its lone “traffic light” at its busiest crossroads—in fact a policeman at a roundabout—to its various government buildings built in the style of traditional architecture. Unique handicrafts can be found at the Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory, where high‑quality decorative paper is hand‑made from the bark of the daphne and dhekap trees according to traditional techniques. Or visit the Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre—which produces ceremonial textiles for Bhutanese royalty—for some of the finest hand‑woven textiles and garments. Stay at Postcard Dewa (pictured above), a tastefully designed five‑star…