Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2024 i Tatler Malaysia

TATLER HONG KONG Director Ray Yeung sat down to discuss his latest film, All Shall Be Well, the issues he’s faced in casting his LGBTQ-themed projects, and the surprising genre he hopes to tackle next. TATLER MALAYSIA Artist Nor Tijan’s work is a vision of sustainability. She talked about how raising a young family inspired her to explore the repercussions of waste in her pieces, and her hopes for a more thoughtful, less consumerist future. TATLER PHILIPPINES With his 60th birthday on the horizon, Gary Valenciano spoke to Tatler about his comeback, his faith and the future. TATLER TAIWAN Nien Pi-hua, an award-winning embroidery artist, told Tatler about how she fell in love with this traditional artform—and her modern reinterpretation of the craft. TATLER THAILAND Shin Sirachai Arunrugstichai, a documentary…

ROEN CIAN NAGAPAN DAD TO SHAELYN, 7, AND BELLA, 5 Running multiple businesses makes Roen Cian Nagapan a very busy man, but that doesn’t stop him from spending quality time with his two daughters, Shaelyn and Bella. “We are very close as we spend a lot of time together,” says Roen of their close bond. “And they have [certainly] taught me patience,” adds the versatile entrepreneur who’s behind The Roof, Common Ground, Plastic Pitches, Alibi, Gong Cha, The BBP, and the Circa Bar. Since his daughters came into the picture, Roen’s life had changed drastically. “Days start much earlier, and they take up a lot of time. But I wouldn’t change that for anything.” He likes to see them off to school daily and drive them to classes, as this…

HOKKAIDO TABLE One doesn’t have to be watching a movie to dine at Hokkaido Table, which offers exquisite Japanese-Italian fare. While located within Aurum Theatre, The Exchange TRX, a separate entrance to the restaurant faces the mall, welcoming customers to the omakase counter. Seasonal Japanese produce is flown in for both the omakase menu and the restaurant itself, available for lunch and dinner, featuring a range of satisfying raw, grilled, and cooked courses. For a la carte options, there’s a separate menu featuring sushi selections, plates of sashimi, pasta, and grilled meats. Try the Lobster Linguine, a speciality, as well as the Chargrilled Tiger Prawns and Miso Lamb. Hokkaido Table’s signature mocktails are not to be missed, featuring ingredients such as yuzu and muskmelon that complement the Japanese-Italian dishes. KISSA…

Hailing from Kelantan, Kamarul Muhamed grew up surrounded by the entrepreneurial spirit. His mother ran an F&B setup, while his father managed a fishing business. “I was immersed in the realities of managing and growing enterprises from young. This [fuelled] my interest in venturing into impactful business solutions,” he shares. His career kicked off with a decade-long stint in the UK, which comprised working as an auditor and embarking on his first entrepreneurial pursuit. “Being an auditor for four years sharpened my analytical skills and provided a broad view of business operations. That marked my entry into entrepreneurship, as I founded Digital Kinetics UK, providing innovative business solutions,” says Kamarul, before his return to Malaysia, where he joined an American software firm and got promoted to country manager for Malaysia…

EDUCATION “I’m quite a driven person. What motivates me is the sense of accomplishment and achieving my goals” At just 18 years old, Matthew Tang has achieved an enviable feat: acceptances to four Ivy League schools—Yale University, Cornell University, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania—plus prestigious universities like the University of California, Berkeley, and several top-tier UK universities, including Imperial College London. Aside from that, Tang is also a former Selangor state swimmer who now represents Kuala Lumpur. An avid speedcuber, he represented Team Malaysia at the Rubik’s World Cube Association (WCA) World Championship 2023 in South Korea. From the outset, Tang’s academic prowess was clear, having scored 11A*s in his IGCSE examinations at Garden International School (GIS), but he thinks it was the university application essay on his…

Innovation has been ingrained in L’Oréal Paris’ DNA since its inception by chemist Eugène Schueller in 1909. The ethos of research and innovation in pursuit of beauty endures over a century later. Evolving towards a greater emphasis on inclusivity in beauty and skin care, this forward-thinking cosmetic giant has embraced the mission of “beauty for all”. Today, the brand has developed revolutionary research-backed products such as the L’Oréal Paris Glycolic-Bright and L’Oréal Paris Revitalift ranges, engineered to suit different skin types in combating signs of ageing. It’s time to examine the powerhouse ingredients behind some of L’Oréal Paris’ most effective formulations made for all skin types. GLYCOLIC ACID: BOOSTS SKIN EXFOLIATION FOR ANTI-AGEING BENEFITS L’Oréal Paris’ expert dermatologists have identified that starting around age 30, the skin’s ability to shed…

Long revered for its iconic silk scarves and peerless leather goods, Hermès has quietly been making strides in the world of high horology. The maison’s ascent up the ranks of fine watchmaking has been swift since its first official foray into the sector as Hermès Horloger in 1978: in 2021, the brand sat at 19th in Morgan Stanley’s list of top brands. By 2022, it had moved up to 17th, demonstrating its momentum. In the 2023 list, which was revealed earlier this year, the brand is listed in 16th place—a remarkable feat for a company better known for saddles than tourbillons, and whose contemporaries have been in the business for centuries. Where other brands rely on complicated mechanics and ostentatious designs, Hermès distinguishes itself through whimsy and wonder. Models like…

ARTS A bald man dressed in a bright red cowl is asleep on the ground in the middle of the busy city. Suddenly, he wakes up, rises and takes a few slow steps before returning to his supine slumber. He is seemingly oblivious to both the passing of time and the flood of curious visitors who pass him by, some of them stopping to stare and take pictures before moving on. This “monk” was in fact Taiwanese actor Lee Kangsheng in a performance called The Monk from Tang Dynasty, created by his creative partner Tsai Ming-liang, and performed in late March at Hong Kong cultural hub Tai Kwun. Tsai is a “Second New Wave” director of Taiwanese cinema whose unconventional filmmaking methods have shaken up how Asian cinema presents city…

In conjunction with the 300-year anniversary of the birth of Richard Hennessy, the founder of Hennessy, the maison invited Tatler to discover the wonders of Cognac—both the drink and the locale—as well as the storied past of the prestigious brand. Our first official order of business for the day is a tour of one of the maison’s vineyards. It’s interesting to note that LVMH, through Moët and Hennessy, manages and procures their wines in two of the largest grape growing regions in France—Champagne and Cognac. On-site, we meet Thierry Sales, the Hennessy brand ambassador, who guides us through the couple of days and pours out his wealth of knowledge and information on the brand. Through him, we learn of Hennessy’s efforts to give back to the terroir, as well as…

In the face of a softening global economy, many businesses adopt a cautious approach, cutting back on operations and bracing for impact. However, entrepreneurs with resilience and adaptability can still forge a path forward. We speak with several of the 2024 batch of Tatler Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow to hear the innovative strategies they have to sustain their ventures and position them for success, even in challenging times. Identifying opportunities amid uncertainty “As a startup founder, you need to be flexible and nimble in responding to macroeconomic factors,” says David B Wang, the founder of Krip, a Hong Kong fintech platform that offers centralised, personalised credit card deals. He reveals that the business faces several structural challenges, including decreased investor risk appetite, a slower sales cycle with businesses and reduced…

When individuals defy conventions and go against what’s normal or expected, there is a range of possible repercussions: criticism—from those who feel threatened by change; resistance—from those who hold onto traditional ways of thinking or behaving; change—for its potential to shift societal, cultural, or technological norms, views and practices; inspiration—for others to question the status quo in their own fields and lives; and innovation—leading to novel ideas, products, or methods that drive advancement in society. In a world where the safe and familiar are embraced like security blankets, we owe a lot to the daring individuals forging new paths and defying conventions. These visionary minds are transcending previously thought unbreakable barriers. We honour them in our annual Gen.T list—the country’s most promising innovators in every field (p.72). These are young…

JUNE 7–8 THE 39 STEPS A presentation by Limelight Theatre, The 39 Steps is a fast-paced romp through a world of mystery and intrigue. Adapted from John Buchan’s 1915 adventure novel and Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic 1935 film, the performance blends comedy and espionage into one entertaining package. The theatrical performance follows the life of Richard Hannay, whose life becomes entangled in a web of deceit as he is chased by a secret organisation known as “The 39 Steps”. With over 80 characters played by a talented cast, The 39 Steps is a masterful blend of Hitchcockian suspense and Monty Python-esque slapstick that promises non-stop laughs as you sit on the edge of your seat. Location: The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan off Jalan Sultan Azlan…

MEIKLE TÒIR Renowned for its award-winning whiskies crafted with precision, patience and perseverance, The GlenAllachie Distillery proudly introduces its first peated single malt under the brand name Meikle Tòir. The blend is a result of pioneering passion and sheer determination fuelled by co-owner and whisky veteran Billy Walker’s goal to create a peated whisky, which is a much rarer style in the Speyside region. The Meikle Tòir range consists of four expressions—The Original, The Sherry One, The Chinquapin One and The Turbo. While the range features blends that have been aged for five years, each expression offers a distinctive character and flavour stemming from different maturation methods and production processes. THE GLENLIVET 12 YEAR OLD 200 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION The Glenlivet 12 is a classic blend that encapsulates the spirit…

The opposing sides of maintaining heritage and innovating are subjects of a lengthy debate. While there is respect for preserving recipes passed down through generations, chefs who present contemporary takes on cuisine are also celebrated. In this day and age, our fast-moving society does not have the time to pound sambal, knead dough, or stir-fry aromatics. We leave it to trained chefs to do so, and it is up to these creators whether to reimagine our cravings into gastronomic morsels that may not resemble the original dish. However, who is to say which take is more authentic? Restaurants favouring the avant-garde shine the light on indigenous ingredients through bites bursting with flavour, served in a course-by-course progression. We speak to Aidan Low of modern Malaysian restaurant Akar Dining, Chin Wong…

OFF MENU The recent opening of Louis Vuitton’s LV The Place Bangkok brought with it the maison’s first restaurant in Southeast Asia. The two-floor destination concept nestled in Gaysorn Amarin unifies culture, dining and retail into one experiential space. The essence of Bangkok, the city’s defining liveliness and rich cultural heritage are evident throughout the space’s interior, decorated with the artwork of local artists. Each facet of the destination physicalises the innovation and artistry intrinsic to Louis Vuitton, from its jewel-studded facade and curated menus to an immersive exhibition space and unique dining experiences. GAGGAN AT LOUIS VUITTON Helmed by internationally acclaimed chef Gaggan Anand, Gaggan at Louis Vuitton breathes new life into Bangkok’s fine dining scene and the maison’s repertoire. The first of its kind in the region, it…

TAN HOOI LING Asia’s Most Influential 2021 Co-founder & COO, Grab Tan Hooi Ling, the co-founder of Grab, embarked on her entrepreneurial journey after a stint at McKinsey & Company. Sponsored by McKinsey, she pursued her MBA at Harvard Business School, where she met her future co-founder, Anthony Tan. Together, they launched Grab in 2012 with winnings from a business competition. Before becoming Grab’s COO in 2015, Tan worked at Salesforce in San Francisco, leading strategic projects. Initially focusing on ride-hailing, Grab expanded into food, grocery delivery, and digital payments. Based in Singapore, Tan now oversees product development, technology, operations, and customer experience at Grab’s headquarters. She is also a proponent for female empowerment and has stated that she believes in “normalising women in tech.” To that end, Grab has…

NEVER ENOUGH BAGS At the heart of Dior’s fall 2024 womenswear collection lies a love letter to New York, written by Monsieur Dior himself as he reminisced his unforgettable trip to the city in 1947. Paying homage to this delightful anecdote, Maria Grazia Chiuri dreamt up the quintessential women’s wardrobe that “embodies a range of possibilities,” epitomised in the Dior Nolita. Essentially a combination of a bucket bag and a tote with refined curves, it ticks all the boxes for every urbanite’s ideal bag with numerous carrying options and ample space to carry all your daily essentials—what more could you ask for? Meanwhile, over at Dior Homme, Kim Jones breathes new life into the savoir faire that defines the house’s legacy, taking cues from Dior’s haute couture archives to revitalise…

EARN YOUR STRIPES The decades-old trademark of Missoni, Sonia Rykiel, Jean Paul Gaultier and Paul Smith, stripes will never not be in fashion. Whether you go bold and contrasting or subtle and sophisticated, the style is a reminder that, unlike a tiger, you certainly can—and should—change your stripes. CAPTIVATING HEARTS This season marks the revival of the babydoll dress. No longer the preserve of 1960s movie boudoirs or Nineties riot grrrls, the look has had a haute glow-up and deserves a place in your summer wardrobe this year. ALL EYES ON EYELETS Cut-outs are huge this year, yes, but, in spite of their size, so are eyelets. The perforations offer a subtler take on the trend: a peek-a-boo effect that reveals mere glimpses of skin without interrupting the silhouette, and…

Over the past two years, fourth-generation Fendi heiress Delfina Delettrez Fendi has been transferring the maison’s haute couture codes to high jewellery—and it has been a treat to watch. While Fendi yellow demands a presence in her designs, this year Tatler is excited by the use of pink sapphires and rose pink spinels in her Roma Rosa collection. One standout piece is the drop chain earrings featuring oval-cut pink sapphires held together by diamond threads in a feather-like form; if you look closely, you’ll see they form signature FF motifs. We think that might also stand for feminine and fine. Baroque pearls are setting the tone for glamorous resort wear this month…

TwoSet Violin want to upend classical music’s “boring”, “serious” reputation, and they’re doing so one YouTube view at a time. The musical comedy duo, made up of classically trained violinists Brett Yang and Eddy Chen, have been delivering hilarious videos of musical covers and trivia since January 2014; so far, their clips have accumulated a total of 1.53 billion views. They even get some of the world’s top performers to let down their hair when they appear as guests: three-time Grammy-winning American violinist Hilary Hahn played a Mozart concerto while spinning a hula hoop around her waist in 2018; in 2022, Taiwanese Australian star Ray Chen agreed to post a photo of himself wearing cat ears if he lost a musical challenge. This year, the duo are touring Asia, with…

32 The average age of this year’s honourees 47% VS 53% The percentage of female versus male honourees this year. There are also 4.5 percent points more women compared to last year 143 The number of this year’s honourees— or 72 percent—who are owners of their companies 47% The percentage of this year’s honourees who say their main goal is to expand their networks through the Gen.T community 21 MILLION The total social following of these young leaders 7 The list covers seven locations: Hong Kong, Singapore, mainland China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand 3,160 The total number of honourees in the Gen.T community across Asia to date $461 MILLION The total amount of disclosed funding in USD that the honourees’ companies attracted between January 2023 and June 2024 20…

Since 2016, Tatler Gen.T has recognised individuals across Asia for their notable contributions and positive influence on their respective fields, communities or society. These are the most promising talents in their countries—individuals we regard as the Leaders of Tomorrow. How do we identify them every year? What makes each of them stand out? How do we assess their achievements or impact? Also, what are the perks of being part of this community of changemakers? We reveal the journey of a Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow, from how to get nominated to the timeline for producing the list. Getting Nominated We receive thousands of applications every year, whether nominating themselves or someone else. These applications come through to us via our public nomination form; members of the Gen.T Tribe, a panel of…

CHRISTINE DE LASSUS Based between New York and Paris, and occassionally Hong Kong, where she recently designed costumes for the Hong Kong Ballet’s 45th anniversary ball, fashion stylist and creative consultant Christine de Lassus has collaborated with legendary photographers and directors such as Irving Penn, Steven Klein and Marilyn Minter, and styled for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and L’Officiel. She styled the sculptural fashion shoot this month, inspired by the exaggerated fashion volumes on the spring-summer 2024 runaways. AARON LEE Kuala Lumpur-based photographer Aaron Lee is in his element at Lensworks Production studio, where he puts his subjects in the best light possible combining the glamour of fashion with studied introspection. In this issue, he did just that with cover star Hakken. WEECHEE The celebrity fashion director’s aesthetics are uniquely cinematic,…

“We talk about how ‘invisible’ women are in society—so if you don’t have a bank account and you don’t register your business, nobody really knows that you’re contributing to the economy,” says Nuraizah Shamsul Baharin. Fondly known to many as Aizah, she founded MadCash in 2020, a fintech company that works with women who have access to mainstream finance, helping them to grow their businesses and become bankable within two years. “One of the biggest things we’re fighting for is to have every entrepreneur register their business so that they’re seen as contributing to nation-building,” adds Nuraizah, who holds a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan. “Growing your business means you can employ somebody. We’ve always believed that when you work with and fund one woman, she…

The first of its kind, Hokkaido Table is a Japanese-Italian restaurant that offers a seasonal tasting menu within Aurum Theatre, The Exchange TRX. “We are an omakase experience, restaurant, and bar, all in one, and we want to elevate luxury entertainment experiences to the next level,” says head chef Edwin Tan, who helms the kitchen. At the forefront of the restaurant is fresh produce, particularly seafood, which is imported from Japan and utilised in Tan’s dishes which blend both Japanese and Italian cuisine. Tan honed his skills across Singapore and Switzerland, and while he initially thought he would sharpen his skills in Chinese cuisine, he fell in love with the art of kaiseki. “The attention to detail and precise techniques present in Japanese cuisine inspired me to pursue this passion…

FASHION SHOOT…

The Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari is the first timepiece born of the partnership between the Swiss watchmaker and Italian luxury sports car manufacturer. The ultra-flat watch boasts a thickness of just 1.75mm, of which 1.18mm is occupied by the movement. A triumph of technical prowess, the model is the result of more than 6,000 hours of development and laboratory testing. The 150 limited-edition timepiece ensures optimal functioning with a baseplate and skeletonised bridges of grade 5 titanium, ensuring perfect flatness without compromising strength. These jewellery watches revealed at Watches and Wonders are made of dreams…

As a musician, John Mayer has left an indelible mark on the industry with his guitar-playing virtuosity and Grammy-winning achievements. His rock star persona, however, belies a sophisticated appreciation for fine watches, as he has amassed an impressive collection of limited edition and rare timepieces. Many of the watches in his collection are Audemars Piguet, a brand he loves for its complicated technical pieces. One of his favourites is his Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon in white ceramic. Now, the avid watch collector has turned watch designer, collaborating with the manufacture on the new Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “John Mayer”, which is limited to 200 pieces. The fact that Mayer’s name is attached to the 18-karat white gold watch instantly sets it apart. Additionally, it is the final timepiece to…

LITTLE BIRDY The Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co Bird on a Rock brooch has long been an example of haute joaillerie artistry synonymous with both the designer and the brand. While the design has been recreated many ways, this exceptional specimen really caught our attention. Featuring a black opal of over 35 carats set in platinum and 18-karat yellow gold, the brooch is further adorned with grey paillonné enamel. Schlumberger’s signature style, which often incorporates whimsical motifs and intricate details, is evident in this design, but the rarity of its large, high-quality black opal is what makes it a collector’s piece. GRAND SLAM The term “tennis bracelet” was coined during the 1978 US Open, when professional tennis player Chris Evert called for a time-out mid-match to look for her…

This time last year, I remember being in the same position as I am now—thinking about what I would write in my editor’s note that would describe how the year has been, how this has impacted how my team and I put together the list of Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow, and the trends and changes we’ve observed while doing so. Generally speaking, 2024 started off pretty rough, with many people having to continue navigating an uncertain economy and ever-rising cost of living while seeing massive layoffs by companies. Like last year, startups are finding it challenging to raise funds as VCs globally, affected by high interest rates and a slowdown in initial public offerings, maintain a tight grip on their funds. And having been in this job of writing about…

Scan to see the full list of Leaders of Tomorrow on TatlerAsia.com THE ARTS Exploring new frontiers in culture and artistic expression Nicola Dinan AUTHOR Novelist Nicola Dinan’s work delves into human relationships with subtlety and sensitivity while foregrounding Asian and queer perspectives. She won widespread acclaim for her debut novel Bellies, which was shortlisted for a Lambda Literary Award and is being adapted for TV. Her second novel, Disappoint Me, will be published in 2025. After growing up in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, she now lives in London. Erica Eng ILLUSTRATOR Comic book artist Erica Eng rose to prominence in 2020 through her webcomic, Fried Rice, which depicted the life of a Malaysian teenager, based on her own experiences. A runaway success, it earned Erica an Eisner Award,…