SCION Oct-Dec 2013

OC TOBER - DECE M BER 2 013

DESIGNS ON

NATURE Meet Kenneth Cobonpue as he brings his sustainable designs to the world

A CHM P M EDI A PU BLIC AT ION

ICELANDIC ADVENTURES

SUIT YOURSELF

HERITAGE HOTELS

Top things to see and do in the land of glaciers

Looking sharp in the latest suits from Fall/Winter 2013 collections

Treasured buildings with history

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Co n t e n t s 8 – AROUND THE WORLD JEWELLERY 14 – MAKING IT IN MAYFAIR

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15 – A SHINING STAR IN Shamballa 18 – RINGS OF FIRE FASHION 20 - NEWS FOR THE FASHION FOLLOWER 21 - YOUNG AND FASHION FORWARD 26 – FRESH OFF THE Y-3 RUNWAY 27 – SUIT YOURSELF, IT’S A MAN’S WORLD SHOPPING 32 – FESTIVE GIFTS FOR HIM AND HER WATCHES

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34 - NEWS FOR THE WATCH AFICIONADO 36 – BOUTIQUES OF TIME 41 – LADIES, IT’S TIME TO SPARKLE DINING 44 - NEWS FOR THE GOURMAND 46 – GLAM IT UP AT THE ONE

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47 – FINE CHINESE DINING BY DESIGN

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Co n t e n t s

TRAVEL 52 - NEWS FOR THE GLOBETROTTER 54 – KEEPING IT COOL IN ICELAND 58 – GLOBETROTTING CHIC 59 – DISCOVERING THE BEST HOTELS WITH ‘VIAGGIO SOLA’ INTERIORS

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64 - NEWS FOR THE DÉCOR AND STYLE LOVER 66 – HOTELS THAT KEEP HISTORY ALIVE 72 - TALKING WEAVES WITH KENNETH COBONPUE ART 76 – VIVIAN MUELLER’S GOLDEN TOUCH

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ENGINE WORLD 78 - NEWS FOR THE AUTOMOBILE ENTHUSIAST 79 – SPLASHING THROUGH THE WAVES WITH STYLE 80 – A PEEK AT AN AUDI ADDITION

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SOCIETY 82 – MEETING SHEIKH RASHID SALAM 85 – NATIONAL DAY PRIDE 86 – SCION MAKES ITS DEBUT/ WOVEN IN BRUNEI 87 – HARI RAYA WITH RADISSON

www.kennethcobonpue.com | www.designbyhive.com WANTED! 88 – THE ULTIMATE PRECIOUS KEEPER

NOW AVAILABLE IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM Available exclusively by order from WaMa DESIGNS Call +673 8729928 or email studio@wamadesigns.com

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Ed it o r ’s Not e

[sahy-uh-on] – A noble descendant, a privileged individual. Scions have the world at their feet. They hold the key to a vault of privileges that only an exclusive few can enjoy. At SCION, the line of wealth, luxury and high-living begins.

October/November/December 2013 Editor-in-Chief and Publisher: Wan Zainal Shazali Managing Editor: Pauline Chan Art Director: Shawn Lee Fukuzaki Copy Editor: Vittoria D’Alessio Assistant Editor: Intan Abu Daniel Photographer: Ebi Lim Finance Manager: Chin Hui Hui Sales & Marketing Manager: Abu Bakar Ashari International Advertising Sales: Habsah Abang Saufi, Hok Mun Chee, John Zachary

SINCE the debut of SCION in July, we are happy to announce that we have sealed a partnership with the Standard Chartered Bank to provide SCION to its Priority Banking customers as an exclusive reward for their customers’ continuing support. We hope to follow this great beginning by increasing SCION’S distribution channels and readership in 2014.

In this issue, we have lined up a selection of tantalising features including a spread that looks at four Asian fashion designers who have taken the world by storm (Page 21); a round-up of some of the most renowned watch boutiques in the world (page 36); a glimpse at fine dining in four sophisticated Chinese restaurants (page 47) and an interview with the master of weave, Kenneth Cobonpue (page 72). In the travel section, we explore the dramatic landscapes of Iceland. This magnificent country offers the adventurous traveller active volcanoes, bright verdant valleys, glaciers, black sand beaches and rushing rivers – shaped by nature and virtually untouched by human cilivisation. In this fast-paced world of rapid development, the Icelanders have dedicated themselves to preserving their natural wealth through responsible conservation. We find the environmental pureness of this green country a rare luxury, something truly worthy of preservation.

Happy Reading!

Contributors: Elisabeth Lim, Luann Alphonso, Tan Su-Lyn, John Zachary, Neil Briscoe, Shireen Zainuddin Lowe, Liza Ramli, Sarah Burrows A magazine of CHMP Media, Brunei Darussalam Tel: +673 2331031. Fax: +673 2231031

Wan Zainal Shazali Editor-in-Chief

E-mail: info@chmpmedia.com Scion is published by CHMP Media (Brunei). All correspondence and advertising should be addressed to Scion, CHMP Media, Unit 49, 2nd Floor, Hj Munchit & HJH DYG RAPIAH Complex, Kg. Jaya Setia, Berakas BD2713. Brunei Darussalam.

All materials are strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the copyright holder. All prices and data are correct at the time of publication. Opinions expressed in Scion are not necessarily those of the publisher and the publisher does not accept responsibility for advertising content. Any images supplied are at the owner’s risk.

Cover photo: Cover photo: The tulip-inspired Oasis outdoor sofa set from Kenneth Cobonpue is made from polyethylene strips hand-woven on an aluminum frame. Add a few cushions and this collection is a refuge of comfort and style. (Courtesy of Kenneth Cobonpue)

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Ar o u n d th e W o r l d

Ar ou n d th e W o r ld ?

A SUPERSTAR PALACE HOTEL The grand Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris has joined the ranks of superstar Paris hotels. The hotel received the official ‘Palace Distinction’ accolade – one step higher than five stars – by Atout France, the French Agency for Tourism Development. The luxury hotel joins an elite band of six Paris hotels holding this highly coveted badge of distinction, and it is also the only historic luxury hotel in the capital to be given this status. After a two-year transformation by interior designer Philippe Starck, the hotel re-opened in 2010, exhibiting witty contemporary interiors infused with artistic flair. www.raffles.com/paris

FINDING PEACE IN AMANO’I Amanresorts makes its debut in Vietnam with Amano’i – a contemporary beachside resort on a beautiful white sand beach overlooking the spectacular Vinh Hy Bay. Guest offerings include 31 pavilions, a number of private swimming pools and five Aman Villas, all positioned on the hillside with impressive views. Among the recreational activities are a full-service Aman Spa that uses its own chemical-free spa product range, and an expansive beach club overlooking magnificent granite cliffs. www.amanresorts.com

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF SEATING Explore the life and works of Charles and Ray Eames – arguably the design world’s most famous couple – at Essential Eames: a Herman Miller Exhibition, now exhibiting at Singapore’s ArtScience Museum. The design duo is famously credited for revolutionising the art and science of seating.

Based on the book, An Eames Primer, the exhibition showcases the pair’s extensive range of iconic furniture along with rare artifacts, films and images.

BERKELEY LAUNCHES BAMFORD HAYBARN SPA The Berkeley has launched its Bamford Haybarn Spa at the Berkeley Health Club on the seventh floor of the hotel in Knightbridge, London. The Bamford Haybarn brings the essence of the English countryside to the heart of the city with relaxing day retreats and a holistic approach to wellbeing. Through the use of rustic materials and artisanal touches, the spa aims to evoke countryside warmth and city richness. www.the-berkeley.co.uk/health-club-and-spa

Photos: Amanresorts, The Berkeley, Marina Bay Sands

The Essential Eames: a Herman Miller Exhibition, co-presented by the ArtScience Museum and global furniture company Herman Miller, will run until 5 January 2014. www.marinabaysands.com/singapore-museum

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Ar o u n d th e W o r l d

Ar ou n d th e W o r ld ?

Ar ou n d th e W o rld ?

BUTTERFLIES AND ALL THINGS SWEET Bonnae Gokson – Hong Kong lifestyle diva and international tastemaker renowned for her visionary cake creations – will be launching her first deluxe coffee table book, Butterflies and All Things Sweet, on September 9 at JOYCE in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. A connoisseur of glamorous cuisine, Bonnae describes the book as the story of her cakes, taking the reader on the inspirational journey that led her to the creation of her exquisite desserts. The New York launch, hosted by Ralph Lauren at his 888 Madison Store, will take place on October 22. www.msbscakery.hk

EXPERIENCE DAMAI AT THE GRAND HYATT The Grand Hyatt Singapore has launched its spa and fitness centre, Damai. Designed as a lifestyle venue, the spa offers treatments that incorporate exotic and exclusive spa products from the June Jacobs Spa Collection. Each of the 11 treatment rooms has its own water feature and outdoor garden, giving guests direct contact with nature. Damai, designed by the renowned design team from Japan’s Super Potato, also houses a wellequipped gym. www.singapore.grand.hyatt.com

Photos: Ms B’s Cakery, Grand Hyatt Singapore, Hotel Indigo, London Design Guide

ANCIENT TOWN LUXURY Hotel Indigo, the upscale boutique hotel brand owned by the InterContinental Hotels Group, has unveiled its first resort hotel in 800-year old Lijiang Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the south-west of China’s Yunnan Province. The hotel offers 70 guestrooms, a relaxation zone, Me Space, an all-day dining restaurant, tea lounge and a host of wellness and meeting facilities, in an environment that combines distinctive contemporary designs with touches of Yunnan heritage. The wellpreserved Ancient Town, famed for its tightly packed, sloping roofed dwellings, picturesque waterways and arched bridges, was an important hub on the ancient tea-horse trail that linked Yunnan with Tibet. www.ihg.com/hotelindigo

LONDON DESIGN GUIDE For fans of contemporary and vintage design and those looking to access it, London Design Guide, edited by Max Fraser, gives a fresh insight into the city’s design retailers, galleries, museums and bookshops. More than 150 new and established hotspots are compiled and reviewed, with entries categorised by neighbourhood and accompanied by detailed maps to help design aficionados navigate the best the city has to offer. The 208-page London Design Guide gives a sharp snapshot of London’s design scene today. It is a celebration of creativity and a practical tool for Londoners and tourists alike. www.londondesignguide.com

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Ar o u n d th e W o r l d

THE WASHINGTON COLLECTION

Ar ou n d th e W o rld ?

Knoll celebrates 75 years of iconic design with The Washington Collection for Knoll™ by British architect David Adjaye. The collection, comprising chairs and a coffee table, is Adjaye’s first foray into furniture. The Washington Skeleton chair, with its fine geometric lattice design, appeals on both a sculptural and a functional level. The aluminum chair is available with either a powder coat paint or with a signature copper plating that will naturally patina over time. To mark Knoll’s 75th anniversary, only 75 pieces of the Washington Corona coffee table will be produced and each will be numbered and sold with a bronze miniature that serves as a commemorative signature plate. The collection goes on sale in October online and at the Knoll Home Design Shop in New York City. www.knoll.com

THE ARISTOCRATIC TOUCH Dukes London is offering special 20 percent-off weekend rates on Classic and Superior rooms every weekend during October and November. The boutique hotel in St James Place, London, was named England’s Leading Hotel at the World Travel Awards 2013. With new suites, refurbished bedrooms and a new look to its public areas, Dukes London offers 5-star luxury with quintessential British charm. Enjoy culinary delights at the Thirty Six restaurant or indulge in an English afternoon tea in the Drawing Room or PJ Lounge. The perfect autumn destination? We say definitely. www.dukeshotel.com

THE ROMANCE OF SANCHAYA

AYURVEDA PURA LONDON WINS 2013 GREAT TASTE AWARDS Ayurveda Pura’s herbal teas wowed judges at the Great Taste 2013 – the world’s largest food awards scheme involving over 400 judges and thousands of hours of blind tasting. Re-Energise™ and De-Stress™ Ayurvedic Herbal Tea won two stars and a top score of three stars respectively. Another of the brand’s products, Chyawanprash – a supplement containing 30 fruits, herbs and spices including amla (Indian goosberry) – garnered a further star. www.ayurvedapura.com

Knoll/Joshua McHugh, Ayurveda Pura, Dukes London, The Sanchaya

The Sanchaya is a luxurious new villa resort positioned on one of the most spectacular beaches on the island of Bintan, Indonesia. Each villa is concealed within lush gardens to ensure privacy. Guests are treated to a quiet, romantic getaway thanks to the resort’s exquisite villa accommodation, white-sand beaches, well-designed landscaped gardens, world-class spa and fine dining. www.thesanchaya.com

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Je w e l l e r y ? 15

Je w e ll e r y Ne w s ?

Je w e ll e r y ?

BE DAZZLED IN SINGAPORE The Singapore JewelFest 2013 runs for the 11th year from October 11-20. Famous jewellery houses and designers from around the world will display their collections at the Jewel Pavilion at the Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza on Orchard Road. The festival will run in two parts. During the first part (October 11-15), visitors will get a chance to view rare gems and private collections

by Asian designers and jewellery houses, while grand collections from European jewellers will be showcased during the show’s second half (October 16-20). The JewelFest is open to the public throughout the duration of the festival, from noon to 9 pm. www.singaporejewelfest.com

Pure

Beauty

by Shireen Z ainudin-Low e

Jessica McCormack, designer of fine bespoke diamond jewellery, has opened the doors to her jewellery house in Mayfair, London at 7 Carlos Place. Situated in the exclusive Mount Street area, visiting guests are welcome to the house to view her breath-taking creations, read the paper, have afternoon tea in the garden and soak in Jessica’s art collection. McCormack provides a bespoke design service and reintroduces her clients to a forgotten era where future heirlooms are created precisely for them, each with its own unique story. jessicamccormack.com

Photos: Singapore JewelFest, Jessica McCormack

JESSICA MCCORMACK @ 7 CARLOS PLACE

Imagine slipping a string of blood-red rubies around your wrist – or perhaps make that a line of turquoise gems interspersed with black-diamond pavé balls. Now think of the timeless art of macramé, and imagine the artist’s cord braided around that same string of rubies or turquoise gems. Finally picture this scene with you standing at a temple door in the Himalayas. Welcome – you have entered the Kingdom of Shamballa, a place synonymous with prayer beads, mystical symbols and gorgeous jewellery designed to trigger curiosity and conversation.

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Je w e l l e r y ? 17

It’s a testament to Kornerup’s vision and skill that Shamballa pieces manage to blend two seemingly divergent concepts – traditional spiritualism and contemporary Danish design. When did real men start wearing diamond bracelets? When Kornerup showed the world how the strength and simplicity of the humble nylon string could be woven around a cluster of striking gems and diamondencrusted balls to create a look that was at once relaxed, hip and sophisticated. Suddenly men everywhere were sliding Shamballa bracelets on their wrists alongside their watches, and women were delighting in displaying customised pieces

that could be worn on any occasion and never need see the interior of a safe.

Right: Mikkel Kornerup, CEO and Mads Kornerup, Creative Director of Shamballa Jewels

Shamballa was originally established by Mads in New York in 1994. Shamballa Jewels came into being in Copenhagen 11 years later when Mads joined forces with his brother Mikkel Kornerup – now company CEO. Eight years on, the brand can be found in 25 countries around the world. Breathtakingly beautiful necklaces and pendants, cufflinks and rings, earrings and of course bracelets entice customers behind the gleaming counters at Harrods and Colette, Maxfield and Barneys – and since 2012, at the much-heralded flagship store in Shamballa’s hometown of Copenhagen. Signature Shamballa pieces featuring lapis, coral, emeralds, sapphires, pearls and of course diamonds (black, raw, pavé and polished) are seen at parties thrown by Vanity Fair and Vogue, and in VIP tents and tables at polo matches and prestigious charity events. Shamballa pieces are worn by Michael Jordan, Michael Schumacher, Rihanna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Goldie Hawn, Julia Roitfeld, Lewis Hamilton, Kanye West, Ashton Kutcher, Sheikah Mozah of Qatar, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. The appetite for Shamballa Jewels among today’s shining stars appears endless.

While the aesthetic of each piece worn is recognisably Shamballa, every owner is invited to leave their stamp on the piece they take home, participating in the creative process. But it’s not just well-heeled collectors and celebrities who gravitate towards Shamballa – leading fashion designers including Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino and Diane Von Furstenberg are known to have bought pieces too. Recommendations don’t come higher than that.

What Mads and Mikkel seek is for their jewellery to be imbued with meaning, and for each piece to provoke thought and conversation. The Sanskrit word Shamballa refers to a mythical kingdom in the Himalayas – a place of peace and tranquility. The brothers hope that in wearing their treasured pieces, customers will be encouraged to connect with their inner compassion and wisdom, finding their own peace and tranquility – their inner Shamballa. The Star Of Shamballa – two intercrossed thunderbolts – represents the irresistible force that emerges when creativity springs in a pure, conscious mind. This creative force is said to be found in everyone. It’s certainly found in Shamballa’s line of inspirational jewellery.

Photos: Shamballa Jewels

The world first took note of the creative genius, the insight, the foresight of Denmark’s Mads Kornerup – founder and creative director of Shamballa Jewels – In 2001 with his creation of the first bespoke Shamballa Bracelet for music impresario Jay Z. Diamond-studded gold beads – custom-made and inspired by the prayer beads used by yogis – were knotted into a macramé weave. An icon was born arguably the most iconic accessory to have emerged in the last decade for both men and women. Shamballa jewellery – so precious, so refined, yet so casually worn everyday – truly deserves its ‘most favoured’ status among celebrities, royalty and discerning collectors of fine jewellery.

Today, the brand’s first all-gold pieces – the Royal bracelet, the Tennis bracelet and the Pyramid bracelet – are fast becoming collector’s items too. An exclusive necklace with 37 carats of raw black diamonds has the couture world holding its collective breath. But the company’s owners are equally passionate about their charitable programmes aimed at children and literacy – efforts run in partnership with the Mandela Day foundation and the Novak Djokovic Foundation.

One good deed at a time, the Kornerup brothers hope to Shamballa-ise the world. S

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Je w e l l e r y ? 19

RINGS OF FIRE Whether it’s set with a single stone or a confection of several gems, a striking statement ring is the perfect choice for every occasion. SCION presents a handful of hot rings guaranteed to light up any room the wearer enters.

4. CHOPARD HAPPY SPIRIT ring in 18K white gold and diamonds with moving diamonds at the centre.

www.chopard.com 3. VAN CLEEF AND ARPELS SUMMER COCKTAIL ring in white gold, diamonds, pink gold, coral, round mauve sapphires, 21.19 CT.

5. JESSICA MCCORMACK 4.52 ct diamond boat ring in 18K yellow gold.

jessicamccormack.com

1. POMELLATO NEW NUDO Ring in Rose Gold and Blue Topaz.

www.pomellato.com

2. CARRERA Y CARRERA ECUESTRE ring in yellow gold, amethyst and diamonds.

www.carreraycarrera.com

Photos: Pomellato, Carrera Y Carrera, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chopard, Jessica McCormack, David Morris, Montblanc, Brumani

www.vancleefarpels.com

7. MONTBLANC Princess Grace de Monaco Pétales de Rose motif ring with diamonds.

www.montblanc.com

6. DAVID MORRIS 9.80 ct Colombian emerald oval cabouchon ring with round emerald surround and white diamond micro-set mount.

www.davidmorris.com

8. BRUMANI BAOBAB GRASS ring in 18K rose gold with round brown diamonds, chrysoberyl, lemon quartz and mandarin garnet.

www.brumani.com

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Fa s h i o n

Fa s h i o n Ne w s ?

VALEXTRA Italian luxury bag brand Valextra is finally coming to Singapore, with its first Southeast Asian boutique opening at Paragon in December, courtesy of luxury and lifestyle fashion company, FJ Benjamin. The Singapore standalone store will carry Valextra’s entire range of luxurious handbags, wallets and luggage for both men and women. Valextra is known for its exquisite craftsmanship and modern, minimalist lines.

Pieces are also coveted for their hard-wearing nature, along with their their quality materials and detailing, which includes hand-lacquered piping, stitching and leather lining. Pieces come in over 20 colours. www.valextra.it

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Marie France Van Damme Arrives in Hong Kong

The Asian Fashion Collective 78

After receiving tremendous acclaim from a number of high-end department stores including Harrods and Bergdorf Goodman, Marie France Van Damme opened its first retail store in Hong Kong’s prestigious IFC Mall in September. The shop is showcasing the brand’s luxury resort line and ready-to-wear collection. Both collections have been designed around the principle of ‘luxury resort wear you can wear anywhere’, bridging the gap between day and evening wear through versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched for all occasions, creating looks that are both chic and comfortable. www.mariefrancevandamme.com

Brooklyn Tailors’ AW13 line is now available through Club 21 Online, making this website the only online retailer in Southeast Asia to stock the brand. Brooklyn Tailor is synonymous with bespoke and ready-to-wear pieces for men and women, made using traditional techniques. The AW13 collection carries pieces designed for comfort and utility. Items like the brand’s linen and cotton oxfords and its Japanese shuttle-loom hopsack unstructured blazers are made to be folded, thrown into a weekend bag and worn with ease. www.brooklyn-tailors.com

Photos: Valextra, Marie France Van Damme, Club21

BROOKLYN TAILORS

by Luann Alphonso

Names like Anna Sui and Vera Wang may have paved the way for Asian designers in the 1980s, but in this digital millennia of fast fashion, social media and online shopping, a new wave of designers is sweeping the sartorial world off its feet.

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Fa s h i o n

Jason Wu – The Wunderkind

Phillip Lim – The Enigma

Few male designers would admit to satisfying their early sartorial ambitions by re-vamping Barbie doll clothes, but the meteoric rise of Taiwanese-born Jason Wu is nothing if not unconventional. From taking drawing lessons from a Jehovah’s Witness to dressing America’s First Lady Michelle Obama in his polished creations (for not one but both presidential inaugurations), this 31-year old New Yorker takes centre stage in today’s brightly-lit world of high fashion.

Phillip Lim reveals that while he was in eighth grade, he was the “first ever on [the] tennis team to make varsity as a freshman.” Not because he was particularly talented at the racket game but because he was so determined to be sponsored by Prince (the tennis-gear brand), he put in eight hours’ practice every day.

That, however, is the only boast you’ll ever hear from Lim, who is notoriously reserved and elusive (especially during interviews), but only because he is so fixated on taking his label, 3.1 Phillip Lim, to the next level.

During his early years, Wu’s mother played a pivotal role in encouraging his talents. She gave him money to buy the cloth he needed to sew for the 100+ dolls they owned. She even moved the family from Taipei to a more artistically-conducive environment in Vancouver to nudge her son along the path to sartorial success. It was here, in Canada, that Wu blossomed. At 16, he took a job with a toy company (Integrity Toys) creating dolls’ outfits – an experience he credits as being formative to his later success as a designer of life-size clothes, instilling in him the habit of paying attention to “construction and very precise detail”.

In 2006, Wu went it alone and launched his eponymous label. He showed a penchant for dressing up-andcoming starlets, and early adopters of his frocks included “It” girls Alexa Chung and Diane Kruger. Wu’s fans praise his fuss-free designs and lady-like silhouettes, and his collections – stamped with vivid patterns in bold colours – are known for injecting fresh glamour into modern dressing.

Wu also designs an exclusive diffusion line with Nordstrom – “ Miss Wu”, aimed at a younger, but equally discerning, clientele. In addition, he boasts a collaboration with Target, and is also preparing for another partnership with French cosmetics brand Lancôme. And if that weren’t enough, he was recently appointed artistic director for Hugo Boss womenswear.

His first creations for the German label will debut preautumn next year, hitting the shops between May and July 2015.

MAIN PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: JASON WU, PHILIP LIM, THAKOON PANICHGUL, PRABAL GURUNG TOP & BELOW: JASON WU SS/13

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Lim was born in Bangkok to Chinese parents, moving to Orange County in California at a young age. It’s not particularly surprising that he followed a calling into fashion – his mother was a seamstress who depended on her factory work to support her family, while his father was a professional poker player whom Lim describes as “very eccentric”, but also elegant.

worst thing is to be a designer “andThecreate work that isn’t honest.

You have to be honest. Otherwise, you’ll always be a reaction to what other people do and you’ll always be one step behind.

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of this and “ Youthetakebesttheofbest that and you make it your own. ”

The young Lim would get his mother to alter brandnew clothes for a better fit, leaving her flabbergasted.

Eventually, he dropped out of business school to pursue his dream of learning to sew. After an internship with Katayone Adeli – an Iranian-born designer known for making the best fitting trousers available to women – he was hired as a design assistant. Eventually he left to join a friend who needed his talents on a new label called Development. Lim stayed for five years, leaving when a fabric agent by the name of Wen Zhou pursuaded him to join him in a new venture. Wen remains Lim’s business partner today. Zhou’s initial investment of $750,000 has grown into a business with an annual turnover of US$60 million with a staff of 85.

Lim describes his designs as “classic with a twist”, but Vogue editor Anna Wintour puts much of his success down to pragmaticism. “[Lim] redefined what the fashion business knows as ‘contemporary clothes’ - i.e, clothes that are designer but don’t break the bank.” And it’s this concept of beautiful-yet-accessible clothing that has made 3.1 Phillip Lim a tenacious presence on the catwalk.

TOP & BELOW: 3.1 PHILIP LIM RESORT/14

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Fa s h i o n

Prabal Gurung – The Global Citizen

Thakoon Panichgul – The Businessman

“I grew up in a culture where [people believe in] working hard and paying your dues. Instant success is not something that you strive for,” says Prabal Gurung. Indeed, prior to a famous tweet by Demi Moore and a dress worn by Michelle Obama causing fashionistas to sit up and take note, Gurung was working hard to hone his skills and gain essential insight into the industry.

Unlike most designers, who follow a well-trodden path to success involving internships or apprenticeships with mentors, Thakoon Panichgul joined fashion as a young scribe. He quit his job as a writing assistant for Harper’s Bazaar and launched his own label, using money he’d saved for a down payment on an apartment. This sort of gumption – more expected from a Silicon Valley entrepreneur than a designer – has paid off in spades for Thai-born Panichgul.

His resumé speaks of a professional intent on doing things right. He spent seven years zigzagging the globe as a stylist, drawing ideas from cities as far apart as Melbourne, New Delhi and London. His travels culminated in him being awarded Best Designer at the Parsons School of Design. He’d come a long way from his traditional upbringing in Nepal, where he was teased by classmates for covering his notebooks with fashion doodles. What followed the award was an internship with American designer Donna Karan, followed by a position with another American designer, Cynthia Rowley. In 2002, Gurung was made design director at Bill Blass, a year after the American designer’s death.

TOP: PRABAL GURUNG PRE-FALL/13 BELOW: PRABAL GURUNG RESORT/13

Nine years after taking the plunge, Panichgul has won the respect of notable fashion stalwarts including Manolo Blahnik. He now boasts a plethora of design collaborations and heads three diffusion lines (Thakoon Addition, Thakoon by Tasaki and Carbon Copy), in addition to his eponymous label.

It was Michelle Obama who brought Panichgul’s feminine-yet-unconventional garments into the eye of mainstream media, though it was Vogue’s Anna Wintour who first gave him a shot at fame – with a cameo in the documentary movie ‘The September Issue’, which offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the daily workings of the fashion magazine.

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I respect the fashion industry because it allows me to do what I love.

But truthfully, the superficiality can be overwhelming at times.

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Photos: Jason Wu, 3.1 Philip Lim, Prabal Gurung, Thakoon Panichgul

During his stints at Rowley and Blass, Gurung refined his skills both as an entrepreneur and a designer. Today his penchant for creating clothes that honour the glamour of movie sirens, coupled with his refreshing use of contemporary fabrics, make him a hit among celebrity heavyweights like Demi Moore and Oprah Winfrey. Intent on staying grounded and maintaining connections with those less fortunate, Gurung and his siblings set up the Shikshya Foundation Nepal. The foundation currently sponsors the entire education of 23 underprivileged girls. The hope is that these girls will not be forced by family and circumstances into early marriage or prostitution.

The mission of Gurung’s non-profit organisation is to provide the best possible education for 300 underprivileged children within 10 years of launching.

The designer’s reasoning is simple. “All it really means to me is that you have to treat people right,” he says.

“I’ve been very lucky and I hope [that] I can spread that luck around to others.”

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Designers who I look up to have been around for many years and they continue to chip away at their vision.

And, you know, they’ve carved a world for themselves. And that’s the kind of path that I want to take.

”

Ironically, it was the sheer tedium of growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, that steered Panichgul toward fashion. Though he emigrated to the USA with no knowledge of English, he was drawn to Englishlanguage magazines, and would loiter around bookstores flicking through the latest fashion rags, entraced for hours. He ended up with a business degree from Boston University to appease his mother, supplementing his growing thirst for fashion by enrolling in night classes as a tailoring student at Parsons School of Design.

Ever since the debut of his first collection in 2004, Panichgul’s modern offerings have attracted attention from celebrities from Sarah Jessica Parker to Natalie Portman, who laude both the romance and unexpectedness of his designs.

S

TOP: THAKOON PANICHGUL PRE-FALL/13 BELOW: THAKOON PANICHGUL SPRING /13

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Fa s h i o n

Fa s h i o n Ne w s ?

Suiting up for

au t um n

by Luann Alphonso

As summer draws to a close, we take a look at the trends that are turning heads this autumn.

GRAPHIC DESIGNS

This season Y-3 got graphic with the help of art director Peter Saville, a man made famous by the album artwork he created for legendary bands like Suede and New Order. Saville turned to the Internet for brainstorming, culling images and words from online forums, social media and personal blogging platforms. He then melded these inspirational snippets into an eye-popping (and often psychedelic) explosion of colour and design to form his Y-3 collection – a high-octane interpretation of classic American sportswear deconstructed through Japanese tailoring.

On the runway, the digital explorations were reflected in acid-bright prints and distorted slogans swirled across sleek, pared-down clothing for both men and women.

Among Saville’s offerings were voluminous naval polo shirts, oversize sports fleece jackets and easy jersey

blazers for men; sleek trenches, cropped moto jackets and floaty dresses for women.

Another highlight of the collection was the designer’s choice of pioneering fabric – in particular, the retroreflective technical knitwear that enables seemingly normal pieces to emit light. These pieces were embedded with hidden messages seen only under specific light conditions such as a camera’s flashlight, adding to the playfulness and innovation of Saville’s work.

Footwear blended elements of futurism and handicraft and was built on the clash of styles and symbols seen in Adidas’ ready-to-wear line. Platform wedges were a staple for women and were often covered in glittery hues reminiscent of the bright paint of a vintage car.

The show closed with a trio of breathtaking couture-style gowns in the signature style of influential Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto. www.Y-3.com

Photos: Getty Images

Adidas presented its Y-3 Spring/Summer 2014 collection in New York on September 8 during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

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Fa s h i o n In contrast to the explosive, born-again colours of spring and summer, autumn usually signals a return to more matt, muted shades; a time for people living in temperate zones to cosy up in front of the fire or make furtive dashes from home to restaurant, bundled in layers of cashmere or wool. But cosy need not mean dull or fusty – and indeed this autumn’s designer lineup sizzles with energy and innovation.

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Valentino

Take the skinny silhouettes from yesteryear’s swinging London, throw in a few classic plaids, add a dash of Italian flair, and there you have it – Valentino’s autumn concoction. The muchlauded dandy has been remixed with the kind of refined elegance that only this revered couture house can pull off.

Textures take precedence, as seen in Salvatore Ferragamo’s ode to outerwear, where soft leather is lined with shearling, and again in Valentino’s collection, where checks abound. Texture and technical detail are also used to great effect in Louis Vuitton’s stunning mink and cashmere leopard-patterned coat.

And not to be overlooked is the crocodile-skinned cardigan found in Hermes’ carefree collection.

Opposite page: Boss FW13 Salvatore Ferragamo FW13 From left: Valentino FW13 Louis Vuitton FW13

Italian labels like Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana demonstrate their flair for the dramatic - as seen on the catwalk stage, where a veritable religious and military sartorial revolution unfolded. Meanwhile, Bottega Veneta and Boss (from Hugo Boss) are keeping their silhouettes traditional and classical this autumn.

Boss

This German label is nothing if not consistent.

Modern-classic lines mean an outfit can be carried with ease from boardroom to dinner party. And if you’re wary of grey, there’s always velvet to keep things interesting.

Photos: Boss, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Louis Vuitton

Salvatore Ferragamo

Inspired by the rain-slicked streets of New York, this particular collection revolves around the idea of utilitarian luxury – dark, big coats in wool and leather, lined in cashmere and shearling, keeping luxury close to your skin. Shoes boast chunky rubber soles – a reminder that in northern climes, snow, sleet and rain are approaching.

Louis Vuitton

Kim Jones, style director for this revered French luxury goods house, has the rare gift of translating his exotic experiences into physical manifestations of luxury and craftsmanship. Touches of the Himalayas are seen in his snow leopard-spotted coats and again in his intricately embroidered flora and fauna silk jackets and bags. Keeping up with Jones’ imagination is always an exhilarating ride.

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Fa s h i o n Gucci

Dolce & Gabbana

While the rest of the world revels in dark, sombre shades of blue, green and grey, Gucci’s Frida Giannini is the ray of light that shines through after a storm. Pastel shades of blue dominate, working alongside dollops of cream and a dash of crimson. A stern military presence keeps lines in check, but not without a cheeky peek into a cycle of colour more suited to summer.

While the Louis Vuitton collection hints at natural expeditions, Italian duo Dolce & Gabbana have spawned an entire make-believe populace for their autumnal village. From humble altar boys to boisterous, fur coat-wearing merchants, and from religious motifs printed on shirts to romantic florals, this collection offers real-life fans the entire D&G gamut.

Hermès

Behind Hermès’ continued success is its almost flippant reference to quality and extravagance.

It takes a practised eye to catch the numerous throwaway nuances that encapsulate Hermès’ easy (but sumptuous) style. Here a mink pullover that reverses to cashmere, there a striped silk turtleneck, this collection is unapologetically reserved for those in the know.

Photos: Dolce & Gabbana, Hermès, Gucci, Bottega Veneta

Opposite page: Dolce & Gabbana FW13 Hermès FW13 From left: Gucci FW13 Bottega Veneta FW13

Bottega Veneta

Bottega Veneta’s Tomas Maier once said that “simple design is always complicated”, and you can see the elegant simplicity the creative director was referring to in every one of his autumn outfits. This Italian label is notoriously understated, which works beautifully under Maier’s no-nonsense direction this brisk season. If you’re after clean, sharp and dark, look no further.

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Shopping

Sh o p p i n g

HIS & HERS

5. GEORG JENSEN bangle in sterling silver with smoky quartz, designed by Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe.

www.georgjensen.com

8.

Shopping for festive gifts in the final months of the year can be an exhausting and stressful affair – give yourself a break from the crowded malls this year and go hunting on the web instead. Better still, let us do the trawling for you…

6. TIFFANY & CO. Paloma Picasso® Sugar Stacks Rings: (from top) rubellite, peridot, orange chalcedony, amethyst and citrine in 18K yellow gold.

www.tiffany.com 7. ETHAN-K clutch in shiny honeysuckle-pink crocodile skin, adorned with a golden hedgehog clasp with amethyst eyes.

www.ethan-k.com 8. LILY AND LIONEL Romeo & Juliet scarf from the ‘Thomas Campbell Paints Lily and Lionel’ collection in 100% hand-spun Italian silk.

1. ARMAND DIRADOURIAN 100% Cashmere Travel Blanket with leather strap, handmade in Nepal.

www.lilyandlionel.com

2. RAG & BONE rugged canvas and leather-trimmed briefcase.

www.rag-bone.com 3. MONTBLANC limited edition Pablo Picasso fountain pen with sketches and comments from the artist’s work ‘Portrait de jeune fille’.

4.

www.montblanc.com

3.

4. CANON PowerShot N compact camera, Wi-Fi enabled with DIGIC 5 image processor and 12.1 megapixels.

www.canon-asia.com

For Him

1.

2.

Photos: Armand Diradourian, Rag & Bone, Montblanc, Canon, Georg Jensen,Tiffany & Co, Ethan-K, Lily and Lionel

www.armanddiradourian.com

5.

6.

For Her 7.

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Wa t c h Ne w s ?

NEW PATRIMONY TRADITIONNELLE UNVEILED Vacheron Constantin celebrated the opening of its first Paris boutique on Rue de la Paix by presenting four limited-edition Patrimony Tradionnelle watches. These special “Paris Boutique” models are distinguished by their finely hand-guilloché dial and alligator Mississipiensis leather strap in chestnut brown. The case back is engraved with the address ‘2, rue de la Paix’ along with the item’s limited-series number. www.vacheron-constantin.com

IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN INGENIEUR DOUBLE CHRONOGRAPH TITANIUIM The Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph, launched for the 190th anniversary of the writing time device, pays homage to Nicolas Rieussec, the inventor of the chronograph. Like the original chronograph of 1821, the hands of this timepiece do not rotate above the dials, instead they are stationary while the seconds disk and minutes disk turn beneath them.

Montblanc has fused innovation with tradition by adding another finely-skeletonised disk that rotates below the hours and minutes hands, showing the intricate watch mechanism within. This exquisite timepiece is powered by the calibre MB R110 movement assembled from 278 individual parts. www.montblanc.com

PANERAI – LUMINOR MARINA 8 DAYS ORO ROSSO – 44mm The Panerai Luminor Marina 8 Days Oro Rosso is equipped with the P.5000 calibre – the new hand-wound movement with an eightday power reserve. This innovative movement is visible through the sapphire crystal window set in the back. The 44mm minimalist case is immediately recognisable by the bridge device with locking lever which protects the winding crown. The stainless steel version comes with a black leather strap and the red gold version is made complete by a brown alligator strap. www.panerai.com

Photos: Vacheron Constantin, Montblanc, Panerai, Bell & Ross, IWC Schaffhausen, Zenith

THE TIME WRITER

BELL & ROSS – HERITAGE BR03-92 GOLDEN HERITAGE SHADOW The Heritage BR 03 is one of the timepieces from Bell & Ross that made its debut at Baselworld 2013.

Fitted with a mechanical automatic SW 300-ETA 2894 movement, the Heritage is available in two models – the BR 0392 and BR 03-94, the latter having an additional two-counter chronograph.

This watch boasts a satin-brushed steel 42mm case and a brown dial with golden appliqué index and numerals, and it is perfectly complemented with a brownprinted calfskin strap. The Heritage is water resistant to 100m. www.bellross.com

IWC Schaffhausen’s new Ingenieur Double Chronograph Titanium was influenced by the cooperation between the watch brand and Mercedes AMG Petronas. The timepiece was inspired by the materials typically used in Formula One – titanium, ceramic and rubber.

The split-seconds hand can be stopped to record intermediate times while the stopwatch hand continues to run, allowing users to record as many pit stops and lap times as they choose. This device is powered by a mechanical chronograph movement with a 44-hour power reserve when fully wound. www.iwc.com

ZENITH EL-PRIMERO FLYBACK RAINBOW The Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Rainbow is driven by the El Primero Calibre 405 B automatic movement built around a column wheel. While this chronograph naturally beats at a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour, enabling 101 second precision, it is also equipped with a date display, a telemetric scale, and most important of all, the famous flyback function.

This watch has a minimum power reserve of 50 hours and is water-resistant to 10 ATM. www.zenith-watches.com

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Timeless Passions

By Victor ia Bur rows

A watch is much more than a device for tracking time – it’s an expression of personality and, at the highest levels of watchmaking, an artwork of great beauty. For enthusiasts and collectors, fine timepieces are nothing short of an obsession. Here, we visit five boutiques across the planet that capture the spirit of the collector – a passionate individual who has built a world around high-end timekeeping.

Chronopassion (Paris)

Located on Paris’ fashionable Rue Saint-Honoré, Chronopassion encapsulates the horological passions owner Laurent Picciotto. Opened more than 25 years ago, the boutique is now the go-to destination for sought-after watches and limited editions, attracting collectors from across the world.

Mr. Picciotto built his reputation by helping to develop a number of impressive brands, including MB&F, Panerai and Richard Mille. Mr Picciotto also backed Urwerk: in the 1990s, the founders of Urwerk – who at the time could not afford to buy the metal from which their watches were to be made – approached him with their sci-fi-esque designs. Reminded of the 1960s comic books he used to read, Mr Picciotto funded the company.

More recently, he has helped develop HYT. This young brand with its groundbreaking design concept combines hydraulic technology with mechanics – it’s the kind of irreverence the unconventional Mr. Picciotto encourages at Chronopassion.

“Each object in the boutique window must captivate, entertain, drive people crazy, even if it appears to be totally useless!” says Mr Picciotto. “That’s the way I usually approach things. I love light-hearted things.

Chronopassion stands out from other timepiece points of sale as it is quite similar to an art gallery – selection criteria focuses first and foremost on emotion.”

Above: The entrance to Chronopassion, Paris Next page: The interior of Westime, California

The boutique, with its multicoloured ceiling, brushed metal walls, and blue electric guitar resting in the corner,

has a decidedly rock ’n roll atmosphere, which only highlights the pleasure of shopping for some of the world’s most beautiful and unusual timepieces. Chronopassion stocks Hautlence, Rogue DZN, Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Snyper, Valbray, Corum, Panerai, and more.

Westime (California)

Sheathed in matt metal, the flagship branch of luxury timepiece boutique Westime holds its glamorous position on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood in bold style.

The boutique, located among the chic restaurants and boutiques of Sunset Plaza and the legendary nightclubs of the Sunset Strip, opened last year. The boutique is owned by Southern California’s leading family-owned watch and jewellery retailer.

The 6,600-square foot Westime Sunset store reflects the dramatic buildings and signage of the neighbourhood.

Below the perforated and back-lit metal panels that wrap the façade rests a front wall of windows that allows passersby to see the brightly-lit scene inside. Interesting angles and high-contrast materials including glass, Venetian plaster, steel, walnut and polished concrete create a gallery-like setting inside the two-storey space.

The store was designed by Wick Architecture & Design and LAND. Westime Sunset showcases more than 50 different watch and accessory collections. Free-floating display cases on the ground floor allow customers to browse the collections casually, while the main floor also offers a corner customised to display Audemars

Piguet’s collection, a corner for Breitling watches and two VIP rooms. The boutique also contains Austrian manufacturer Buben & Zorweg’s only shopin-shop offering in the United States. Elsewhere on the mezzanine floor, collections from Switzerland’s independent watchmakers are on display, and a Richard Mille corner leads to an open-air terrace.

Other brands available at the boutique include Blancpain, Milus, Dior, Giuliano Mazzuoli, Tiffany, Cuervo y Sobrinos, Ebel and Bulgari.

Marcus (London)

Marcus, located on prestigious New Bond Street in Central London, stocks a range of premium watch brands, ranging from long-established, high-end brands such as Audemars Piguet and Girard-Perregaux to more recent yet well-respected brands including Franck Muller, Richard Mille, Urwerk, Zenith and Greubel Forsey.

Stemming from Marcus’ close relationship with premium watch manufacturers, the boutique is also known for its limited editions. Marcus now has timepieces in the brand’s colours – black and ‘Marcus red’ – and watches by Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille, Hublot and Franck Muller are now stocked. Marcus has also commissioned the unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Grand Complication in a black and titanium case, in both in both regular and skeleton versions, and unique-dial Greubel Forsey complications.

The store also has one of the best collections of rare

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blossomed into one of Asia’s leading names in horology.

Today, Sincere operates more than 22 boutiques and a network of some 99 point-of-sales spanning 11 countries including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

There are three Sincere Fine Watch boutiques in Malaysia – in Suria KLCC Shopping Centre, The Gardens Mall, and Starhill Gallery – in addition to the flagship store in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. The Pavilion store boasts about 3,500 square feet of retail space, including a horology resource centre that allows new watch enthusiasts and avid collectors to appreciate the art of high watchmaking in an approachable and luxurious environment. The boutique couples slick black surfaces with gleaming marble, bronze mirroring, wood and plush red chairs, creating a playful and inviting space.

The boutique offers the wide range of esteemed watch brands Sincere is known for, including A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Franck Muller, Above: Sincere Fine Watch boutique in Starhill Gallery, Kuala Lumpur Next page: Sincere Fine Watch boutique in Suria KLCC

vintage and antique timepieces in the world. Marcus has, over the past 20 years, bought some extremely scarce, sometimes unique, pocket and wristwatches.

The boutique’s 10th anniversary exhibition is running at the store until October 2. The exhibition will include specially commissioned pieces, a collection of Haute Joaillerie by the most exceptional Swiss watch manufacturers including Audemars Piguet, Hublot, Piaget and Greubel Forsey, and an historical Audemars Piguet collection.

Marcus belongs to Marcus Margulies, whose family company, Time Products, dates back to the early 1960s.

Back then, Marcus’ father, Alexander, moved to England from Poland and established a business distributing inexpensive watches imported from the Soviet Union.

This company was named Sekonda and is now the UK’s best-selling watch brand.

Yafriro (Singapore)

Highly successful luxury timepiece retailer Yafriro is the passion-project of founder Iwan K.C. Hew. After 30 years in the tailoring business, counting royalty and business tycoons as clients, Mr Hew believed he had reached the pinnacle of success as a bespoke tailor. He began to diversify his resources and being an avid watch collector, timepieces made a natural investment choice,

merging personal passion with business acumen. He founded Singapore-based Yafriro in 1999.

At that time, other watch retailers generally carried 20 to 30 popular generic brands, but Yafriro represented only a few little-known brands that were still relatively unheard of in Asia, such as deLaCour.

He set out to change the common perception that a watch is a mere object of prestige, and introduced new brands with fine timepieces that could be appreciated as functional works of art. Yafriro gradually became a specialist in developing new and obscure watch brands.

Now, Yafriro has boutiques in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Bangkok. Its flagship Orchard Paragon store in Singapore is decked out in royal blue, glowing amber and cool marble, and showcases timepieces by Jacob & Co., B.R.M., Cabestan, Andreas Strehler, Ladoire, 4N and Pro-Hunter. Yafriro also opened Leviev, a purveyor of fine diamonds, and Scavia, creative Italian designer jewellery, in 2010 at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

SINCERE (Kuala Lumpur)

The Sincere story starts more than 50 years ago with one man’s modest watch retail outlet in Singapore. Tay Boo Jiang’s venture into the watch-retailing business has since

Jaeger-LeCoultre, Omega, Panerai and Vacheron Constantin.

Combining an astute knowledge of the desires of watch collectors with a spirit for the unconventional, Sincere also helps to develop smaller, independent watch brands and has exclusive distribution of Greubel Forsey, Backes & Strauss, CVSTOS and Christophe Claret.

MALMAISON (Singapore)

Malmaison on Singapore’s Orchard Road is far more than just a watch shop – it’s an 8,000-square foot emporium housing not only the finest haute horology but also exquisite jewellery, fragrances, collectible literature, objets d’art and fine clothing, plus a bespoke tailoring service.

Opened in 2011 by The Hour Glass – a luxury watch retailer representing more than 50 brands in 24 boutiques across the Asia-Pacific region – Malmaison is every inch as luxurious as its namesake, Château de Malmaison. This sprawling country house near Paris was once home to General Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine, and the Singapore version has spared no expense in recreating

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Wa t c h the opulence of the original. The look is made complete by an ornate 17th-century standing clock, aged floorboards, antique swords, oil paintings and a room decked out in blue suede.

Many of the fixtures and books on display are from the Tay family collection – Michael Tay is Executive Director of The Hour Glass. Son of the group’s high profile founders, Dr Henry Tay and Dr Jannie Chan, Michael has been at the helm since 1999.

Malmaison stocks a wide range of timepieces.

Included in the collection are watches by Panerai, Hublot, Omega, IWC, Cartier, Alain Silberstein, A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Corum and Jaeger LeCoultre. There is a room dedicated to Patek Philippe and a Rolex boutique. Alongside the Rolex merchandise are displayed rare and vintage Rolex watches that are not for sale. S

Time

to Sparkle

Chang Ein Hong Watch Dealer

ROLEX

Founder and sole proprietor Chang Ein Hong, of the eponymous watch boutique in Bandar Seri Begawan, started the company in 1952. Today, the family-run business is the city’s main purveyor of timepieces, stocking a broad range of renowned brands. It is also the official retailer of fine watch brands such as Rolex, Tudor, Omega, Cartier, Chopard, Breitling, Bell & Ross, Tag-Heuer, Montblanc, Longines, Rado, Ball, Tissot, Luminox, Seiko and Guess. The Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah branch has been revamped to feature selected luxury brands in their own display hubs, providing an exclusive retail atmosphere within the premises.

The Mall Abdul Razak Complex, G7, Bandar Seri Begawan

The Lady-Datejust Pearlmaster 29mm in 18K white gold and diamonds, perpetual mechanical self-winding movement, water resistant to 100 metres. www.rolex.com

Tel: (673) 242 4888 Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, G28, Bandar Seri Begawan Tel: (673) 223 2820

Bejewelled timepieces have an irresistible allure, but their attractiveness is not merely skin deep - concealed beneath those sparkling dials, the discerning collector will find engineering excellence and cutting-edge design. SCION brings you eight of the best.

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5. PATEK PHILLIPE

4. VACHERON CONSTANTIN

Gondolo Haute Joaillerie ladies’ watch in white gold with diamonds and electric blue brushed satin strap, mechanical manually wound movement, water resistant to 30 metres.

Malte Lady Watch in 18K 5N pink gold set with 213 round-cut diamonds with grey satin strap, quartz movement 1202, water resistant to 30 metres.

1. CHOPARD

Happy Sport Medium Automatic in 18K rose gold with diamond-set bezel, alligator leather strap and seven moving diamonds, power reserve 42 hours, water resistant to 30 metres.

www.patek.com

2. BREGUET

www.chopard.com

www.breguet.com

3. ZENITH

El Primero 36’000 VPH automatic watch in white gold with diamonds and alligator strap. Power reserve 50 hours, water resistant to approximately 30 metres. www.zenith-watches.com

Rolex, Chopard, Breguet, Zenith, Vacheron Constantin, Patek Phillipe, Omega, Baume & Mercier

www.vacheron-constantin.com

Petite Fleur High Jewellery watch in 18K white gold with casing paved with 43 baguette-cut diamonds.

Mechanical self-winding movement.

6. OMEGA

De Ville Ladymatic 34mm in 18K yellow gold and stainless steel with diamonds, co-axial calibre 8520 chronometer, water resistant to 100 metres. www.omegawatches.com

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BAUME & MERCIER

Hampton Women quartz with mother-of-pearl dial in polished and satin-finished steel, water resistant to 50 metres. www.baume-et-mercier.com

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Dining

D i n i n g Ne w s ?

Breakfast with Bond

Marina Bay Sands unveils SweetSpot Deli

The Dorchester Hotel in London is the setting for the opening scene of the new James Bond book Solo by William Boyd, and the iconic hotel is offering ‘Breakfast with Bond’ until November 30th. Book an English breakfast at The Grill and quote ‘Solo’ to receive a complimentary copy of the book. And if you’re planning to stay at the hotel, quote ‘007 Room Service’ for free use of the Ian Fleming Library plus a Martini nightcap.

Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands has extended its Big Apple offering with the launch of SweetSpot Deli. This new eaterie serves authentic Manhattan staples, fusing the coffee culture of the existing SweetSpot with a classic New York-style deli.

Christopher Christie, industry veteran and executive chef of Marina Bay Sands, is responsible for this happy marriage of dining concepts. Guests can choose from an assortment of freshly baked breads and bagels, either as an accompaniment to their dine-in sandwiches and salads, or to take home.

www.thedorchester.com

Pierre Hermé Paris brings his sweets to Kowloon

SweetSpot Deli is located at Bay Level, #01-30 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

Pierre Hermé Paris will celebrate the opening of its second Hong Kong boutique at Harbour City, Kowloon in early October. Since the May launch of Macarons & Chocolats in Hong Kong’s IFC Mall, the Parisian confectioner has attracted new fans, drawn to the brand’s bold flavours. The latest boutique will offer an array of chocolates and macarons to include signature favourites Infiniment Rose (rose and rose petals) and Infiniment Caramel (salted butter caramel cream), along with the much-loved Bonbons de Chocolat assortment, featuring 18 mouth-watering flavours. www.facebook.com/PierreHermeHKG

www.marinabaysands.com

Dining on the Tracks Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Raymond Blanc will host a dinner for 100 guests travelling on the luxury UK train Northern Belle on November 2. This dining extravaganza is part of a series of ‘popup’ dinners planned throughout 2013 and 2014, and hosted by some of the UK’s most celebrated chefs on board Orient-Express’ sister trains Northern Belle and the British Pullman. The Raymond Blanc train will depart from Manchester’s Victoria station and take a round-trip, stopping briefly at Carnforth Station in Lancashire, some 100 km away. www.orient-express.com

Photos: Marina Bay Sands, InterContinental Hong Kong, Orient-Express, The Dorchester, Pierre Hermé, Pidgin Kitchen & Bar

InterContinental Hong Kong Harvests Honey A rooftop beehive is the latest environmental initiative launched by InterContinental Hong Kong. The hotel has partnered with Hong Kong Honey, an organisation of local beekeepers and designers, to create the hive and to promote the value of bees and locally produced honey. The hotel will be offering its rooftop honey to guests from later this autumn. Homegrown honey cocktail anyone? www.hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com

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Dig Into Old-School Flavours With a menu boasting spunky creations such as ‘Chicken Rice Arancini’, ‘Bak Kwa Mac & Cheese’ and ‘Razor Clams Tau Suan’, the new Pidgin Kitchen and Bar in Singapore pushes culinary boundaries and offers surprisingly original creations inspired by popular dishes and flavours from Southeast Asia. The ‘industrial chic’ restaurant at Dempsey is helmed by chef-owner Adrian Ling who - staying true to his passion for all things local - uses ingredients available from Singapore farms wherever possible. www.pidgin.sg

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Chinese Fine Dining

By Design

by Tan Su-L yn

A growing circle of culinary visionaries from around the world are proving that top Chinese restaurants can focus on flavour without eschewing ambience. Discover four designer restaurants that fuse old world Oriental aesthetics with contemporary wit and style, to deliver superlative – and distinctly contemporary – Chinese dining.

Glam It Up at The ONE

By Pauline Chan

Kyo-Shun specialises in traditional Kyoto cuisine. Highlights include a selection of Kaiseki dishes, Kyoto hot pot rice and the famed yudofu – a Kyoto specialty of simmering tofu flown in daily from Japan. Consultant chef Chino Kisho uses seasonal ingredients to create signature dishes such as crabmeat egg custard with black truffle sea urchin, sea bream fish rice in clay pot and homemade Japanese Wagashi.

An open kitchen allows diners to interact with master chefs as they prepare the dishes, while the main dining room is warmed by rich, dark-timber flooring, with a lower level differentiated by traditional tatami mats.

The romantic, high-end Spanish restaurant Zurriola is stylishly designed over two levels with a seductive ambience created by rich wood surfaces reminiscent of iconic venues along Barcelona’s famed La Rambla. Guests eating in the high-ceilinged private dining room are treated to spectacular panoramic views over Victoria Harbour, as well as their own

FROM Above LEFT: Carina Lau checking out the seafood with Tapagria chef Quim Hernandez, Zurriola, Tapagria, kyo-shun

balcony. The restaurant offers avant-garde Spanish cuisine.

Among the offerings are traditional hot and cold appetisers, ‘Bomba’ rice and pastas, sumptuous desserts and cheeses.

Signature dishes produced by executive chef Pedro Samper include fried Amadai fish with crunchy scales, 36-hour slow-cooked lamb loin, and salty caramelised ice cream with caramelised almond, merengue and cinnamon sauce.

Completing this stylish mix of adventurous eateries is Tapagria, a vibrant tapas and sangria bar that transforms into a late night music lounge every Friday and Saturday. This venue offers relaxed dining with warm lighting and a cosy atmosphere on the inside, and a wonderful outdoor lounge terrace providing stunning views of the Hong Kong skyline.

Executive chef Quim Hernández oversees the creation of the restaurant’s specialties, including its charcoal-grilled Presa Iberico with potato mille feuille and Chimi Churri dressing, and scallop wrapped in Spanish bacon with Ganchet bean cream and squid ink oil. www.kyo-shun.hk, www.tapagria.hk, For Zurriola, email: info@ zurriola.hk/

Photos: Tapagria, Zurriola, Kyo-Shun

Three on-trend restaurants owned by Hong Kong celebrity actress Carina Lau were unveiled in August. Awardwinning interior architect Irakli Imerlishvili from Aedes Interiors combined glamour, minimalism and energy in the design of Lau’s hot new restaurants. The trio includes the avant-garde Japanese restaurant Kyo-Shun, contemporary Spanish restaurant Zurriola and the lively Tapagria tapas bar.

All three restaurants are situated on the 18th Floor of The ONE Shopping Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Dim Sum from Whampoa Club

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Hakkasan New York

311 West 43rd Street, New York +1 212 778 1818 hakkasan.com/newyork

The very first Hakkasan, based in London, was created by Alan Yau (founder of Wagamama and a slew of other incredibly popular East Asian restaurants), the influential restaurateur oft credited for making Chinese cuisine hip and modern. Yau has since sold Hakkasan to the Dubai Investment Authority, but the brand’s success continues, now boasting 12 outposts spanning the globe.

Launched early last year, the glamorous and sizzling Hakkasan New York is a futurist’s vision of Chinoiserie chic, replete with

Duck salad from Hakkasan New York

pounding club music courtesy of an in-house DJ. The cavernous space is designed to feel like a modern siheyuan - that is, a Chinese courtyard residence, of the kind usually found lining a narrow alley known as a hutong. And indeed, the restaurant’s 80-foot entranceway does feel a lot like a never-ending hutong.

The interlocking dining spaces give the place its signature buzz and create a sense of constant activity. Be sure to make a stop at the dramatically lit 60-foot bar for pre-dinner cocktails.

Try the refreshing lemongrass and jasmine iced tea or sip a bubbly Eden (black grapes, rose sugar, lychee juice and soda water). While the mod Chinese menu includes swanky options like Peking duck served with caviar and truffle-braised egg noodle, it’s the classic dishes that truly shine. The dim sum is a delectable highlight, while the pipa duck and roasted silver cod with champagne and Chinese honey showcase the accomplished skills of the kitchen team.

The semi-private dining area in Hakkasan New York

Photos: Hakkasan New York, The Dorchester Hotel, My Humble House, Whampoa Club

There was a time when we accepted that top-notch Chinese dining was only to be found in noisy, bustling, traditional restaurants where the service was sullen (in fact it seemed like the better the quality of the food, the more abusive the service) and ambience was totally optional. Not any more. Over the past decade, restaurateurs with a keen understanding of the global palate have carved out a stylish new niche: on-trend, modern Chinese. The cuisine is predominantly traditional, with intelligent contemporary twists – Chinese enough that it doesn’t alienate ethnic Chinese diners, but also sufficiently revolutionary to enthral cosmopolitan foodies from around the world. The service is pitched to equal that of other formal dining establishments. And the interiors capture and filter, through a modern-day lens, the romance of an ancient civilisation for the diner who yearns for an exotic-yet-urban experience rooted in the now. Here, we offer you a handful of our favourites:

China Tang at The Dorchester Hotel

China Tang at The Dorchester

53 Park Lane, Mayfair, London +44 (0) 20 7629 9988 www.chinatanglondon.co.uk

Sir David Tang, founder of Shanghai Tang, first gave us a romantic re-imagining of iconic ’20s and ’30s Chinese fashion through his world-fêted stores – famous for their vivid popart swashes of silk. His celebrated China Tang restaurant in the basement of the opulent Dorchester Hotel, set in the heart of London’s Mayfair, is a seamless extension of the fantasy, and has become a favoured haunt for tycoons, movie stars and supermodels.

Evoking the decadent elegance of Shanghai in the 1930s, when East and West collided with effortless grace and beauty, China Tang is flamboyantly filled with crystal chandeliers, waiters in white suits embellished with gold epaulettes, etched crystal glasses, silver chopsticks, contemporary Chinese art (plus other quirky objets d’arts) and gorgeously lacquered surfaces. Expect authentic Cantonese delicacies such as crispy skin chicken, steamed scallops with black bean and lobster tail braised in bouillon, all prepared by Tang’s top Hong Kong chefs. The Peking duck in particular comes highly recommended. On Tuesdays, ease yourself into your evening in the company of impeccable 1930s-style jazz performers.

The restaurant offers a halal menu.

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My Humble House

The Esplanade Theatres on the Bay #02-27/29 8 Raffles Avenue, Singapore www.myhumblehouse.com.sg

To great acclaim, trendsetting restaurateur Andrew Tjioe has exported his vision of New Chinese Cuisine – as embodied by My Humble House – from Singapore to India, Japan and even China. First inspired by a collaboration with Beijing artist and musician, Zhang Jin Jie, Tjioe’s flagship My Humble House in Singapore boasts outstanding views of the city skyline and a modern interior that weds minimalist, industrial, cement-clad cool with plush soft furnishings and sleek Chinese iconography.

The restaurant has ambitions as an “artistic restaurant”, and nothing shows this to greater effect than the main dining room’s sexily curvaceous, boudoir-chic, high-backed chairs ornamented with swinging, black tassels. Dishes on the menu sound whimsically enigmatic, further enhancing the sense of artistry – prime examples are Dance of the Wind (double-boiled seafood consommé in young coconut) and The Golden Leaves Fall in Autumn (tiger king prawns done two ways). Best of all, the sublime fusion Chinese cuisine served at My Humble House fully lives up to the menu’s fancy wording. Choose from one of the restaurant’s perfectly balanced multi-course menus for a well-guided introduction to the far-from-humble delights served at this restaurant.

My Humble House dining area

Whampoa Club reception

Whampoa Club

Three on the Bund 3 Zhong Shan Dong Yi Road, Shanghai +86 21 6321 3737 www.threeonthebund.com

There is little to match the experience of sitting in Shanghai’s elaborately spectacular Whampoa Club. The restaurant is tucked into a stunning Neo-Renaissance building constructed in the early 1900s and situated along the iconic Bund. Diners are offered a slice of ultra-luxe, new-millennium China in a city more commonly associated with the hedonistic sophistication of a bygone, pre-communist era.

Roasted-marinated rack of lamb served with fresh chilli mint-chutney from My Humble House

Designed to offer a modern take on Art Deco, the Whampoa Club is filled with red and gold lacquered surfaces, leather club chairs, and coloured glass panels that recall 1930s Shanghai. The menu is an accomplished attempt to represent China’s great culinary history with respectful innovation.

The restaurant focuses on Shanghainese and Cantonese dishes, and invigorates the classics with contemporary flair – think Shanghai smoked fish paired with smoked salmon. To accompany the cuisine is a selection of 50 premium teas from across China, served in traditional style. Tea sommeliers are on hand to assist with your selection. S

Dining room at Whampoa Club with a night view of Shanghai

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CHECK IN YOUR BAGGAGE Passengers at Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg airports can now take advantage of Lufthansa’s 39 baggage machines by dropping off their luggage themselves. Passengers are invited to use the machines when they have already received their boarding pass by checking in online, via a mobile device or at a check-in machine at least 23 hours before departure. Without staff assistance, bags are placed on the belt, boarding passes are scanned and a self-adhesive baggage tag is printed. The luggage is then transported by the machine to the airport’s conveyor belts. Simply wonderful!

Tra ve l Ne w s ?

GALACTIC TRAVELS Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline, jointly owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Abu Dhabi’s Aabar Investments PJS, successfully completed the second rocket-powered, supersonic flight of its passenger-carrying reusable space vehicle, SpaceShipTwo (SS2) on September 5. For the first time, the company demonstrated all technical mission phases in a single flight. Among these missions was a high-altitude deployment of the spacecraft’s unique wing ‘feathering’ re-entry mechanism. The successful flight confirms the company’s capability to be on track to offer a commercial flight service to the public in 2014.

www.lufthansagroup.com

NEW HEIGHTS OF LUXURY Singapore Airlines has fitted its new Boeing 777300ER with an updated first class cabin on selected flights between Singapore and London. Designers from BMW Group DesignworksUSA have served the First Class cabin’s lounge-like islands with an extra helping of comfort, space and privacy.

The outer walls of the seating area have been extended to embrace the passenger like a protective arm. For sleeping, the luxury seat turns into a large comfortable bed. At 35 inches (89 cm) in width and 82 inches (208 cm) in length, the seat is one of the most spacious first class pews in the sky.

WELLNESS SPA AT CHANGI AIRPORT

Travellers flying into, departing from or transiting through Singapore’s Changi Airport can now indulge in a relaxing spa treatment. Wellness Spa has landed at the Terminal 2 Departure Transit Lounge with its organic airport spa concept, using certified organic products by Jasmin Aromatique.

Wellness Spa offers weary travellers an escape from the hustle and bustle of air travel with a menu of spa treatments along with shower amenities and relaxation areas. www.plaza-network.com

Photos: Lufthansa, Plaza-Network, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Galactic, MarsScienticfic.com, Clay Center

www.virgingalactic.com

www.singaporeair.com

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Inspiring Iceland

by Elisabeth Lee

Outdoors is where the action is – be wowed by the one-of-a-kind Northern Lights, marvel at an erupting geyser and relish a soak in ancient geothermal pools.

PERCHED just beneath the Arctic Circle, the sparselypopulated island of Iceland is one of the most remote nations in the world. Yet it is also arguably one of the world’s most stunning destinations. Blockbusters such as Thor, Prometheus, Oblivion and even the popular HBO series Game of Thrones have set their scenes amid its brutal splendour, taking advantage of the sweep of its vast plains, rugged volcanic terrain and towering ice-capped mountains.

Nowadays, travelling to Iceland isn’t just for the intrepid adventurer. Icelandair and numerous other budget airlines link its capital Reykjavik to most major European cities, making it just as easy to plan a trip to one of Europe’s last outposts as it is to New York or San Francisco. Here are a few highlights you shouldn’t miss:

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Northern Lights

Sublime. Surreal. Spectacular.

Those who are lucky enough to have seen nature’s most flamboyant display will agree that words can hardly do justice to such a breathtaking scene. But viewing the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, is an adventure in itself – you can’t pencil one into your calendar like you would an art gallery opening or a Broadway show.

While the Northern Lights can be capricious and temperamental, waxing and waning with pulses of solar radiation, Iceland is one of the world’s best spots for catching a glimpse. Think borealis cruises, overland tours or even a night spent under the stars waiting for the cosmic show to begin.

The best times to catch the aurora is between the autumn and spring equinoxes. The Northern Lights can only be seen at night, so the perpetual dark of Iceland’s winter makes it ideal. The light show is, however, notoriously difficult to capture on camera, so don’t forget your tripod!

Reykjavik 871±2 www.reykjavik871.is

Located in the very spot where the country was first discovered by Vikings in the 9th Century, Reykjavik 871±2 is an illuminating exhibition that sheds light on the original settlers of Iceland. Informative and extremely welldesigned, the exhibition shows in great detail what life was like for your average Viking family.

en.harpa.is

Ready, set … and whoosh!

There she goes! While the aurora borealis is pretty fickle, geysers erupt with almost crazy predictability.

They’re quite a sight - the famous Strokkur geyser throws up a plume of water and steam to a towering height of 20 metres every eight minutes.

Despite opening during the depths of the financial crisis that engulfed Iceland in 2011, the awardwinning Harpa has gone from strength to strength.

The eye-catching concert hall located along the newly revitalised Reykjavik waterfront hosts myriad concerts and events. Take in a guided tour of the venue, check out a cultural performance, and round off your evening with a sumptuous dinner at the sleek 4th floor restaurant with striking views of the harbour.

Photos: www.iceland.is, www.bluelagoon.com

A great way to visit the geysers is on the popular Golden Circle route, which is easily done as a day trip from Reykjavik.

Despite being home to just 120,000 people, Reykjavik has lots to offer in terms of culture, art and dining. While the island is large, many of Iceland’s top attractions are an easy drive from the capital city, making it a great base for day trips. In between tours out to the geysers and national parks, don’t miss the charms of the city itself – there’s so much more to Iceland than icebergs! Here are our top picks:

Harpa

Geysers

More impressively still, the Great Geysir itself (even the word geyser has Icelandic roots), which first made an appearance more than 700 years ago, hurls boiling water up more than 23-storeys high.

Reykjavik 101

12 Tonar www.12tonar.is

Clockwise from left: Erupting geysers, The night sky lit by Northern Lights, Reykjavik waterfront, The Harpa.

Next page: Hot springs at the Blue Lagoon.

While the popular shopping street of Laugavegur is packed with unique finds – think one-of-a-kind knits and vintage wear – the laid-back 12 Tonar is where the hip action really is. Enjoy a free espresso while you read magazines, listen to Icelandic tunes (think Sigur Ros, múm, Björk) and browse the venue’s legendary record collection. Don’t miss the live music in summer.

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Viaggio Sola

(I Travel Alone)

by Liza R amli

Hot springs

Thanks to a pretty active volcanic base on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift zone, Iceland is covered in hot springs as well as geysers. With 250 geothermal areas spread over the island, you don’t have to go far to find a spring.

The most iconic hot spring of all is the Blue Lagoon. Shimmering as far as the eye can see, this geothermal spa is easily one of the most impressive sights in the country. No trip to Iceland would be complete without a visit to these famous pools.

Not only is a soak in the hot spring waters a wonderful way to relax, the minerals and algae found in the Blue Lagoon are said to have therapeutic value – thousands make the trek up north to treat skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Even if you’ve been blessed with healthy skin, the mineral water will leave your skin feeling super soft and supple.

Where to stay in Iceland Hotel Ranga east of Reykjavik, South Iceland

101 Hotel Reykjavik, South Iceland

www.hotelranga.is

www.101hotel.is

JJJJ For a dash of decadence along with your Northern Lights, head to Hotel Ranga. Themed suites, some with stunning views of nearby Mt Hekla, provide guests with plenty of luxe comfort.

JJJJ This modern, art-focused boutique hotel shows off the quirky and cool Icelandic sense of design to great effect. Don’t miss the hotel’s famous hot chocolate – it’s a fantastic pick-me-up on a cold winter’s day.

Hotel Grímsborgir close to Þingvellir National Park, South Iceland

Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel Reykjavik, South Iceland www.bluelagoon.com JJJJ Soak in the therapeutic waters of the famed Blue Lagoon in total privacy with a stay at the Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel. Enjoy the award-winning rooms and pamper yourself with spa treatments while taking in the views of the surreal lava landscape.

www.grimsborgir.com

JJJJ Less a hotel than a collection of luxury apartments equipped with all mod cons, Hotel Grímsborgir has everything a discerning traveller could want – private hot tubs, ensuite dining, picturesque views and more.

If you’re intrigued by how luxury hotels earn their credentials, then this is the movie – the “dramedy” – to watch. Viaggio Sola is about the life of Irene, a 40-year-old woman who is childless and single, and about how she balances her professional and personal lives. Irene’s work involves travelling the world, alone, to inspect and appraise hotels. She is a Quality Inspector for The Leading Hotels of the World...

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a8 As she travels from France to Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Morocco and China, Irene invites us behind the scenes of what is possibly the world’s most enviable career. Equipped with a special kit – white gloves to swipe for dust, a thermometer to check the temperature of wine and soup – she meticulously notes down the minutest detail and methodically ticks her boxes. The audience is entranced the moment she sweeps into the foyer of her first hotel. Will the concierge make eye contact? How long will she be kept waiting for dinner? Will the hotel impart a ‘distinctive’ scent? The way she takes everything so seriously is guaranteed to leave viewers in stitches.

In contrast, Irene’s personal life is filled with mundane routines, destabilising upheavals and complicated relationships – not least with her sister, who has chosen a very different life, and with her ex-boyfriend-turned-best friend. As the story unfolds, we see how she deals with these matters and characters, and we bear witness to her choices and judgments.

Seven hotels within the LHW group – representing the breadth and diversity of a luxury traveller’s experience – were selected to play themselves. The result is a beautifully set film that’s both lighthearted and full of meaning.

Viaggio Sola is presented by the Leading Hotels of the World in collaboration with Bianca Film and Rai Cinema. Written and directed by the award-winning Maria Sole Tognazzi, it stars noted Italian actors Margherita Buy and Stefano Accorsi, and was released in Italy in April.

Discover why The Leading Hotels of the World chose these seven iconic properties as worthy backdrops of Viaggio Sola – the organisation’s first movie undertaking in 85 years.

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Hôtel de Crillon

Hotel Adlon Kempinski

Gstaad Palace

Paris, France

Berlin, Germany

Gstaad, Switzerland

www.crillon.com

www.kempinski.com

www.palace.ch

Overlooking the famous Place de la Concorde, this is considered one of the grande dames of the Paris hotel scene and resonates with historic significance. The French-American Treaty of Independence was signed in the original building in 1778, and as guests walk through the gilded hallways and lavishly adorned public salons, the past can still be felt today.

Located on the Pariser Platz, this legendary landmark is the heartbeat of political and social life in the German capital. It’s next to the world-famous Brandenburg Gate and within easy reach of shopping and cultural highlights.

High profile embassies – American, British, Russian and French – are in close proximity. The Reichstag and Kanzleramt are just minutes away.

Nothing in Switzerland can rival a respite in Gstaad’s family-owned and operated Gstaad Palace. Here, guests are treated like extended and valued members of the family. Set on a secluded hill, this palatial resort offers a breath-taking view of the majestic Swiss Alps.

Occupying a landmark building commissioned by King Louis XV, the Hôtel de Crillon seduces with its exceptional location and refinement, and is a perfect match for the French capital’s effervescence. ChampsÉlysées, the Louvre Museum and the fashionable Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré are close by.

Founded by Lorenz Adlon in 1907, The Adlon exudes opulence, style and sophistication. Its aura of tradition and modernity are complemented by unmatched levels of luxury, hospitality and service. This is the perfect choice for the Berlin visitor who refuses to compromise.

The charm and grace of Louis XV decorative details continue within generously spaced guest rooms. Marble, evocative mouldings and crystal chandeliers are astutely combined with modern technology to create the intimateyet-convenient atmosphere of a private residence.

The hotel’s restaurants and bars are de rigueur locales for Paris’s Who’s Who. Michelin-starred Les Ambassadeurs serves classic French cuisine with contemporary influences in a former ballroom resplendent with frescoes, marble marquetry and crystal, while the more casual neobrasserie L’Obe is favoured for its people-watching.

The Hotel de Crillon is currently closed for a complete renovation, and is slated to re-open in 2015.

For the LHW Inspector experience: Arrive with an air of mystery and keep the staff guessing the purpose of your visit by taking frequent peeks at a ‘checklist’ and inspecting everything closely. Très amusant!

Here, east meets west in the best possible way: the chic Uma Restaurant tempts the adventurous palate with contemporary Japanese fare created with regional German ingredients, while the Adlon Spa by Resense invites the stamina-depleted traveller to explore a range of Eastern pampering traditions, from shiatsu and watsu to lomi-lomi nui, ayurveda and yoga – all practised in clean, contemporary spaces underground.

Equally exquisite is the two Michelin-starred Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, where guests are treated to an innovative interpretation of classic haute cuisine.

The LHW Inspector experience: Request room 512 (the Presidential Suite) or 508 (Pariser Platz Suite).

There are only 104 handsomely appointed rooms and suites in this hotel, with most benefiting from aweinspiring vistas of the surrounding mountains. In contrast, an impressive 250 employees ensure impeccable standards of personalised hospitality are maintained. Discretion is of the highest order.

Gstaad-chic spaces include the terrace of the Lobby Bar, le Bar du Grill and the famous GreenGo nightclub, while Le Grill Rôtisserie, with its open-show kitchen, and the authentic Italian Gildo’s Ristorante, offer a more elegant and refined dining experience.

The expansive Palace Spa is truly magical, further enhanced by an imposing granite wall using rock from the Blausee region. Facilities include a hammam and a pilates studio, and spa therapies abound, leaving guests stretched, buffed and thoroughly relaxed.

The LHW Inspector experience: Plan a winter arrival and request room 609; stop by the Lobby Bar for a glass of bubbly or a cigar in the smoking lounge; enjoy a gourmet meal in the Grand Restaurant – ideally on its Grande Terrasse.

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Palais Namaskar

Fonteverde Tuscan Resort & Spa

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The PuLi Hotel & Spa

Marrakech, Morocco

San Casciano dei Bagni, Tuscany, Italy

Savelletri di Fasano, Puglia, Italy

Shanghai, China

www.palaisnamaskar.com

www.fonteverdespa.com

www.borgoegnazia.com

www.thepuli.com

Commanding more than 12 acres of pristine seclusion, tranquil lakes and inspiring panoramas, the highly awarded Palais Namaskar in Province Sybar offers a thoroughly indulgent experience with unrivalled spaciousness, personal freedom and grandeur. Nestled between the rugged Atlas Mountains and the Djebilet Hills, this hotel offers serenity and hospitality of the highest order – along with transfers by private jet.

Well secluded in a magical setting of olive groves and vineyards in the middle of the Tuscan countryside, Fonteverde Tuscan Resort & Spa is perfect both for experiencing the Tuscan lifestyle and for relaxing in a breath-taking environment. This is where you check in to experience the perfect balance of peace and nature, along with genuine Italian styling and luxury hospitality.

Nestled within the centuries-old olive groves of Apulia (Puglia to Italians) and overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the Borgo Egnazia is the ultimate base from which to explore southern Italy. Inspired by Apulia’s rich traditions, yet thoroughly contemporary in design, this architectural marvel is made up of low-rise buildings in local stone and quicklime that blend seamlessly with the landscape.

Created as China’s first urban resort, this stylish hotel is centrally located in Shanghai’s Jing’An district, making it a perfect stop for travellers who want to stay close to the action while basing themselves in a serene setting. The striking interiors – polished tile floors, sumptuous silk wall coverings and contemporary furniture – are accented with reproductions of ancient Chinese household items.

This hotel has taken full advantage of the natural thermal springs of the nearby town with its avant-garde spa, Fonteverde Spa. This spa boasts technologically sophisticated professional medical assistance, diagnostics and a complete selection of therapies. It features more than 100 treatments and five natural hot pools.

Attractions in the region abound, but the hotel’s sprawling Vair Spa – devoted to a reinterpretation of Italian healing traditions complete with a modern Roman bath – is more irresistible. Indisputably one of Europe’s top spas, the Vair has infused every decorative detail and treatment with the soul of southern Italy. Even its products – from food items and music to personnel – are strictly Italian.

A Zen ambience prevails in the spa-like guestrooms.

Many rooms overlook leafy Jing’An Park – a green oasis in the middle of Shanghai. All mod cons associated with a luxury resort have been included. Nespresso machines and complementary wired and wireless broadband Internet access are available in all rooms.

With only 41 units available, this hotel offers rare exclusivity. Accommodation includes guestrooms, suites, villas and palaces (yes, palaces!), each extending onto oversized terraces, and with most offering either a private pool or Jacuzzi. The décor is a vibrant combination of Eastern-inspired architecture built along feng shui principles and contemporary interior design.

The stylish lobby bar Espace T is where Mariage Frères teas and delicate desserts are served, while No Mad Bar on the rooftop is where the socially inclined converge. Le Namaskar restaurant serves Moroccan-accented French cuisine in poolside pavilions by day and beneath Murano chandeliers by night.

Feng shui elements of purity, energy and balance are carried through to Le Spa Namaskar. Tucked in a tranquil oasis, this spa offers treatments that use all-natural ingredients and incorporate multi-sensory experiences.

The LHW Inspector experience: Request Pool Villa #4; enjoy dinner on the terrace of the Le Namaskar restaurant, overlooking the pool.

Award-winning spa choices include authentic Mediterranean treatments using olive oil, Ayurvedic treats, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, water-related spa therapies, energetic, anti-aging and aesthetic treatments.

Also offered are nutritional, dermatological and rejuvenation consultations.

Dining options include Ferdinando I, where light and healthy Tuscan fare is prepared using ingredients from the resort’s garden, and the spa’s La Corte, which serves scintillating Mediterranean-style cuisine.

The LHW Inspector experience: Request the Val d’Orcia Suite and book the signature Dimu massage. Then sit on the 17th century porch for some celebrity spotting.

Another tempting attraction (and yet another European best) is the 18-hole championship San Domenico Golf Course. Home to the PGA European Challenge Tour Grand Final, its undulating Bermuda fairways offer views of azure waters.

The LHW Inspector experience: Check into Room 101, the stunning Suite Egnazia for the best view; hang out at the Cala Masciola Beach Club. For more authenticity, order tarallini – a traditional, twisted cracker snack that includes fennel and black pepper.

The Jing’An Restaurant, the Long Bar and the Garden Terrace provide guests with top-notch culinary experiences in relaxing, atmospheric settings, while the Anantara Spa provides a wide range of treatments based on green, white, rose and chrysanthemum teas. These teas are renowned for their antioxidant properties, and are derived from ancient wellness secrets from China, Thailand and India.

The LHW Inspector experience: Check into the Grand King Studio and enjoy Club Floor benefits including 24hour butler service, complimentary breakfast, evening cocktails and canapés, all-day refreshments, laundry, pressing and use of meeting room. S

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TRICK OR TREAT Surreal and wittily deceptive, Tom Eckert’s sculptures seem to float above the ground like living things, but in reality there’s no sorcery involved, just an exceptional standard of artistry. Visual deception is the basis of Eckert’s creative direction, and much of his work – including the floating cloth and the standing paintbrush – creates a sense of the impossible. Working just with wood and waterborne lacquer, Eckert carves, laminates and paints to create magic. www.tomeckertart.com

GEOMETRIC CHIC Bold Arabesque sideboards are among this season’s new designs from Cattelan Italia.

Designed by Alessio Bassan, the sideboards feature sharp geometric patterns and come with either two or four doors in printed maple. The sideboard stands on black steel feet and the top is covered in a sheet of clear graphite painted glass. The Westin console tables add an edge to living spaces with their sleek form and sharp-looking legs. Designed by Giorgio Cattelan, the console comes in a white, graphite or mix-embossed lacquered steel base, and a tabletop of either solid Canaletto walnut or burned oak. www.cattelanitalia.com

Inspired by the work of surrealist artist René Magritte, British designer Jake Phipps has created his Jeeves and Wooster line of lights, giving a playful twist and a strong sense of cultural identity to his range of products. The lights are named after the upmarket valet and his aristocrat master from the humorous Jeeves and Wooster stories by P.G. Wodehouse. Each lamp and light shade in the line is made from an authentic bowler hat – a classic British cultural icon reflecting a bygone era of imperialism, class divide and eccentricity. www.jakephipps.com

CONSTRUCTIVE EFFORTS Photos: Tom Eckert, Jakes Phipps, Cattelan Italia, Joost van Bleiswijk designed for Moooi

YOUR HAT, SIR

Inspired by the almost infinite combinations of screws, bolts and tools available to him in his giant workshop, designer Joost van Bleiswijk turned playful and wound up constructing a tower topped by a lamp. The Construction Lamp resembles a telegraph pylon made from ice-lolly sticks. The base is made of die-cast powder-coated aluminum (with wooden slats for the wood version) and is held together with brass screws. The lamp was officially launched ahead of the London Design Festival when it was presented in Moooi’s west London showroom. www.moooi.com

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Macalister Mansion 228, Macalister Road, 10400 George Town, Penang, Malaysia.

Phone: (60) 2283 888 Fax: (60) 2283 883 Email:contactus@macalistermansion.com www.macalistermansion.com

Built in the early 1900s, Penang’s Macalister Mansion sits along the historic Macalister Road – named after Sir Norman Macalister, one of the first British Governors of Penang.

Part of the prestigious Design Hotels group, Macalister Mansion is a boutique hotel built around the idea of an old English mansion. It only has eight rooms – but all of them are sumptuous. The size of the hotel allows for a more intimate atmosphere than one could hope to find in a large hotel, and the property has a welcoming, home-from-home feel so loved by the weary traveller.

The charm of Macalister Mansion is embodied in the original flavour and design of each of the eight bedrooms.

Each space has a distinctive character with artwork that either reflects the history of the mansion or makes reference to its namesake. Most notably, room 4 has a privately commissioned wire sculpture of Sir Norman Macalister and his wife, created by Low Chee Peng, a local Penang artist. A turret room, this guest room has an alcove with an original wrought-iron spiral staircase leading to the top of the turret, where guests can enjoy the views.

Room 3 is the largest at 60sqm and boasts an original wrought-iron balcony. Room 8 features exposed truss beams originating from when the building was constructed,

A Heritage

and the other five rooms are all equally quirky and delightful.

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Staying true to its appeal as a rambling old mansion, the atmosphere is one of taste and sophistication, while never losing touch with its ethos as an approachable place offering comfort to good friends.

Wonderful, freshly sourced food is available in the six food and beverage areas – and of course each eaterie and bar is unique in design and character.

Luxury

by John Z achar y

In thriving Asia, new buildings are being constructed at an exponential rate. In some cities, fields of skyscrapers reach to the skies, one structure hardly discernible from the next in the universal quest to be the tallest, largest, most expensive building in the world. On the long march to our future, heritage is often forgotten. Thankfully though, some beautiful echoes of Asia’s colonial history remain. SCION visited four exquisite examples of heritage hotels that remind us of our past, continue to inform our present and – we hope – will still stand tall tomorrow.

Main page: The entrance to the Macalister Mansion This page from top: Faceted head of Sir Norman Macalister, The Living Room.

The Living Room is the place to hang out in the day. It vaunts a playful, colourful theme, a selection of pastries, and upmarket TWG teas that are guaranteed to leave you feeling very much the lady and gentlemen of a bygone era. Macalister Mansion is an excellent representation of colonial splendour. Relax and unwind!

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and famous visitors from around the world, enticing them with the promise of legendary service and unsurpassed luxury.

Now restored to its former glory, the beautiful Majestic Wing houses 47 luxurious suites. The vintage charm is retained and tastefully complemented by modern furnishings, and guests are treated to the perfect mix of past and present. In keeping with their colonial roots, all suites offer a 24hour butler service.

The Tower Wing features 253 guestrooms and suites, and blends seamlessly with the original building in art deco style. Dark marble and polished chrome feature extensively.

The furnishings are pleasingly contemporary while retaining a hint of colonial luxury – four-poster beds still stand proud.

For dining, the Contango restaurant offers a contemporary vibe featuring an open kitchen, while those seeking more traditional fare can enjoy the Colonial Café, a venue that skillfully recreates the atmosphere of Malaya’s halcyon (for some!) rubber planter days.

Last year, the Majestic Hotel received the honour of being included in The Leading Hotels of The World collection of luxury hotels – which is exactly where it deserves to be.

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur

RAFFLES SINGAPORE

5, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin,50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Phone: (60) 3 2785 8000 Fax: (60) 3 2785 8080 Email: tmklresv@ytlhotels.com.my

1 Beach Road, Singapore, 189673 Phone: (65) 6337 1886 Fax: (65) 6339 7650 Email: singapore@raffles.com

www.majestickl.com

A national heritage site under the Antiquities Act of Malaysia, the 51-room Hotel Majestic was built in 1932 from a design by the Dutch architectural firm Keyes and Dowdeswell. The grandest and most beloved hotel of its time, Kuala Lumpur’s Majestic became the de rigueur venue for extravagant parties, Sunday curry tiffin lunches and that most British of traditions – the tea dance.

Now fully restored by YTL Hotels, the original art deco building now forms the Majestic Wing of the larger Majestic Hotel. Added to the original building is the new 15-storey Tower Wing, the two edifices linked by a glass-enclosed, air-conditioned walkway.

Set on a hilltop and surrounded by 3 acres of land, the Majestic sits opposite the city’s old Moorish-style railway station. The hotel exudes the kind of colonial charm that has long drawn glamorous

www.raffles.com/singapore

When you visit Singapore, the name of its founder – Sir Stamford Raffles – can be found in many places, but nowhere is more closely associated with its eponymous namesake than the Raffles Singapore Hotel. So pivotal is Raffles Hotel in Singapore history that in 1987 it was declared a National Monument.

This page from top: Facade of The Majestic Hotel, Colonial Cafe of The Majestic.

OPPOSITE page from top: The Majestic Suite living room, Raffles Hotel.

Founded in 1887 by the Sarkies Brothers – proprietors of the Eastern & Oriental in Penang – Raffles Singapore has grown from an old bungalow comprising a 10room hotel to the three-storey, 103-suite downtown landmark it is today. The elegant neo Renaissance architecture and grand spaces have long been a

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Fifteen restaurants and bars add to the luxury – be sure to sample the famous Tiffin curry, and high tea. Simply put, this is best hotel in Singapore.

SOFITEL LEGEND METROPOLE HANOI 15 Ngo Quyen Street Hanoi, Vietnam 10000 Phone: (84-4) 3826 6919 Fax: (84-4) 3826 6920 Email: H1555@sofitel.com www.sofitel-legend.com

The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, built in 1901 in French colonial style, is a hotel steeped in charm and history. The Hanoi story of the past century has literally been written behind its doors.

This page: View of Raffles Hotel Singapore Lobby, Facing page from top: Sofitel Legend Metrople Hanoi Legendary Suite, La Terrace du Metropole.

magnet for royals, along with the rich and famous.

Raffles also enjoys a close association with many literary giants. Rudyard Kipling and Joseph Conrad were early visitors, and years later Noel Coward and Ernest Hemingway would add their names to the illustrious list of guests.

Bartender Ngiam Tong Boon created the world-famous Singapore Sling sometime around 1910. It is still served today in the Long Bar and in the Bar & Billiard Room – the same venue made famous by a visiting tiger (later

shot dead) in 1902.

It is said that no trip to Singapore is complete without a stay at this world-famous hotel. From the moment you arrive and liveried Sikh doormen usher you through an ornate wrought-iron portico into a pristine lobby that seems unaltered from the turn of the 19th century, you know you are somewhere special. Sitting and relaxing in Palm Court, the white marble colonnades glistening in the sun, you are transported back to the grandeur of an age when colonial sophistication and decadence prevailed.

Macalister Mansion, The Majestic KL, Raffles Singapore, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Authors Somerset Maugham and Graham Greene enjoyed the luxurious setting and drew inspiration from the city’s bustling Old Quarter, meandering through the narrow streets and dipping into the quaint cafés and teashops surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake.

Declared the official hotel for visiting dignitaries following Vietnamese independence in 1945, the hotel continued to attract VIPs and celebrities even during times of war.

American folk singer and activist Joan Baez and American actress and activist Jane Fonda famously sought shelter in the Metroplole’s air raid bunker, built to protect guests during the American War (1964 – 1973). The bunker was recently rediscovered.

Earlier this year, the 364-room hotel received a prestigious 2013 Best Hotel Spa in the world award by Travel + Leisure magazine, and their Le Spa du Metropole is the centre of

attention. Covering 400 square meters and housed in an Indochine-inspired structure, the spa offers seven stylish treatment rooms, giving guests a rich and varied experience, both from an aesthetic and a pampering point of view.

The historic Metropole Wing has a classic feel with 106 guestrooms and three Legendary Suites. This section of the hotel blends well with the far more contemporary Opera Wing. At 176 square metres, the Grand Prestige Suite offers exclusive luxuries and services such as a personal butler, afternoon tea, and a cocktail before dinner.

The bars and restaurants offer a wonderful Indochine ambience. Chief amongst these is Le Beaulieu – arguably one of the best French restaurants in Asia. For local cuisine, Spices Garden offers authentic Vietnamese gastronomy. S

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Widely seen as a virtuoso and a visionary, Kenneth Cobonpue likes to keep his business close to home. SCION talks to the worldrenowned Filipino designer about his influences, his craftsmanship and the importance of preserving tradition.

78 Scion: When did you establish your eponymous label?

KENNETH COBONPUE (KC): My label was established in 1998, but the best craftsmen and artisans who work with me started with my mother when she opened her workshop in 1984.

Scion: What were the design influences around you while you grew up in the Philippines?

KC: My mother was my first influence. As an interior and furniture designer, she really was a pioneer in her craft. I learned many things from her, particularly the value of original design and the passion that must accompany it. I also learned to stay true to my vision and aesthetic, even at the risk of commercial failure.

Weaving Old Values with New Ideas

Living on Cebu was also an enormous influence. Only on this island could I find the quality of craftsmen and artisans to transform my dreams into reality.

Beyond that, everything I’ve done and seen has influenced my work in some way. As a designer, having a genuine curiosity about the world and an ability to really see everything enables me to find inspiration everywhere.

Photos: Kenneth Cobonpue

Scion: Your designs incorporate a lot of natural and organic materials – how important is this choice to your work?

KC: After returning to Cebu from design school abroad, I was reinspired by the skilled craftsmanship and the wealth of natural resources around me, and was keen to work with the unique structural properties of these materials. I decided to modify elements of what I had learned studying industrial design to work within this framework.

Opposite page: Kenneth Cobonpue from top: Pigalle Easy Armchair, IMA bed frame

Scion: There are so many environmental concerns for us to consider today – what are the challenges that ‘going green’ pose to you?

KC: Going green entails higher production costs, which affects the consumer. This is the biggest challenge for me, so I look for creative ways to produce my designs while fully complying with social, economic and ecological sustainability. I am very conscious of the materials I use, the energy efficiency of the manufacturing process, the renewability and longevity of my products. Going green is not a choice anymore. It’s a necessity.

Scion: Do traditional artisans play a big part in your creations?

KC: This is an extremely relevant and important point.

Most of the artisans in Southeast Asia learn from master to apprentice – no schools for craft exist in the region that I am aware of. So long as there’s a livelihood to be made, this remarkable tradition will continue. I think it’s vital that this custom of honouring craftsmen is preserved, though sadly it’s dying out, especially in the West. In today’s world of mass-manufactured goods, the purity of craft enriches our designs and humanises us.

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and recyclable polyethylene, which I hope to release as a production model. I’d also welcome the challenge of designing and building a boutique hotel unlike anything done before.

Scion: Your furniture is available in many parts of the world. Where will your label be available next?

Like what my mother began on a smaller scale, I’d like to think my brand of creating unique designs by using local materials and skilled labour is helping to usher in a new movement in my country and the whole region.

One thing I learned from my mum was the importance of appreciating and honouring originality and exquisite craftsmanship. This is something that defines my brand still today.

Scion: Is there a new collection in the works?

KC: There is always a new collection in the works!

My newer designs are softer in their feel and look, as I’m playing a lot these days with fabric, and experimenting with different weaves and knitting

patterns, adding a new dimension to my designs.

Bloom and Cabaret are two examples of this new approach to indoor and outdoor living, and the reception has been wonderful.

I’m also interested in the field of transportation, and in challenging conventional thinking on that front. I believe everything has a natural solution, and towards that end I’ve designed a bamboo and carbon fibre car intended to run on electricity. The car I designed – the Phoenix – has a lightweight structural shell made of bamboo that was woven by hand and took minimal energy to build, and is also biodegradable. My newest design is an ecological-yet-luxurious tricycle created from aluminum

Main: Kenneth Cobonpue with the Phoenix This page from top: CABARET sofa with high back, YODA chairs next page: TRAME chairs

KC: There are still a few countries where we should be present, however I’m most excited by our first standalone showroom in Manila. Set in Makati (one of the cities that make up Metro Manila), the store will house all the furniture under the Kenneth Cobonpue brand, with

lighting and accessories by Hive. It is set to open the first week of October.

Scion: You have been involved in many projects around the world. Can you name a handful that remain special to you?

KC: That would be impossible. Picking a favourite would be like choosing a favourite child. There are aspects to each project that I love, but most important is the journey taken in the design of each. It informs my knowledge and experience base, which, I hope, serves to make me a better designer. S

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Au Art ot

The Sublime House of Mueller

by John Z achar y

It’s impossible to remain unmoved by the heavenly work of Vivian Mueller – conceptual artist, spiritualist, jeweller, silversmith and gunsmith. How appropriate then that the artist’s company – the House of Mueller Murgenthal – also operates under the name Sublime.

For over 30 years, Vivian Mueller has been producing objet d’art that combine outstanding creative design with legendary Swiss detail and precision. Based in the picturesque Murgenthal region of Switzerland, Mueller is one of the world’s leading craftsmen specialising in silver and gold. Working discretely with leading suppliers of fine jewellery and bespoke artwork, he has undertaken commissions for celebrities and heads of state across the globe. He has also created pieces for numerous royal families – from the oldest and best known European royal houses to those residing in the Arab world, the Far East and Borneo. Indeed, the palace in Brunei displays over 400 pieces handcrafted

by Mueller and his team.

Mueller’s portfolio is vast and ever growing. Among its finer pieces are the elegant ‘Triumph of Love’, the ‘Horn of Plenty’, a multi-tiered perfume tray shaped like a palace, a lucky elephant, a carousel of horses containing a music box and a floral bouquet adorned with precious stones, as well as swords and firearms.

The artist is particularly famous for his intricately sculpted weaponry.

Opposite page: bouquet from top: sword, horn of plenty, the royal egg

In addition to his original creations, Mueller engraves and embellishes existing weapons. Avid collectors of arms and armour – of which there are many on Mueller’s client list – appreciate the high level of skill required to deliver the outstanding results that are synonymous with the Sublime brand.

Most of Mueller’s pieces are bought as gifts, with each commission undertaken to exacting specifications. The artist takes great pride in the fact that clients return time and again. S

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En g i n e W o r ld ?

BMW i8 The BMW Group sent shots of excitement through the Frankfurt Motor Show with the world premiere of the second model of its latest generation of sports car – the super cool BMW i8. The futuristic i8 - from the group’s new brand BMW i – combines a plugin hybrid drive system, comprising a three-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo engine, and BMW eDrive technology, in the form of an electric drive system. The BMW i8 accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds yet it delivers an incredible fuel economy of 40kpl.

This revolutionary system, along with the aerodynamically optimised body design, paves the way for an exhilarating, and highly efficient, BMW driving experience. www.bmwgroup.com

The new Volvo concept coupé was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show by the Volvo Car Group. The concept coupé is the first in a series of three concept cars that demonstrate the design possibilities created by the new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA). It showcases the new, super-efficient, four-cylinder Drive-E powertrains that are now fitted in six Volvo models. In addition, it is equipped with Volvo’s ingenious plug-in hybrid technology. A high-performance petrol engine teamed with an electric motor on the rear axle gives the Volvo concept coupé a total output of about 400 hp and over 600 Nm of torque. www.volvocars.com

Photos: BMW Group, Volvo Car Group, Lexus International, Ferreti World

VOLVO CONCEPT COUPÉ

ALL ABOARD THE FERRETTI 960 The Ligurian Riviera played host to the prestigious Ferretti Group Days in June, during a weekend dedicated to Italian luxury aficionados. The crown jewels of the Ferretti Group were on display at the marina, but resplendent in the spotlight was the company’s latest flagship: the Ferretti 960 – the largest recreational boat ever built by the brand in its more-than-40-year history, and certainly the most stunning.

The 29.2m vessel is both a superyacht and a pleasure boat, and she’s perfectly equipped to take you and 20 other lucky passengers to your destination of choice.

She houses a master cabin, four guest cabins and three discreet crew cabins that come with reserved access from the galley. This boat is super-sleek and sporty, in keeping with the traditional styling of Ferretti yachts.

But the Ferretti 960 offers more than a luxurious sailing experience – she also gives a top performance on open waters, which is exactly what Ferretti fans have come to expect from the group’s fabulous superyachts. www.ferretti-world.com

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Magnificent A7

It’s a car that’s not just good – it’s wow!

Audi’s most striking model ever lands in Brunei

Pop open the driver’s door with its frameless glass, and you’ll slip into a low-slung cockpit with the instruments and controls angled towards you. It’s a cocooning environment but don’t be deceived – though the interior of the A7 feels snug, it’s also surprisingly spacious. This may be a coupé, but friends and family will happily come along for the ride. And when they do, they’ll not fail to be impressed by the specifications that come as standard. These include Bluetooth phone connections and Audi music streaming, a 7-inch colour display screen, electric boot opening and closing, Milano leather trim and a Bose surround sound stereo system.

by Neil Briscoe

The quality of the cabin is simply fabulous. Audi is rightly famed for its smart interior designs, and the A7 is the ultimate in stylish interiors. Not only is it easy on the eye but it’s also clearly and logically laid out. Again, like with the Kamm-tail, you get efficiency and beauty

It was with Kamm’s mathematical findings in mind that Audi created its A7. This magnificent car boasts a typical Kamm-tail shape while also staying true to classic Audi design. The design is deceptively simple – a collection of apparently straightforward lines meeting at a kicked-up point on the fastback rear.

Aerodynamically efficient it certainly is – but with no compromise to aesthetics.

Indeed, the A7 is a perfect combination of efficiency, beauty and precision. Can you think of another car that’s able to blend the style of a coupé, the comfort of a limousine, the driving precision of a sports car and the practicality of an estate? Exactly – there is none!

Beneath that gorgeous, flowing bodywork you’ll find a tried-and-trusted mechanical package that, as you

might expect, includes Audi’s trademark Quattro® fourwheel drive, enabling impeccable grip and traction in all conditions. The A7 comes with a 310hp V6 3.0-litre TFSI turbocharged engine, which also packs a hefty 440Nm of torque. This engine is an iron fist in a velvet glove, with silky-smooth power and surprisingly low fuel consumption for such a high-performing unit. And let’s face it, fuel consumption matters too – no engine can be considered truly beautiful these days unless some serious thought has been given to our environmental concerns.

Take your pace up a notch and the A7 responds like the thoroughbred it is. This may be a large and luxurious car, but Audi’s technological prowess has kept the weight to a minimum, meaning that it responds and reacts like a car half its size on the open road. The steering is weighty and intuitive, the body flat and composed through the corners. The suspension, while sufficiently firm to tell you what’s happening under the wheels, softens and cushions the impact of poor surfaces. You’re in touch with the road, but never uncomfortable.

All of which brings us back to that Kamm-tail.

Kamm’s discovery was one of the greatest revelations of modern car technology – a discovery that increased efficiency, reduced weight and made cars a better ride for everyone. How appropriate then that a Kamm-tail should be found at the back of the new A7. It’s a car that’s not just good – it’s wow! S

‘Indeed, the A7 is a perfect combination of efficiency, beauty and precision’

Photos: TCY Motors

It’s called a Kamm-tail or Kamm-back, and it’s named after the famed aerodynamicist, Wunibald Kamm. In the 1930s, Kamm discovered an interesting twist to the principle of aerodynamic efficiency.

Conventional wisdom had it that a car should be shaped like a teardrop to minimise drag, but Kamm found that by chopping off the end of the teardrop, the same aero efficiency could be achieved but with less weight, material and complication.

coming together to form a perfect whole.

Drop the 7-speed S tronic transmission gear selector into D (you could of course use the paddles behind the wheel to change gear yourself, but let’s kick back for now and let the car do the work) and the A7 glides down the road with relaxed ease. This is a refined and comfortable beast, and virtually silent in the cabin.

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78 Following his 10-year stint with the national airline, Sheikh Rashid occupied the position of Assistant Chief Executive Officer with the Brunei Economic Development Board from 2009 to 2013. During this time, he was responsible for promoting foreign direct investment into the nation, overseeing the development of small local companies in Brunei and assisting in the development of underprivileged youths through workshops and programmes.

We felt grateful for this chance to spend time with such a prominent figure in Brunei, and we were delighted to find that such an important man is also eminently approachable. In our interview, we learn more about Sheikh Rashid’s position as Vice President of Corporate Services – and while we’re there, we get a rare glimpse into his world.

Scion: Tell us about your corporate responsibilities as Vice President at Hengyi Industries.

In the Office with Sheikh R ashid Salam SCION was very excited to meet Sheikh Rashid Salam: husband, father, pilot, amateur fisherman, home chef and recently appointed Vice President of Corporate Services at Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd. We met with the industrious businessman in his office with its splendid views over the Empire Hotel & Country Club golf course.

Sheikh Rashid’s career began at Royal Brunei Airlines, where he worked his way through jobs in quality assurance and flight operations before assuming the role of Senior Vice President, Commercial. During his tenure with the airline, Sheikh Rashid introduced significant improvements to operations. For instance, he implemented the Royal Brunei Airlines ticketing system, as well as the ETicketing migration. He also

acquired traffic rights for India and Japan. What’s more, the Sheikh led humanitarian efforts for the airline, operating repatriation flights for Bruneian students staying in Cairo during the first Gulf war, and evacuating Vietnamese refugees in 1993 as part of a United Nations initiative. He was also involved in strategising contingency plans for the airline’s Dubai operations during the Gulf War.

Sheikh Rashid (SR): My responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day administrative and organisational duties at Hengyi Industries. On a more strategic level, I ensure we have the appropriate personnel resources and skills to cater to Hengyi’s workforce requirements, today and in the near future. I’m also responsible for ensuring Hengyi establishes a strong working relationship with the government and private sectors. Equally important is that we should contribute in some shape or form to the welfare of local communities.

I will ensure that the aspirations of both Hengyi and the Brunei government are met in the medium-to-long term.

Scion: You have worked at Royal Brunei Airlines, the Brunei Economic Development Board and now Hengyi Industries. Tell us about the biggest challenge in making the transitions between these industries.

You see, most – if not all – organisations, whether public or private sector, will have some common structure in order for them to function properly. You will inevitably have a finance department, a marketing department and an HR department. Although there are certain key areas that are industry-specific, most administrative skills are essentially applicable across industries. The most differentiating and often challenging attribute across different organisations is corporate culture. It is actually hard, if not impossible, to find two organisations with a similar corporate culture. This is especially seen when you compare a government-linked company with a private sector company. There’s a stark difference in Opposite page: Sheikh Rashid Salam, Vice President of Corporate Services, Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd RIGHT: Sheikh Rashid co ntemplating in his office

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the way things are done. Some of the longer established government-linked companies in Brunei, for instance, tend to be more hierarchical and bureaucratic – not necessarily a bad thing of course. At the other end of the spectrum, things are somewhat different in a private sector perspective, where the emphasis is less on complying with set procedures and processes than on meeting end objectives. The topic of corporate culture is so diverse we could sit here all day discussing it. However, the key word in managing it is adaptability. You need to have an open mind and a willingness to harmonise your actions to suit different environment just as you would need to change gears in a car when driving on different road conditions – easier said than done of course but definitely important if you are to perform successfully in any organisation.

Scion: How do you manage to balance a healthy life with a demanding career?

SR: I make it a point to spend at least 30 minutes on the cycling machine before and after work. It’s easy to get carried away or to procrastinate when you’re so engrossed in work, however there’s really no shortcut – you have to discipline yourself, watch your food intake and make time for some physical hardship. Don’t get me wrong, I love my food. I’m actually quite adventurous when it comes to sampling different kinds of food – I’d try anything, though I must admit I have a soft spot for Italian and Indian cooking.

Scion: What do you like to do in your free time?

SR: If the weather’s good, I go out fishing offshore. I love fishing because it’s quiet and serene out at sea, especially at dawn. I have a friend who owns a boat, so we leave Jerudong beach at the crack of dawn and return to shore in the late afternoon. We head off towards the northern tip of Kuraman island near Labuan. It’s fairly secluded

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NATIONAL DAY OPEN HOUSE OF THE HIGH COMMISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

from top: Sheikh Rashid outside his office which overlooks the putting green of the Empire Golf & Country Club, Sheikh Rashid’s favourite fishing gear, Samsung S4, 40mm, Tissot Chronograph PRC100,

On August 12, 2013, the High Commission of the Republic of Singapore hosted an ‘open house’ in celebration of its 48th National Day and Hari Raya Aidilfitri at The Empire Hotel and Country Club’s Indera Samudera Hall. Guests were welcomed and received by the Singapore High Commissioner to Brunei H.E. Jaya Ratnam, the Senior Minister of State Mr Masagos Zulkifli and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Dr Maliki Osman.

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Scion: If you had to leave the house with only one piece of technology, what would it be?

My smartphone. Can’t do without it, unfortunately. Regardless of where I am, short of being underwater or in the air, I need to be connected to my workplace and family – albeit not necessarily in that order of course. I practically organise my entire life from my Samsung S4.

Unfortunately I have come to rely on it tremendously and can’t imagine life without a smartphone in this day and age.

Scion: What timepiece?

is

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favourite

I own a few wristwatches but my favourite is a Tissot Chronograph PRC100, which was a wedding gift from my wife. It’s a basic, no frill stainless steel wristwatch with a scratchproof face and 300-feet waterproof feature. Although it’s had two

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battery changes, it has never let me down since day one, and I wear it to work every day.

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Scion: What are you currently reading?

Jack Welch the autobiography (Jack: What I’ve Learned Leading a Great Company and Great People). An amazing book that draws a fine line between an autobiography, a corporate history book and a management handbook – and it does this well. It’s been one of the most engaging books on the subject so far, taking the relatively dry subject of how a hardworking ‘nobody’ becomes a CEO and the superstar of an appliance and technology company, and making it personable. Jack Welch is known for being a ruthless leader but he achieves the bottom line results sought by shareholders. I’m halfway through and can’t wait to reach the end.

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people don’t know.

I’m quite passionate about cooking. I try to find time to cook at least one dish for the family every month. I have a whole stack of cookery books, from Vietnamese to Middle Eastern cuisines – but the family’s favourite is my lamb curry, or so I’m told. I like experimenting with different ingredients and herbs so that the entire concoction is somewhat unique, but it doesn’t always work out as planned. Nonetheless, the thrill is in the preparation and the sheer anticipation of how it will turn out. S

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Photos: Ahmad Aidil @Lighthill studios

and there are a few coral reefs there that make it a good fishing spot. Most days you catch nothing but some days you bring home a decent sized garoupa or a red snapper. My wife is adamant that I’d make a lousy fisherman and would probably starve the family if I had to rely on it for my livelihood.

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From left to right 1. Shazali Dato Hj Sulaiman; Masagos Zulkifli; YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar; Dato Paduka Hj Mustappa Hj Sirat; Dr Maliki Osman; H.E. Jaya Ratnam 2. Larry Loon; YB Pengiran Dato Paduka Hj Maidin Pg Hj Hashim; H.E. Souvanna Phouyavong, Ambassador of Laos; Pg Hj Alihashim Pg Haji Yusof 3. Chang Ein Hong; Chong Fu Li 4. Col. Chan Wei Gan; YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar; Megan Chan; Mdm Lim Chong Mei 5. Dr Maliki Osman; Edward d’Silva 6. H.E. Daniel Shields, Ambassador of the United States; Sunny Ahmed, Deputy High Commissioner of United Kingdom; Muqeen Ahmed

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SCION makes its debut

CHMP Media has teamed up with the Standard Chartered Bank in Brunei to distribute its first luxury lifestyle magazine, SCION, to the bank’s Priority Banking customers. The first issue of SCION was formally presented to Judith Lee, the Head of Priority Banking, by SCION’s Editorin-Chief, Wan Zainal Shazali, at the Priority Banking office in Bandar Seri Begawan. The gift of the magazine to the bank’s customers is part of its ongoing efforts to reward its customers for their continuing support.

Festive Cheer at R adisson Hotel

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The management and staff of Radisson Hotel in Bandar Seri Begawan celebrated the Hari Raya Aidilfitri season by hosting an ‘open house’ for business partners and friends at their Mutiara Ballroom. On hand to greet guests was Radisson’s General Manager, Mr Peter Feran.

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Photo: (From left) Intan Abu Daniel, Abu Bakar Ashari, Judith Lee, Wan Zainal Shazali and Pauline Chan

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Local Bruneian fashion designer, Sabrina Wong, held a preview of her ‘Made in Brunei - Jong Sarat collection’ from her SAB FIVE FIVE label on August 29. The collection, which features the traditional Bruneian Jong Sarat woven fabric on modern wear, was formerly presented at the ChinaASEAN Expo (CAEXPO 2013) in Nanning, Guangxi, held on September 3-6. The private preview at her boutique, L’Orient, was an intimate event that included friends, business associates and government representatives.

Brunei

From left to right 1. Wan Zainal Shazali, Sabrina Wong, Syen Sofian 2. Genevieve Lai, Nadia Azmansham, Aliya Zin 3. Rita Andry, Hjh Hafizah Hj Awg Besar, Cynthia Lim 4. Cecilia Lim, Kathie Caie

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From left to right: 1. Peter Feran, Pierre Imhof, Ti Eng Hui 2. Abdul Hafiz Aizuddin Hj Hasheim, Doris Newn, Rachel Ang 3. Irra Ismail, Sajidah Baharuddin, Erna Hamidon 4. Attiya Abdul Hassan, Erna Hamidon, Salwa Hj Moslee 5. May Tan, Adeline Sherry Liew, Paula Munoz, Elsa D. Patriarca, Doris Newn

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PRECIOUS KEEPER The LA DAMA ORO jewellery safe from the Agresti Liberty Collection is an ornamental armoire enriched with malachite and gold leaf.

This exquisite piece of furniture has a pull-out necklace bar and a concealed functional safe with a biometric opening device. www.agresti.com