STYLE RADAR

OVERHEARD “As an employee of Starbucks, I want to say that Starbucks really attaches great importance to food safety. Every partner will drink their own coffee and drinks at work...”

“...I was shocked by this because most partners are serious in implementing food safety standards. I hope the infringing stores can make good rectifications and insist on doing the right thing,” wrote Xiao Wukai on Weibo. The post was made in response to Starbucks’ official apology on the microblogging site after closing two stores for using expired ingredients. Xiao’s comment has received several thousand likes as of press time.

COVET Carnet by Michelle Ong

Carnet was formed in 1998 by Hong Kong jeweler Michelle Ong and her business partner Avi Nagar. Their pieces are unique with strong natural elements that capture universal Chinese characteristics loved by those inside and outside of the culture. Though many jewelers and designers have a clear timestamp attached to their design that fade in and out of fashion with each passing generation, Carnet’s pieces are cherished and resold between USD10,000 to 250,000. The necklaces and chokers are described as making women feel as though they’re dripping in diamonds and gems. The pieces pictured would be a lovely way to commemorate time spent in China.

> View pieces at carnetjewellery.com

UNDER THE LENS

Korean and Indian Films Come Back to China’s Box Offices

This season is full of surprises in the world’s largest box office market as China approves the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) films after a sixyear hiatus and Indian films after a two-year stall. India’s 2019 film Chhichhore is set to take the screen on January 7, 2022, following a film freeze that began after the 2020 border dispute. Oh! My Gran was the first ROK film to be released for six years last month on December 3, 2021. Movies from the nearby northeastern neighbor have not hit theaters in China since 2015. The 2016 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile crisis led to many Chinese citizens boycotting ROK companies and products, and films are an easy target. Producers of popular US movies are also holding their breath to see if China’s film authorities will leave their movies out in the cold.