CATEGORIES

dining here is an art form

One of the most refreshing and sophisticated dining concepts to have emerged in Singapore this year is Senang Supperclub, a regionally focused dining series that involves two outliers of the F&B scene. The main architect is botanical design studio This Humid House while its first guest chef has been the baker, cookbook author and Southeast Asian food researcher Bryan Koh. Just what do these cultural mavericks think would give this glorious food city of ours even more bite? Noelle Loh gets Koh and This Humid House founder John Lim to chew on this.

a new cinema paradiso is here

On November 28, one of the most unprecedented ventures in the local entertainment landscape opened in Cineleisure: Golden Village X The Projector, or GV X TP for short. Besides being mammoth in size (specifically, 41,000 sq ft covering six cinema halls and more), it's monumental in how it's a tie-up between essentially the David and Goliath of cinema. After all, compared to Golden Village - Singapore's largest cinema chain founded in the early 1990s - The Projector remains best known as the independently run, indie film-focused picture house that has captured the heart of the creative community here with not just its programming, but also its resilience and support for the arts. Keng Yang Shuen speaks with its co-founder Karen Tan and general manager Prashant Somosundram on what this new space means for The Projector, cinema-going and possibly Orchard Road.

we could be the next big creative capital

And an anonymous three-month-old collective that goes by the name of Creative Citizens of Singapore is on a mission to make everybody realise that the main thing standing in our way is ourselves. Noelle Loh digs deeper.

it's a bit of a second hand fashion haven

First, the youths here started to dress \"New York\" - their personality-fuelled, sometimes chaotic style referential of eras past because much of what they wear are from another time and had previously been owned by another.

assurance packages

What Cartier wants to next make big business? Bags - something the French jeweller has been doing since the beginning of the 20th century. Don't be mistaken though: It's not trying to become a fashion house. Imran Jalal speaks with Marlin Yuson, the maison's creative director of leather goods, about its latest bags - the monogrammed C de Cartier chain bag and utilitarian-cool C de Cartier East-West - and how it's raising the stakes as a luxury accessories maker.

how we spend it

Singaporeans have a reputation for being savvy shoppers and consumers in general are demanding more bang for their buck. Here, a roundup of pieces from the world of fashion and luxury that offer just that with their design, make and novelty factor ‑‑ just in time for the festive season.

winter is here

With more options to ski and snowboard right here in Singapore (shout-out to Trifecta, the hip sports and lifestyle complex that opened on Orchard Road recently), the skiwear collections from the luxury houses have never felt more relevant.

Let's Make The World Better Together

Record-high Temperatures, Mega Floods, Increasingly Freaky Weather And Heat-related Deaths And We're Not Just Talking About Humans. The Dire Effects That Climate Change Has Had On Earth Keep Mounting. At The Same Time, There Are Glimmers Of Hope. See The Recent Landmark Case Of 16 Youths Suing The State Of Montana In The Us For Permitting Fossil Fuel Development And In Turn Violating Their Constitutional Right To A Healthful Environment And Winning. Doomers, You've Been Warned. Keng Yang Shuen Finds Out From Four Female Activists Here - Aged Between 23 And 29, And Each Saving The Planet In Her Own Way How And Why All Is Not Yet Lost.

Come On Feel The Noise

High-shine, Hardware-heavy, Made-for-asmr New Launches From The World Of Fashion That Are Getting Us All Excited

THE BEST OF NEW ORDER

THEY CRAFT TUNES THAT RECALL THE SOUNDS OF THE ANALOG-HEAVY PRE-2000S AND STAND FOR THE UNDERDOGS. UNLIKE ALTERNATIVE MUSICIANS OF THAT ERA THOUGH, THEY ARE QUINTESSENTIALLY POST-GEN X IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATE, NOT JUDGE AND UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY (THE YOUNGEST IS 19; THE OLDEST, 29). KENG YANG SHUEN SPOTLIGHTS FOUR NEWCOMERS TO THE SINGAPORE MUSIC SCENE THAT ARE REDEFINING THE WAY WE MAKE GOOD OLD INDIE ROCK, POP AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN BETWEEN.

CAMERA OBSCURA

IF THERE'S ANYBODY WHO CAN VOUCH FOR AND TELL US MORE ABOUT THE LIVELINESS OF THE LOCAL MUSIC INDUSTRY, IT'S THE OFTEN-UNSEEN PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO HAVE BEEN STEADILY DOCUMENTING THE SCENE, AND IMMORTALISING BOTH ARTISTES AND THEIR AUDIENCE THROUGH THEIR INTIMATE IMAGES. HIDZIR JUNAINI CASTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON THREE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE SINGAPORE LENSMEN WHO HAVE MADE MUSIC THEIR PET SUBJECT.

YEAH! THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT!

ASK MARISSE CAINE ABOUT MUSIC CULTURE HERE AND SHE SUMS IT UP IN TWO WORDS: \"HOT AF\". FOR WELL OVER A DECADE, THE 33-YEAR-OLD MULTI-HYPHENATE, WHOSE WORK CUTS ACROSS PHOTOGRAPHY, PAINTING AND EVEN TELEVISION PRODUCTION, CAN BE SEEN AT ALL THE COOLEST UNDERGROUND MUSIC EXPERIENCES IN TOWN, SOAKING IN THE SOUNDS, CROWD AND ENERGY NOT ONLY AS A PARTYGOER, BUT ALSO THROUGH HER CAMERA LENS. THREE MONTHS AGO, SHE STARTED THE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT @WHOARETHEYYYYY_, SHOWCASING HER STYLISH, DOCUMENTARY-STYLE IMAGES OF SINGAPORE'S INTERCONNECTED CREATIVE AND NIGHTLIFE COMMUNITIES WITH THE HOPE OF IT BECOMING A RESOURCE FOR AN UPCOMING ENDEAVOUR OF HERS: A FILM ON THE SCENE HERE AND IN THE REGION. HERE, USING A MIX OF PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED PHOTOS FROM HER ARCHIVES AND NEW ONES SPECIALLY SHOT AND JOINTLY CREATED WITH FEMALE, SHE GIVES US THE LOW-DOWN ON WHY SINGAPORE IS A NEW MUSIC CAPITAL AND WHO ARE SOME OF THE NEWCOMERS MAKING IT POP.

RUN THE WORLD

THE TRADITIONS OF WORKPLACE CULTURE MIGHT BE OUT, BUT OFFICECORE IS IN (AT PRESS TIME, THE TERM HAD CLOCKED A GOOD 404 MILLION VIEWS ON TIKTOK). SERVING THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF IT CAN BE SAID TO BE SAINT LAURENT'S FALL WINTER 2023 COLLECTION WITH ITS CONTEMPORARY AND HYPER-GLAMOROUS TAKE ON '80S POWER DRESSING. WHO'S READY TO SLAY?

STRAY KIDS

THE FRANCO-SERBIAN ARTIST DUO IDA TURSIC AND WILFRIED MILLE – BETTER KNOWN AS TURSIC & MILLE – ARE KNOWN FOR APPROPRIATING AND TRANSMUTING IMAGES PULLED FROM EVERY SOURCE POSSIBLE (OLD MASTERS ART, MOVIES, FASHION, THE INTERNET, YOU NAME IT) TO CREATE ENTIRELY NEW PAINTINGS. THEY’RE ALSO ONE OF THE FIVE NAMES ROPED INTO THE FIFTH AND LATE T EDITION OF LOUIS VUITTON’S ANNUAL ARTYCAPUCINES SERIES, WHICH SEES LEADING CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS PUT THEIR SPIN ON THE LUXURY MAISON’S ARTISANALLY CRAFTED CAPUCINES HANDBAG. KENG YANG SHUEN GETS AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MILLE TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR NO-HOLDS-BARRED, MORE-IS-MORE BRAND OF FUSING FASHION WITH ART.

WHAT THE WATER GAVE ME

FRIDA KAHLO R MAINS ONE OF THE MOST ENDURING POP CULTURAL INFLUENCES OF ALL TIME. (THIS STORY’S HEADLINE ISN’T JUST THE TITLE OF THE FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE ANTHEM – THE SONG ITSELF WAS INSPIRED BY THE MEXICAN PAINTER’S WORK AND NAMED AFTER ONE.) THIS RESORT 2024, THE LATE ARTIST RECEIVES ONE OF HER MOST ROUSING AND ROMANTIC TRIBUTES YET, WITH THE HOUSE OF DIOR DEDICATING ITS ENTIRE COLLECTION TO HER AND HER HOME COUNTRY. HERE’S AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT HOW CREATIVE DIRECTOR MARIA GRAZIA CHIURI HAS BROUGHT KAHLO’S STYLE AND SPIRIT TO LIFE.

FROM THE VAULT

WITH ITS LATEST \"RE-RECORDING\" OF ITS ICONIC LOVE BRACELET IN A NEW BRUSHED FINISH, CARTIER AGAIN REMINDS OF HOW THIS DISTINCTIVE 1960S-BORN HIT DESIGN IS TRULY TIMELESS. KENG YANG SHUEN OFFERS A CLOSER LOOK AT ITS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

SOMETHING TO GIVE EACH OTHER

CAN TWO DIFFERENT DESIGN GREATS WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY? THE HOUSE OF FENDI HAS PROVEN IT'S POSSIBLE WITH ALL THE TIMES IT HAS INVITED ANOTHER MAJOR LUXURY NAME TO WORK WITH IT ON A COLLECTION IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO (VERSACE, MARC JACOBS, TIFFANY & CO.). NOW, IT'S MAKING THIS ETHOS OFFICIAL WITH FRIENDS OF FENDI, A SERIES OF PROJECTS THAT CROSSES THE \"PARTY LINES OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY\", STARTING WITH A CAPSULE LINE CREATED WITH FASHION DEMIGOD STEFANO PILATI. CAN YOU ALREADY FEEL THE RUSH?

FEARLESS

THE MOST MODERN OF LUXURY ESSENTIALS – TO PARAPHRASE THE MUSIC INDUSTRY’S MOST POWERFUL FEMALE OF 2023, TAYLOR SWIFT – NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE. WHAT THIS ALSO MEANS: THERE IS NO WRONG WAY TO WEAR THEM.

Good Vibes Only

While Some Might Be Into Doom Scrolling And Generally Project Pessimism Or Satirise About The Ways Of The World, The Seven Gen Zers Here Paint A Noticeably Different Pov On Their Social Media Accounts. They Tend To Document Their Interests, Hobbies And Every Day With Both Authenticity And An Infectious Zeal: Their Grwm Moments; The Time They Spend With Their Friends And Family (Parents And Grandparents Included); And, For Two Of Them, Even Their Medical Missions Overseas And Travels Around Singapore To Sketch Passers-by – Essentially, Heart-warming, Aw-inducing Stuff That Brims With Wholesomeness. But What Gets Them Going And How Do They Really Feel About The World?

fuelled by happy thoughts

A GROWING COTERIE OF ARTISTS AND RETAILERS HERE ARE SPECIALISING IN FUN, DESIGN-DRIVEN ACCESSORIES AND KNICK-KNACKS THAT SOME MIGHT CONSIDER NON-ESSENTIAL OR EVEN FRIVOLOUS. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THESE PRODUCTS? TO INJECT SOME SUNSHINE AND PUT A SMILE ON ONE'S FACE. KENG YANG SHUEN EXPLORES THE NEW CREATIVE MOVEMENT OF SPARKING JOY.

la dolce vita

YOU'VE GOT TO BE NOURISHED TO FLOURISH. TOGETHER WITH FENDI, FEMALE SERVES UP THE ITALIAN LUXURY LABEL'S LATEST SIGNATURE BAGS THAT ENRICH ONE'S DAY-TO-DAY LIFE WITH THEIR SOPHISTICATION, FUNCTIONALITY AND PLAYFUL LITTLE TWISTS THAT LEND PLENTY OF FLAVOUR.

To Greater Heights

If There's One Person Who Can Teach Women A Thing Or Two About The Life Skills Needed In Their Climb Towards The Top, It's 33-year-old Nepali Mountaineer And Rolex Testimonee Dawa Yangzum Sherpa.

CAREER FILE: MUSICIAN KIN LEONN

AUTEUR ANTHONY CHEN'S LATEST FEATURE THE BREAKING ICE DEBUTED TO WARM ACCLAIM AT THIS YEAR'S CANNES FILM FESTIVAL. A TENDER STORY ABOUT THREE YOUNG ADULTS AND THEIR BLOSSOMING RELATIONSHIPS, THE FILM IS SET IN THE ICY LANDSCAPES OF CHINA'S NORTHEASTERN COUNTRYSIDE AND ITS CAST AND CREW ARE PREDOMINANTLY CHINESE SAVE FOR ONE CONNECTION THAT'S CLOSER TO HOME: KIN LEONN. THE YOUNG SINGAPORE AMBIENT ARTIST WAS BEHIND THE MOVIE'S DREAMY SCORE, MARKING HIS DEBUT AS A FEATURE FILM COMPOSER. AHEAD OF THE SHOW'S RELEASE IN CINEMAS HERE THIS MONTH, HE TELLS KENG YANG SHUEN ABOUT HOW HE LANDED THIS GIG, AND WHY THE ACT OF MAKING WILL ALWAYS BE MORE IMPORTANT TO HIM THAN THAT OF MAKING IT.

CAREER FILE: MOD NICOLE LIEW

TO GET A SINGLE MODEL TO FRONT THE COVER AS WELL AS EVERY FASHION EDITORIAL OF AN ISSUE THAT CELEBRATES PASSIONATE AND DRIVEN NEXT-GEN CREATIVES FOCUSED ON RAISING THE BAR FOR THEMSELVES AS WELL AS THEIR INDUSTRY OF CHOICE COULD EITHER BE A VERY GOOD OR VERY BAD IDEA. WITH NICOLE LIEW BEING THAT MAIN CHARACTER, WE'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THE RESULTS LEAN TOWARDS THE FORMER. AHEAD OF THIS MONTH'S SPRING SUMMER 2024 FASHION WEEK SEASON, WHERE SHE AGAIN HOPES TO MAKE SINGAPORE PROUD ON THE INTERNATIONAL RUNWAYS, THE HARD-WORKING AND EFFORTLESSLY POISED 25-YEAR-OLD REMINDS US OF HOW BEAUTY IS ONLY ONE PART OF THE EQUATION TO A MODEL'S SUCCESS.

BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT

BRITISH DESIGN WUNDERKIND DANIEL LEE'S APPOINTMENT AS THE MAN TO BRING BURBERRY FORWARD AS A LUXURY FASHION AND ACCESSORIES HOUSE HAS BEEN CALLED A MUCH-AWAITED HOMECOMING. DURING A RECENT PRESENTATION OF HIS DEBUT COLLECTION IN HONG KONG, IMRAN JALAL DISCOVERS HOW HIS MODE OF WORKING AND CELEBRATING THE BRAND'S HERITAGE IS REFRESHINGLY PRIMED FOR THE TIMES.

CAREER FILE: ARTISTE YUNG RMA

IN THE FIVE YEARS THAT HE HAS BEEN IN THE HI-HOP BUSINESS YUNG RAJA (REAL NAME: RAJID AHAMED) HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF SLAY-BUT HE'S JUST GETTING STARTED SAYS THE 27-YEAR-OLD. TOGETHER WITH RIMOWA, FEMALE KITS HIM OUT WITH THE PERSONAL THE GERMAN LUXURY LUGGAGE MAKER'S GROOVED CROSSBODY BAG THA AS SLICK AND ONE-OF-A-KEND AS THE RAPPER HIMSELF AND FINDS OUT MORE ABOUT HIS PERSONAL DEFINITION OR AND JOURN Y TOWARDS SUCCESS.

Made With Love

For A Young Emerging Fashion Designer Trying To Make It, Especially In Resourcescarce Singapore, A Sense Of Community Can Be Everything And Make All The Difference. Just Ask Josh Tirados - The Philippines-born, Singapore-based 25-year-old Who Debuted His Label Tirados Three Months Ago To Much Industry Acclaim And Wants To Continue Building It On Kinship And Collaboration.

A New Dawn

It Was A Headline Seen Around The World. Last December, Chanel's Metiers D'art Spectacle Staged In Dakar, Senegal, Made The French Maison The First European Luxury House To Hold A Fashion Show In Sub-saharan Africa. Don't Mistake It For Yet Another Flashy Destination Show Though: The Brand Is Determined To Build An Enduring Relationship With Senegal's Culture And Artistic Community. Keng Yang Shuen Breaks Down How It's Doing Just That Through The Collection And More.

The Big Picture

A First-of-its-kind Sub-line From Coach, Coachtopia Could Just Be Gen Z's Idea Of Fashion Haven Not Only With Its Bright And Feel-good, Nostalgia-inflected Aesthetic, But Also Because It Can Be Said To Be One Of Luxury Fashion's Most Concerted Efforts At Going Circular. Keng Yang Shuen Breaks Down How It's Doing So Ahead Of Its Launch In Singapore This Month.

How They See Us

The Dior Photography And Visual Arts Award For Young Talents An Initiative By Dior Beauty In Partnership With Celebrated Arts Centre Luma_arles And Photography School Ecole Nationale Superieure De La Photographie Returns For Its Sixth Edition. Its Aim: To Discover And Spotlight Emerging Image Makers Who Are Primarily Students And Alumni Of Arts And Photography Schools Around The World. Here, Three Members From This Year's Jury Share With Keng Yang Shuen Their Thoughts On The Next Generation Of Image Makers And How They Are Keeping The Industry Hopeful.