VISION FOR THE FUTURE

First he sent shock waves across the music landscape. Then he stirred up the modern-day interpretation of acting. Now, Alvin Chong is doing both in equal part as he gets ready to elevate his level of success and influence to new heights.

- John Ng

Ermenegildo Zegna Jacket, jumper, trousers, boots Professionalism: it is important. As are the making and the maintaining of commitments. As is the duty to uphold a promise which ostensibly accommodates everyone, if it wasn’t the other way around. Which the latter, of course, often holds true because of the ineffably capricious nature of the business. Alvin Chong exists as a kind of a strange unicorn: his devotion to taking actions in a steady, constant basis, thoughtfully ironed out so sharp you could slice through hurdles and obstacles with them. He’s considered omnipresent and a little elusive, on a wavelength that defies plenty of contemporary conceptions of celebrity.

18 hours ago there was the Men’s Folio invitation, Chong confirmed an hour later, to come for this photoshoot at Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur and talk candidly and without caveat. He arrives at the suite at 9 am on the dot as scheduled. He has exactly three hours before needing to rush off to a press conference, so he immediately walks – almost dashing – to the hair and make-up area as the door closes nonchalantly behind him.

“How well do you adjust to new situations?” I ask as we settle down on a sofa on the upper floor.

Ermenegildo Zegna Turtleneck