“DESMOND’S STILL ON HIS WAY from another shoot. He was actually supposed to go for River Hong Bao rehearsals, but he had to withdraw because he hurt his back during Fashion Week,” explains his manager. I’ve travelled with Desmond Tan for fashion shows and he strikes me as someone with an incredible work ethic for a television personality — not because celebrities are lazy, but mostly because the system makes it such that you don’t make “extra content” unless there’s monetary compensation. Yet, for Desmond, in fact, most recently for Fendi in Bangkok last month, he left the after-party cocktails to shoot an Augustman exclusive around the mean streets of Siam Square near Kempinski where we were quartered.
With an estimated arrival between 4pm and 4.30pm, I made sure to be exactly on time for one of Singapore’s hardest-working celebrities. I was surprised when he didn’t turn up at four, but now knowing his recent struggle with back pain, I was getting concerned for his wellbeing until he breezed in on the dot with a cool brown, ribbed, Armani backpack slung on his shoulder, looking for something to drink because he had been back-to-back with his appointments.
“Do you have anything fizzy? Coke?” Desmond asked our photographer and owner of the studio. Rather than wait for someone to serve him, he checked out the fridge, asking for permission and then grabbing a packet of Yeo’s; he proceeded to take a mouthful while sharing pleasantries with the crew. It’s the seventh day of Zhengyue or 人日 (Ren Ri), meaning everyone’s birthday according to the lunar calendar. Typically, it’s spent in the company of family, but here he is, with us, working.
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Esta historia es de la edición Issue 199 de August Man SG.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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The One That Started It All
Girard-Perregaux celebrates 49 years of the Laureato, the timepiece that helped to kick-start the popularity of steel sports timepieces.
Return To Mont Blanc
Wes Anderson Brought US To Montblanc's Fictional Headquarters Several Months Ago. Now, He Shows Us More From The Collection.
Manners Maketh Man
The Principle Of Style Is Character, And The Core Of Character Is Conduct.
Slow Travel In Switzerland
The Swiss public transport system certainly aces the luxe factor with eye popping train rides, indulgent multi-course meals on a Belle Epoque era steamship, and even efficient luggage transport services.
A NEW DAWN IN SOLAR ENERGY
AUGUSTMAN SPEAKS TO MANDALA CLUB CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER LILLY GILBERT ABOUT THE MOVEMENT THAT COULD CHANGE HOW BUSINESSES IN KEONG SAIK ARE POWERED THE MANDALA SOLAR COLLECTIVE.
THE POWER OF THREE
ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC IMAGES IN SINGAPORE TOOK THE FORM OF KOKILA PARVATHI, SITI AMIRAH (ALSO KNOWN AS CAMIRA ASRORI) AND SOBIKUN NAHAR ON THEIR WAY TO COURT. AUGUSTMAN SPEAKS TO THEM ABOUT THEIR IDEAS ON COMMUNITY ORGANSING, AND ABOUT RETHINKING OUR THOUGHTS ON POWER.
FLIGHT OF THE NARISAWA BEE
The esteemed Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa shares with us the intimate details of his brand's expansion into Singapore and what having the Mandala Club as its permanent address means to him.
DRINK THROUGH SPACE AND TIME
Preferably with a dram of The Macallan, in hand. The famed whisky maker celebrates 200 years of making perfection.
AND BUTCHER'S BLOCK MAKES IT THREE
SINGAPORE'S CHAPTER OF THE DOM PÉRIGNON SOCIETY HAS INDUCTED A THIRD MEMBER, RAFFLES SINGAPORE'S BUTCHER'S BLOCK, GIVING DISCERNING DINERS BETTER ACCESS TO THE EPICUREAN SAVOIR FAIRE THAT COMES WITH THE MARK OF THE SOCIETY.
AMERICAN SPIRIT
ROB SAMUELS, THE EIGHTH-GENERATION WHISKY-MAKER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MAKER'S MARK, EXPLAINS WHY THE BRAND'S CELLAR AGED EXPRESSION IS A PEAK INTO THE FUTURE OF BOURBON.