Novel approach: Sarah Zhuang on her jewellery brand and beyond

Sarah Zhuang may have been born into a family of jewellers, but she has carved out her own name through her eponymous jewellery label. The Gafencu team sits with Hong Kong’s own home-grown jeweller to talk about her inspirations and aspirations.

With your family having been in the jewellery business for generations, were you always destined to follow suit?

Well, I studied journalism at university and hoped to get into news broadcasting. It was my sister, Fiona, who initially joined the family business, but she soon realised that it was too overwhelming to manage on her own. That was when I jumped in to help her. She focused on the business side of things, while I managed the PR and creative sides. We soon realised that we worked very well together. To be honest, though, before I actually started designing jewellery, I had no idea that was what I wanted to do. Once I got into the groove, however, I realised I had found my true calling.

You studied at both the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and Accademia Riaci in Florence. What impact did they have on your own approach to jewellery design?

What I learnt at GIA was very different from what I learnt in Accademia Riaci. GIA is very good for beginners, as its style is easy to pick up and they teach you a lot of the basic techniques. By contrast, Accademia Riaci teaches you the more traditional forms of jewellery-making.

What made you decide to launch your eponymous brand and make it distinct from Tak Fook, your mother’s established business?

Tak Fook is a very traditional Hong Kong brand and, when I took over my mum’s business, it was felt that there was a mismatch between my creations and the positioning of her brand. My pieces tended to appeal to a younger demographic and were a lot more playful. When customers came to Tak Fook and saw my jewellery, it didn’t quite fit with their expectations of the label. So we thought it’d be better to create a separate entity, one that was younger in its approach and that embodied a new design philosophy. That’s how, in 2017, Sarah Zhuang Jewellery came into being.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I am inspired by the multi-faceted nature of the modern woman. Something that especially influences me is the way that women adapt to the many distinctive roles they have to play in life. In essence, my brand celebrates womanhood in its entirety. Each one of my five collections depicts a particular aspect of the modern woman, which is why each one of them has a very different style.

Tell us about those different styles…

Well, I want every woman to be able to find a collection that she can truly relate to. In line with that, I have tried to portray a very different woman in each of my collections. Spread Your Wings, for instance, is a celebration of someone who’s ambitious and goal-driven, while Lady Rose is more suited to a woman who’s elegant and beautiful, rose-like in fact. Mix and Match is for those who are cool and down-to-earth, while Enchanted Pearl – which features only white pearls – symbolises someone who’s innocent and pure at heart. By contrast, Dancing Butterfly is dedicated to all the cheerful and happy souls.

Which collection do you see as reflecting your own personality?

The Mix and Match collection. For daily wear, I favour simple jewellery from that collection, as they tend to be petite and go with almost any outfit.

What new things can we expect from the brand this year?

We’ve been working on two new collections, both of which will launch this year. We will also be unveiling a range of men’s jewellery especially tailored to the Japanese market. We’re also continuing to work with Memorigin [a Hong Kong watch brand] on a new range of designer watches.

With Sarah Zhuang Jewellery already well-established in Japan, China and the UK, are there any other territories you are looking to conquer?

We are definitely planning to target a number of US cities, as well as Paris and a few other key European markets. For me, every jewellery brand has to make its mark in the US. As it’s such a huge and competitive market, though, we wanted to build our brand strength before taking up that particular challenge.

Lastly, tell us something that people don’t really know about you…

Not too many people know this, but I write science fiction novels. I recently finished my second book, tentatively titled Parallel Dreams. I published my first science fiction novel, The End of Reincarnation, after I graduated. Since then, I haven’t really had time to focus on my writing as I have been so busy with my jewellery brand. In the end, it took me three years to finish this one, but now – at last – it’s finally done.

Thank you.

Interview by: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Photos: Neville Lee
Art direction: San Wong
Video: Kingsley Lau
Makeup: Margaret Wong
Jewellery: Sarah Zhuang Jewellery
Venue: Tai Fook Showroom

Master geomancer Lee Shing-Chak predicts what lies ahead in the Year of the Pig

Dubbed ‘Hong Kong’s Youngest Feng Shui Master’ at just 19 years old, Lee Shing-Chak, expounds on what to expect in the Year of the Pig.

By the time you were 19, you were the youngest feng shui master in Hong Kong only at the age of 19. When did you know where your own future lay?

When I was growing up, my father made no secret of the fact that he wanted me to follow in his footsteps and become a practitioner of geomancy. I was just 10 years old when my formal training began. As I grew older, though, my creative leanings began to became more apparent, with a possible career as a designer being foremost in my mind. In 1988, though, as my father lay on his death bed, he repeatedly asked my mother if I was reconciled to dedicating my life to feng shui. It was his dying wish and I finally acquiesced before his passing.

Do you think feng shui is at all threatened by the modern world?

When I first started out in the field about 30 years ago, many of my elders in the geomancy world and even my family advised me to seek out a different path, maintaining that faith in feng shui was in a sharp decline.

However, I accepted it as a challenge and, at that time, my way of proving the value of feng shui was through the accuracy of my predictions. This saw me foretell everything from horse racing results to the winner of the Miss Hong Kong beauty. Nowadays, though, I’m reconciled to the fact that there will always be those who believe in feng shui and those who don’t. Thankfully, the number who do believe remains reassuringly high. For my part, I’ve incorporated statistics into predicting what the future has in store. They complement the traditional geomantic metrics and have given me some fantastic successes.

What do you see lying in store for Hong Kong during the Year of the Pig?

Well, the two decades from 2004 to 2023 actually constitute an ‘Eight Lucks’ period – a time of good fortune for medicine, education, childcare, insurance, property and mining. Within that period, however, the Year of the Pig will actually be the most turbulent time. My advice for 2019, then, is for those associated with such activities to stay the course, maintain an even balance and avoid any aggressive moves. Do not attempt any major new initiatives, no matter how tempting they may seem. The property market will also see some slumps, as will the stock market.

Are there any particular negative happenings people should look out for this year?

Yes, the alignments of the stars seem to suggest that things will not go well on the medical front. In fact, a major illness or epidemic may emerge, something that will put many people at risk. I’d advise everyone to pay particular attention to their health and wellbeing throughout the course of this year. The current cosmic positioning of the stars also warns of subterranean dangers. There is potential for an incident involving an underground transportation system, the MTR for instance. People should also avoid visiting volcanoes or engaging in underground leisure activities. It’s also best to avoid overly-old buildings as their unstable foundations may result in a sudden collapse.

What about the political sphere?

To answer that particular question, we should look to history for guidance. A full zodiac cycle – consisting of 12 zodiac animals and five elements – is 60 years long. Looking back six decades to 1959, this was the time when the US first opened its doors to China. Many economic ties were created during that period, although China was definitely under pressure and somewhat on the back foot when it came to trade negotiations. This type of trade uncertainty will be very much to the fore this year, with continuing friction with the US definitely on the horizon. Businesses should take some heart from the fact that not too much disruption is likely to come to pass.

Are there any zodiac signs that should think twice before having children this year?

I don’t think it’s possible to predict, outright, that certain people should not have children this year. Having said that, I think potential parents should be aware of specific personality conflicts that may arise between different zodiac animals. Generally speaking, Pigs are notoriously laidback, to the point of laziness. So if, for example, a Monkey has a child this year, the resulting parent-child personality combination may not be all that productive, as Monkeys tend to be more playful and active. Pigs are also known to be stubborn on occasion. So, if a potential parent is a Tiger – a sign for famous for meticulous planning – some clashes may be ahead as the parent and child may not see eye to eye on all things.

Is it true that those born in the year of a specific animal will have a ‘bad luck year’ when that sign comes around again? So, will 2019 really bring bad luck to those born in, say, 1983, 1971 or 1959?

Well, the answer is both yes and no. While it definitely is a ‘bad luck year’ for Pigs, not everyone born under the sign will experience a tumultuous year. For an accurate prediction, you need to know the exact month, date and year in which a person was born. In broader terms, the sign of the Pig is related to the element of water and also, a little more remotely, to wood. Therefore, if you were born in the spring or the winter, the negative potential is high indeed. If, on the other hand, you were born in autumn or, more particularly, during summer, then you will not be too adversely affected by any lingering bad luck.

Thank you.

Interview: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Neville Lee
Video: Lai Ty Yeung
Art direction and styling: San Wong
Hair: Calvin Tsoi
Makeup: Jessica Chan
Wardrobe: Mountain Yam
Venue: Penthouse

Absolut Creative Competition to be hosted in Hong Kong for the first time

Since its inception in 1985, the Absolut Creative Competition – sponsored by renowned vodka label Absolut – has been a platform dedicated to fostering a spirit of artistic competitiveness, engaging some of the world’s boldest and most talented up-and-coming artists in an endeavour to find just the right interpretation of its iconic logo. Now, for the first time ever, the event will be taking place right here in Hong Kong.

To participate, entrants can start by downloading the template of the Absolut bottle silhouette from the free competition’s website. From there, they are encouraged to get artistic and create a new logo that shares the company’s vision of a better tomorrow, through any of its five central brand beliefs. What does the lucky winner get, you ask? Well, first there’s the chance to win a €20,000 (HK$205,742) cash prize. Better yet, their creation will featured in an international Absolut campaign, offering them global visibility and prestige.

With our sights set on learning more about the competition and Hong Kong’s own bustling creative scene, we sat down with two of this year’s Absolut Creative Competition local judges – Alan Lo, Co-founder and Executive Director of Classified Group, and Founder of G.O.D. (Goods of Desire) Douglas Young, to get some insight into what the judges are looking for, and some advice to today’s young Hong Kong artists.

absolut creative competition — *Absolut Creative Competition* judges Alan Lo (left) and Douglas Young

As a leading voice in the Hong Kong art scene what are you doing specifically to give back to the community and its budding creatives?
Alan Lo: I’m in a very lucky position in that I can allocate time outside of work towards my philanthropic pursuits, namely co-founding Design Trust and Para Site. At Design Trust, we look to activate long-term, intelligent and meaningful platforms that fund and advocate for the positive values of design. Para Site, meanwhile is a space that allows businesses with a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme to get involved in the local art scene.
Douglas Young: At G.O.D, we are always trying to find new talent and work with them. We fully support their work and give them exposure, even if we can’t pay them handsomely. Because the Absolut campaign is so iconic and is being held in Hong Kong for the first time, it’s a great opportunity to give back.

Absolut has declared that they believe brands should act in a sustainable and transparent way. What does sustainability and transparency mean to you?
Alan Lo: It’s about long term thought, and making a commitment. You don’t have all the answers, but on a basic level, it’s about a well-considered and transparent effort.
Douglas Young: On a philosophical level, we need to produce things that are meaningful. I really believe in the Renaissance of Chinese culture and traditions, and look to create things that last more than just a season. It’s more important to create products that are of value. To me that’s what sustainability is about.

Do you have any advice to isolated or marginalized youth, particularly those who wish to pursue art as a career?
Alan Lo: Go for it. Some of the best works in the world come from a place of emotion built from experiences where you have something to say. Connect and follow those in Hong Kong that foster growth. Explore grants, and keep going. Hard work leads to results, so persevere, persevere, persevere.

Art is often political. How do you approach diversity and inclusivity without alienating any particular sub-group of people?
Douglas Young: I think as a creative person it’s very important to have the courage to speak out, and know that it’s an obligation as an artist to deal with sensitive issues and things that require change. It’s our task to move society on. Conflict is inevitable, but if we keep dialogues open, we can resolve misunderstandings.

Thank you.

To learn more about Absolut’s Creative Competition you can visit their website here.
The last day to submit entries is 31 January, 2019 with the local winner announcement to take place in March and the global winner to be announced in May.

Interview by: Bailey Atkinson

Lala Curio unveils new home decor collection at COLOURLIVING

Hong Kong’s very own luxury home decor maison, Lala Curio, partnered with COLOURLIVING, the city’s one-stop lifestyle concept store, to unveil its latest collection of vibrant, elegant, handcrafted wallpaper designs. We sat down with Laura Cheung, founder and owner of Lala Curio, to find out more about the brand’s philosophy, inspirations and intricate designs.

*Laura Cheung, founder of HK-based home decor company, Lala Curio*

How did your passion for interior design and home decor come about?

Actually I come from three generations of specialists in home decor and decorative arts. My father’s side of the family specialises in rosewood furniture, while my mother’s family are experts in cloisonné, a rare from of Chinese craftsmanship focusing on intricate inlay work. Growing up playing with cloisonné toys and interacting with Ming dynasty rosewood furniture, I knew interior design was my goal pretty early on. I just love the theatrical side of the business, but I also love beautiful, tactile things.

After graduating from university, though, you first entered the fashion industry…

That’s right, I did fashion event production. I was the design director and only designer of the company. It was such a hectic schedule with New York Fashion Week and then continuous corporate events and so forth. In your early 20s, it’s the perfect place to learn, but after a while I realised I wasn’t taking in anything new and that it was time for something new. That’s when I moved back to Asia and took some time off to figure out my next step.

So that next step was Lala Curio?

Not exactly. I decided my mission was to reinvent the lost crafts of Asia, and that’s what Lala Curio is all about. But first, I wanted to travel to the specific regions where these rare craftsmen lived. My family connections within the industry really helped me out, and for a while I was just travelling the length and breadth of China to find these artisans and learn from them.

After two years of travelling, learning and sourcing products, I made my first foray into interior design at Singapore’s International Furniture Fair four years ago. I took 4,000sq.m of space, poured so much effort and money into it, and developed a completely out-of-this-world ‘Cabinet of Curiosity’ showroom for all the major buyers in the world. That’s how Lala Curio was born.

Tell us about Lala Curio and its philosophy.

Well, the name Lala Curio is based on my childhood nickname, Lala, which also has a spirit of whimsicality, and Curio, based on an object of curiosity and also the art of curation. I think our brand encompasses all these characteristics, but most importantly, we are focused on artisanship and lost crafts.

We’re a Hong Kong-based home decor company that focuses on high-end, handcrafted products with a strong focus on Chinoiserie. We’re a bit unique in that we do everything in-house, from material sourcing to owning our own production… We also have a team wholly endowed with design know-how, from the historical to the handcraftsmanship. This really gives us the flexibility for any bespoke work our clients are looking for.

What is the latest collection you’re unveiling at COLOURLIVING today?

We’ve unveiled an all-new wallpaper collection today that is very much inspired by a romantic flora-and-fauna Chinoiserie theme. For example, we’ve utilised the city’s famous bauhinia tree, replete with heart-shaped leaves, in one of our wallpaper designs. We also have our latest Pearls on Walls wallpaper that is elegant without being overpowering. We also have our Red Wall, inspired by traditional Chinoiserie techniques but transformed with a modern touch. The entire collection was designed solely for our Hong Kong clients. It’s all hand-embroidered and handmade, no machines were involved.

Thank you.

Interview: Tenzing Thondup
Images: Lala Curio

Omtis Fine Wines: Hong Kong-based luxury wine merchant turns 100

For Hong Kong oenophiles looking to buy Nicolas Feuillatte or any number of other high-end wines, their first port of call should be at Omtis Fine Wines, the family-run wine merchant that has made Asia its home for 100 years. We interview Philippe Bera, CEO of Omtis, about its partnership with the French champagne house, its centenary celebrations and its vision for the future.

How did the partnership between Omtis and Nicolas Feuillatte come about?

Unlike most wine distributors, Omtis Fine Wines focuses primarily on the high-end. We were the agents for Domaines Barons de Rothschild wines for more than 20 years in Hong Kong and Macau, before segueing into becoming a fine wine merchant with a global presence. We then encountered Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, a powerful brand representing almost a third of the Champagne region. Building Nicolas Feuillatte in Hong Kong and Macau was an enticing challenge, so we grabbed the opportunity. It’s been a very fruitful partnership with market penetration increasing each year.

Omtis is celebrating its 100th anniversary in Asia this year. What are the keys to success for this family-run business?

That’s a complex question. Omtis has evolved across different industries to where it is today – from importing Western movies into China in the ‘20s to being the exclusive agent for Omega and Tissot watches, not to mention other reputable Swiss luxury brands in Greater China from the ‘30s to becoming a wine distributor in Hong Kong and Macau in the ‘80s.

I think the most important factor of our success is that every new generation brought a fresh perspective. My father worked in Switzerland before joining Omtis, so he had strong connections with the watchmaking industry as well as an engineering background which helped us grow our watch importing business in Hong Kong. For myself, I worked as a banker previously, so I have a finance-driven approach to our wine business. These unique skillsets help us reinvigorate Omtis to make sure it stays contemporary and ahead of any major trends.

Furthermore, I think communication has been our greatest asset. When one generation transitions to the next, it does not mean that the previous generation’s input stops. In fact, using their experience and knowledge to complement the current generation’s visions have really strengthened our business as we expanded across industries. I talk with my father every day to get his input on our strategies.

With a century under its belt, what’s next for Omtis?

Something that we’ve been working on is a brand-new system of wine purchasing and management. Currently within our industry, each step of the wine value chain is isolated and disjointed, from the vineyards to the distributors to the storage companies to the auction houses – it’s a very inefficient process. We want to help our clients keep tabs of their collections from the vineyard to their homes. From calculating storage costs to shipping details and even tracking the provenance of each individual bottle, we’re hoping to streamline and digitise the entire process, so our customers receive efficient service and full transparency.

For the immediate future, though, with Omtis turning 100 this year, we’re aiming to host 100 events. It’s a fun way to interact with our friends and clients, and we’re looking to host everything from intimate dinners to larger-scale tasting parties.

Thank you.

For more information, please contact sales@omtis.com

Mouse Builder: For Allen Au-Yeung, working at Disney is a dream job

Allen Au-Yeung, Disney’s Asia-Pacific Vice President of Creative and Product Development, on indulging his creative spirit, his life-long love affair with Disney, and marking Mickey Mouse’s 90th birthday…

How did you become involved with Disney?

As someone who considered themselves inherently creative, I was always fascinated by Disney’s dedication to putting creativity at the forefront of everything it did, as well as its amazing ability to consistently create the most invitingly interesting products. I felt that this was completely in line with what I was looking for at the time. I joined the company back in 1996 and I’ve never really looked back.

What can you tell us about your current role at Disney?

Right now, I’m the Vice President of Creative and Product Development for the Asia-Pacific region. Essentially, I’m responsible for formulating a unified creative vision for all our team members across the region. This means designing Disney creative assets that tell our brand story, while also working closely with our business strategy teams to help create new products that are in keeping with our overall philosophy while remaining wholly aspirational.

How do you think Disney has managed to stay so relevant for quite so long?

Despite being a globally recognised brand, localisation has really been the key to its success. We do our utmost to incorporate elements of local culture in any relevant and unique Disney story we set out to tell in any of our markets. During last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, for instance, we released a range of mooncakes featuring some of our best-loved characters.

Then, of course, there’s digitisation, which is clearly the most rapidly-developing sector right now. Apart from the expected social media platforms, many of which we are already using to help broaden our demographic, we’re also placing a real emphasis on e-commerce, especially within the Greater China market.

How do you juggle Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars with the more traditional aspects of the wider Disney universe?

The key to finding the right strategy lies in knowing just what consumers are looking for. To that end, Disney spends a huge amount of money on research, commissioning studies and analysing a wide range of demographics. The end result is that we are very aware of what people want.

We know, for instance, the strong appeal our princess characters – such as Cinderella and Snow White – have for young women. Equally, we know that men prefer the action and superheroics that come courtesy of Marvel and Star Wars. Meanwhile, with the younger kids, Pixar characters like Wreck-It Ralph are hugely popular. Ultimately, it’s all about targeting the right products at the right consumer group and making sure they fall in love with us regardless of their age or gender.

Given the breadth and depth of your back catalogue, is there still one character that really stands out for you?

That would have to be Mickey Mouse. He’s the character that Walt Disney himself developed and one that remains synonymous with our entire brand. His engaging personality, innate curiosity and happy-go-lucky nature have seen him consistently win hearts over the years, even though he’s now 90 years old. At heart, though, I think his appeal lies in the fact that he is pretty much the embodiment of eternal hope.

What did you do to mark Mickey’s 90th in Hong Kong?

We rolled out a variety of promotions, exhibitions and products that all commemorated this particular milestone. A few months ago, we also partnered with Times Square Hong Kong to stage an exclusive 90 Years of Mickey exhibition, which featured more than 90 unique pieces of memorabilia from the Walt Disney Archive, including 20 that had never been seen in public before. We’ve also partnered with a number of local companies to create various limited-release designs that are exclusive to the city.

Thank you.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Neville Lee
Art Direction: San Wong

Interview: How Nicolas Feuillatte became France’s favourite champagne

Despite having only begun in 1976, French champagne brand Nicolas Feuillatte has quickly grown to establish itself as a market leader and one of the pre-eminent champagnes of the world. The brand’s Managing Director, Christophe Juarez, enlightens us on how this phenomenal growth came about…

*Christophe Juarez, Managing Director of Nicolas Feuillatte*

Tell us a little bit about Nicolas Feuillatte.

Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte was founded in 1976. Mr. Nicolas Feuillatte, himself, was a successful businessman who switched from running a US-based coffee bean business to opening his own domain in the Champagne region. He started a small estate and then joined Centre Vinicole de la Champagne, France’s oldest union of champagne producers, to build the Nicolas Feuillatte champagne brand as we know it today.

In the 40+ years of our existence, we’ve become very successful, both within France and on an international scale. I’m proud to say that we are now not only the No.3 champagne brand worldwide, but we are also the absolute leader, the preferred champagne of French people. In fact, we are the top-selling brand within France, which is quite a feat.

*The new Espace Nicolas Feuillatte, inaugurated in April 2017*

What makes Nicolas Feuillatte so unique?

First of all, we are a co-op, which means that we are owned by the growers. We currently work with about 4,500 grape growers which represents one-third of the vineyards in Champagne. This huge source allows us to achieve exactly the blending we want for the best possible flavour and quality.

Secondly, we are known for making only the best champagnes. The jewel in our champagne collection, a special tete de cuvee, is the “Palmes d’Or”. It is created using only the most outstanding, flavour-packed grapes.

Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d'Or Rose 2006 — *Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d’Or Rose 2006, a delicious tete de cuvee*

Tell us about the newly refreshed brand visual identity and packaging.

We are a relatively young brand compared to other champagne houses, and we pride ourselves on our innovative approach. We’ve just retooled our entire range of products this year, including the packaging and even our logo. Our new logo is very emblematic. We have the small grapes ringed by heart-shaped vines. The grapes represent our workforce, the people who drive our success. It is a tribute to the thousands of grape producers within the co-op who make Nicolas Feuillatte so special.

We’ve retained the signature blue label for the Reserve Exclusive Brut, which is iconic for Nicolas Feuillatte, to ensure we remain recognisable and attractive. Our bottles have also gone through a significant revamp. The Palmes d’Or collection, which features a unique and eye-catching ‘pearl-marked’ design, will be the next to follow.

*Nicolas Feuillatte Blanc de Blancs 2008*

What’s next for Nicolas Feuillatte?

Our focus now is very much on China. It’s an enormous market with huge potential, and we believe Hong Kong is the perfect gateway. Of course, Hong Kong already boasts a large legion of champagne aficionados, but we hope to introduce them to new expressions of our champagnes as well.

Thank you.

PR queen Patricia Cheong brings a touch of majesty to Macau

Patricia Cheong, the founder of PR firm MM Group and the primary force behind the booming public relations industry in Macau, talks about her journey from being a beauty queen to PR royalty…

How did you evolve from being a one-time Miss Macau to becoming a leading light on the local PR scene?

When I entered the Miss Macau beauty contest in 1986, I was just 17 years old and was yet to finish college. While I had just done it for fun, it became quite an eye-opening experience. It gave me the chance to meet so many people as I travelled across the world promoting Macau. It truly paved the way for me to become a PR professional later on. If you think about it, I was playing a PR role and acting as an ambassador for Macau on the world stage. After the contest, I went back to school to finish my studies, but the seeds of my PR career had been sown.

A Diva’s Dream watch by Bulgari gracing Patricia Cheong’s wrist

Given your success in the contest, were you ever lured by the world of film or TV?

Well, a few offers did come my way. While I never did any TV series or films, I did work on some documentaries and entertainment shows for TVB and TDM. I soon realised that it wasn’t really for me. I prefer managing the show myself, rather than being directed by other people.

So, at what point did you decide to launch your own PR firm?

In 1994, just a few years after I had graduated. I already knew that I was a people person, but I also realised that I could be quite entrepreneurial. So, I took a leap of faith and started the firm when I was in my mid-20s and it’s still going strong.

You also found time to study for an EMBA…

Yes, after being in business for about 11 years, I realised I needed to hone my management skills. This led me to join the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Programme in 2005, which helped me upgrade my skill set and expand my professional network.

That aside, how have you found running and sustaining your own business?

Well, it’s certainly been memorable. There have been ups and downs along the way, but, overall, I’d say things have gone fairly smoothly – except for 2008, when the economic tsunami had a major impact on all of us. When I started out, though, it wasn’t always easy, as Macau is such a small place. There was a lot of competition and comparatively few opportunities.

As a former Miss Macau, though, I was fairly well known and that helped open some doors. After 2002, however, when a more liberal approach to hotel and hospitality licences was adopted, we found ourselves in the middle of an economic boom. As a PR and marketing firm, we benefited a lot. Soon after the change, we took on Sands China as a client, followed by other local and American hotels. It was as if things had been turned up several notches almost overnight. As a result, I became heavily involved with the whole gaming trade business – from games and in-house shows to F&B, trade shows, seminars, concerts, etc.

With Macau now ranked as one of the wealthiest places on earth in terms of per capita GDP, does this make it fertile ground for new businesses?

Absolutely. It is already established as Asia’s premier gaming market, with all of the industry’s major players now having a presence here. Now, the local government is pushing to diversify further and wants businesses in other sectors to flourish as well.

Given your many responsibilities and commitments, how do you go about organising a typical day?

As soon as I wake up, I check and reply to all my messages and mails. Then it’s time for my morning workout – something I look forward to every day. After that, a lot of my time is taken up with business matters, and I tend to do a fair amount of social and professional networking after work, maybe over dinner with clients and colleagues. I generally only get to bed after fielding a number of calls from our European clients. While it’s a long day, it’s generally not all work and no play. On weekends, I spend a long time at the gym and then unwind with friends over food and wine. As a Libra, I know how to balance work with fun and I think I manage that pretty well most of the time.

What advice would you give to someone currently considering starting their own business?

It’s not easy to give advice as the world is changing so fast, with many new business models emerging. Despite that, I still believe that any startup has to be unique, have a great team behind it and a real understanding of their chosen market. Above all, though, they need to think big, aim high and always have the courage to try.

Thank you.

Interview by: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Art Direction: San Wong
Makeup: Margaret Wong
Photos: Neville Lee
Video: Lai-Ty Yeung
Jewellery: Bulgari
Venue: Kerry Hotel

Cloudy Bay: A tete-a-tete on the New Zealand vineyard’s iconic wines

For centuries, the French regions of Bordeaux and then Burgundy dominated any discussion about the world’s best wines. However, the past few decades have seen something of a renaissance in New World vintages – a fact not lost on eager oenophiles looking to expand their horizons and their collections. Among the new crop of up-and-coming regions is New Zealand, with its crisp, flavoursome Sauvignon Blancs firmly leading the charge. Perhaps the most notable of these Kiwi vineyards is Cloudy Bay, located at the very tip of the nation’s South Island. We talk to Jim White, Technical Director of Cloudy Bay, to find out more…

What made you decide to move to New Zealand and join Cloudy Bay?

I was actually offered the role while working for the winery that started Cloudy Bay in 1985, Cape Mentelle in Margaret River. I’d visited Cloudy Bay a few years prior and fell in love with New Zealand then. It’s not every day that an opportunity arrives to be involved in grape growing and making wines at such an iconic winery as Cloudy Bay, so I jumped at the chance.

*Jim White, Technical Director of Cloudy Bay Vineyard*

What are some of the characteristics that set Cloudy Bay’s winemaking apart from its competitors?

We just try to make wines that speak of the soil, climate and people of our home in New Zealand, we strive for freshness, vibrant fruitiness and balance. The key to making our distinctive wines are in the vineyards, their terroirs and the detailed work that we do during the growing season. It’s what sets us apart from other New Zealand wineries, a fact that is particularly evident in our Sauvignon Blanc.

What would you say are the defining characteristics of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc?

The wine always has a core of citrus (limes, grapefruit), stone fruit (peach, nectarine) aromas and flavours with hints of passionfruit, the flavours explode in the mouth, and the finish is long and dry with refreshing acidity. In one word delicious. 2018 was the warmest season on record in Marlborough, meaning our earliest finish to harvest, only by one day. The weather conditions helped create a hugely aromatic Sauvignon Blanc with ripe flavours with intense, concentrated flavour.

Tell us a little bit about Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) and what it stands for.

AMW is a self-imposed quality standard covering grape varieties (100 percent Sauvignon Blanc), grape source (100 percent from Marlborough), vineyard yields and bottling in New Zealand to ensure consumers get the very best quality Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that the region is so famous for. It is an initiative of 45 of Marlborough’s quality focused producers who want to enhance the regions wine quality reputation.

Finally, what is your own personal favourite wine?

That’s a tricky one to answer as I love a diverse number of wines from around the world, as they say variety is the spice of life. If I had to choose one only to drink every day, it would be a toss-up between a great Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, from where, well anywhere really as long as it’s delicious!

Thank you.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Cloudy Bay

Mistletoe Maker: Florist extraordinaire Gemma Hayden Blest on Christmas decor

Gemma Hayden Blest has been a part of making Hong Kong beautiful for nearly seven years now. Hailing from the UK, the floral designer built up a not-too-shabby resume working under brands such as Alexander McQueen and Burberry before finding her true passion – flowers. We took a stroll with Gemma down the streets of Central, and had the floral connoisseur give us tips on how to make our Christmas budding with beauty.

Gemma Hayden Blest

Tell us a bit about yourself and your work…

I work as a floral designer. My work ranges from events to shop installations to editorial. I specialise in communicating ideas through flower power, creating a mood or ambiance through flora or using them to help create a concept.

You studied fashion design; so, at what point did you know you could use that experience and expertise to channel it into floral designs and arrangements?

I love fashion and a huge amount of what I do stems from my fashion background. I think I found the lag times in fashion frustrating and prefer the speed that’s required for flowers. They have to be designed, created and enjoyed in the moment.

Since the holidays are typically a time of indulgence, can you give us suggestions on how to incorporate eco-friendly arrangements in decoration?

Definitely. There is no need to be excessively plastic with your designing. Invest in good-quality products that can be stored each year. The beauty in flowers is that it’s so easy to make a set of vases of candle holders look completely different each year. Pine, berries and eucalyptus are pretty long-lasting, so a few sprigs can last a few weeks.

How do holiday arrangements in Asia differ from say the UK, where you’re from?

We’re lucky to live in HK where imports are easy to get. I struggle with the loss of scent though. Boxed-up goods just never smell like freshly cut pine from the garden. I tend to give imports a helping hand with scented candles or room mist. Jo Malone does a beautiful Pine & Eucalyptus candle that helps bring back the aroma.

What flower is the most popular around Christmas time with your clients, and what is your personal favourite?

The Queen Amaryllis is always a popular favourite. Grand and colourful, there’s also a lovely anticipation in waiting for the bulbs to bloom that reflects the anticipation of waiting for Christmas day to arrive.

What tips can you give our readers about Christmas decorations?

A running element throughout your home will hold everything together – maybe it’s a type of ribbon or floral element or focal colour. Also a wreath on your front door sets a lovely welcoming tone for what’s inside.

Thank you.

Interview by: Bailey Atkinson
Image courtesy: Gemma Hayden Blest