Play List: Beckaly Franks

5 things keeping Beckaly Franks, bartender at The Pontiac, amused The Kills, Pablo Neruda, stand-up comedy, and Instagram for the pics of cats, sexy clothes and booze - Franks casts her net far and wide for entertainment!

Click to enlarge

Photography: Dino Busch
Hair and make-up: Krystina Te Kanawa
Location: The Pontiac

What I’m listening to: music is my platform and muse for everything. For example, The Pontiac’s soul beats to the tune Kissy Kissy, by one of my all-time favourite bands The Kills. I have been listening to everything from jazz to death metal, and all that lies between.

What I’m reading: right now it’s poetry. I usually carry around Pablo Neruda’s Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. A loved one of mine turned me on to him and his passion inspires me to be dark and brave. Unfortunately, I had to leave my library back in the US, because shipping books is expensive. It mostly consists of art and cocktail books.

What I’m watching: I have a secret gang of friends that I go to the movies with called the Motorcycle Movie Club, but the first rule of movie club is you don’t talk about movie club. Other than that, I watch an abnormal amount of stand-up comedy online. Anything from old-school Eddie Murphy (Raw) and Def Comedy Jam, to Iliza Shlesinger.

What artists I’m following: performance artist Marina Abramovic. She made performance art what it is today. James Turrell is a legend in my heart. A cowboy whose medium of focus is experimenting with light, colour, perception and space. Also Xu Bing.

Where I’m surfing: I don’t have much time to fiddle on the web, unless I’m searching for what I need for the bar. Facebook to connect with friends and colleagues and Instagram to see all the pictures of booze, cats and sexy clothes.

Out in SCMP, a quick chat with this gorgeous gal; Beckaly Franks at The Pontiac.

More at: SCMP.com (yes, you have to pay/subscribe!)


http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-entertainment/article/1853377/5-things-keeping-beckaly-franks-bartender-pontiac

Angie Ng in Louis Vuitton

For a throwback shot, here's a flashback to... four.. five?.. years ago.

Angie Ng in Louis Vuitton. One of Hong Kong's top models Angie Ng (http://angiencl.blogspot.hk/) shot by Sabrina Sikora (http://sabrinasikoraphotography.com/blog/), with hair and makeup by Rennie Fensham at Hollywood Hair (http://www.hollywoodhair.com.hk/en/home/).


 

Galaxy, Summer 2015

Latest issue of Galaxy magazine, summer 2015. Cover story with Paulina Vega, Miss Universe.

Joanne Ooi takes Hong Kong jeweller Plukka international

Online retailer has its sights set on US market as it prepares to list on the Australian stock exchange

P. Ramakrishnan

Joanne Ooi.

On the first floor of the Landmark atrium in Central, in a corner beside global brands such as Louis Vuitton and Fendi, you'll find a small Plukka boutique that houses several striking independent designer jewellery collections.


It's a trove of shimmering coloured diamonds, innovative rings and earrings, lustrous pearls and inspired lines. Work by artisans from around the globe - Lebanon, India, Hungary, Italy and the US - are sold under the aegis of this brand. Now, three years after its inception, its founder and chief executive, Joanne Ooi, has plans to expand - big time.


"We are doing a IPO on the Australian stock exchange [ASX]," says Ooi, who has almost 20 years of experience in the luxury industry. "We considered that an expedient vehicle for raising a much larger amount of money deemed necessary to expand globally and, specifically, to tackle the US market."


A tropical diamondleaf choker by Jack Vartanian.
So this expansion isn't about knocking down walls and tackling the prohibitive rents of retail in the city. "No, after doing this for three years, it has become evident to me that this is a scale business in order to flourish," Ooi says.
"We are building a global luxury retail brand which requires a continuous and systematic marketing effort that only a big infusion of capital can achieve."


The brand chose to list on the ASX - it will happen mid-October - because it encourages small cap listings and is relatively inexpensive. And while many brands are looking for salvation in the East, and China in particular, Ooi is heading West.


"We are going to focus primarily on the United States," says Ooi. "The US has the most developed fine jewellery e-commerce customer base. In terms of fashion opinion leader buy-in, this will come back to roost on all the international markets which look to the US as being a pivotal influence globally in what's cool, what's hot and creative. It gives us global branding benediction."
"Poetic Hands", and 18 carat yellow gold pearl ring by Bernard Delettrez.


In additional to a busy US trunk show schedule, Plukka is in negotiations to take on a prominent retail space in London and will do a pop-up in Manhattan later this year.


The brand has been successful at placing its jewellery on the lobes, hands and around some of Hollywood's most famous necks. But for many clients, the concept of buying fine jewellery online is still new - with big potential for growth - whereas fashion and accessories are tried and tested e-commerce sectors.
So how would you describe Plukka to new customers; moreover, to new investors?


"We are the first international omni-channel - bricks and clicks - fine designer jewellery retailer," says Ooi. "It might sound ridiculous that it's the first international one, but only 12 per cent of the jewellery industry is dominated by big traditional brands like Tiffany and Cartier. That is a little known fact.


Plukka's website."Of course, there are very localised players that are gigantic such as Chow Tai Fook," which generates huge sales, dominates the China market but doesn't have any distribution outside of the country, says Ooi, Or Zales which is a behemoth in North America, or American company Giant, ubiquitous in middle-American shopping mall stores, but, again, has no global presence.


While the business model that Ooi has created is different from many others in the market, it harnesses her logistical location.


Tropical diamond leaf cuff bracelet by Jack Vartanian.
"The power of what we are doing is based on taking the manufacturing base of the Pearl River Delta and the jewellery industry together. Hong Kong is at the epicentre of the jewellery industry globally because it's in the backyard of Thailand, China and India - where 90 per cent of the world's jewellery is made."
But surely the gap in the market that Ooi has spotted is because it's dominated by a cartel of rich, well-established brands that won't take kindly to newcomers.


"It's a culture of firsts. It's a very family- and trust-driven business. It's expensive to start a jewellery retail operation. You typically need about a US$2 million inventory just to start off. So that is why it's family dominated, because if you're a young person trying to find your way into retail - unless you're a billionaire - it is daunting. In terms of internationalisation in businesses such as this, you have to have the systems and the will to move jewellery around and pay tariffs. Then there's customs and physical security. Unless you have a scale-type business, it doesn't make any sense."


Diamond face double teardrop diamond chain ring by Ludervine.
Ooi also faces the challenge of chipping away at the brand loyalty of old houses that have been around for centuries and developed a relationship with customers.
"One reason we're raising capital is because we need a higher level of brand visibility. Cartier and Tiffany took decades to get where they are today. There is no reason why we can't attain the same level of trust, authoritativeness and prestige within three to five years."



The assumption has always been that the ever-escalating rental costs for retail space prevents sales-related businesses from flourishing.


Multi-finger rings by Bernard Delettrez.
"Jewellery retail can be very attractive - we have high sales per square foot for the surface area actually required to operate a boutique. At any given time, US$2 million worth of inventory, compressed into a small space, is around. That massively diminishes my rental cost."

Surprisingly, 90 per cent of Plukka's online sales come from the US. "We seek to establish dominance in branded jewellery sales online. The overall jewellery industry is worth US$100 billion; online is only worth US$5 billion - very small but it's expected to double by 2020."


Numbers and figures aside, there are the designers and their pieces that Ooi chooses herself.
Sophie Birgitt wears some of her creations, available at plukka.com.  
"I pick people who are genuinely original, especially as the industry is rife with copying.
"Many people are unwilling to try something avant-garde and new. I'm looking for true originality, which is hard to find. I need to know there's a genuine talent there. I need to see that the quantity of their work is sufficiently large... so I won't typically pick a designer who's just done 12 pieces. Generally, I want so see 30 to 50 pieces - that's usually the accretion over a few years, not a flash in the pan. We are not in the business of being a flash in the pan."



Lifestyle

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Eyes West

PUBLISHED : Friday, 14 August, 2015, 12:22am

UPDATED : Friday, 14 August, 2015, 12:22am

 

Galaxy, Summer 2015

 



 


A sun-kissed summer shoot for Galaxy magazine. Thrilled to work with photographer Ricky Lo again. The young man does the most incredible shoots - he last worked with our team for a special edition of Galaxy earlier last year.

After a long time, got to work with make-up artist Megumi Sekine who is blissed out in motherhood, and is just a joy to work with in general! Stylist Harry Lam has done several shoots for our company and does innumerable celebrity styling. Have lost count on how many shoots we've worked on over the past decade.

Model citizens, gorgeous Daniela W (from Quest) came to casting last year - but her busy schedule meant we could only work with her this summer. And lovely Nat (Natalie S, also from Quest), I met at an event and kept a tab on her (stalker anyone?!). This tall drinka-water with her newly shorn hair, looks better than ever-before. Its funny how casting goes, Facebook, Instagram, recommendations from friends, other models, make-up artists and photographers. 

Entire shoot took around 12 hours to do - its a long day - but under the aegis of Art Director Tasha Ling, who has directed nearly all the cover shoots for the magazine, it all looks glossy and glam.

Ze crew: 

Photographer Ricky Lo

攝影助理 Photo Assistants Jimmy Pang,

Ken Leung, Azeal Ho And Chan To

藝術指導 Art Director Tasha Ling

製作助理 Production Assistants

Amber Choy And Rachel Tang

造型 Stylist Harry Lam

造型助理 Styling Assistant Vinz Tam

化妝 Makeup Artist Megumi Sekine

髮型 Hair Stylist Zap Tang

髮型助理 Hair Assistant Jj Lai

模特兒 Models Natalie S And Daniela W,

Quest Models

Outtake

Loved both these shots by Olivier Yoan for Spring issue of Galaxy magazine. Team couldn't decide which to pick - the artsy one with red blotches (faded roses) or the look of lurv shot. Oli's brilliant - even his outtakes are gorgeous shots.

Play List: Jonny Rees

A quick chat with rugby player Jonny Rees.

Play List: Sarah Lian

What I’m listening to: I’m loving Sam Smith, Sia and The Weeknd. Last year I was really into female MCs such as Iggy Azalea, Azealia Banks and Angel Haze.

What I’m reading: Essentialism by Greg McKeown helped me look at my task-oriented schedule and put everything in perspective. Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behaviour by Ori and Rom Brafman was also fascinating.

What I’m watching: Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. His style and storytelling are so original. And I’m so glad Game of Thrones is back.

What artists I’m following: I have been following style bloggers and fashion brands on Instagram. I like to get inside the heads of creative minds – this curation process helps me look at the latest trends and gives me an idea of what to obsess over.

Where I’m surfing: I’m an avid Facebook user, but Instagram allows me to spend hours looking at images. I enjoy design sites such as Thedieline.com or SmashingMagazine.

(As told to P. Ramakrishnan) 

Notes: Through an introduction from my friend and colleague, stylist Tasha Ling, I met the drop-dead gorgeous actress Sarah Lian. A great fun chat with her for the weekly column The Playlist, that runs in SCMP (in The Review section!).