The Pleasure of my Company: Angie Uttamchandani, founder of A La Fête

A La Fête: A Female-Led Success Story in Hong Kong’s Gifting and Events Scene

A La Fête, founded by Angie Uttamchandani in August 2017, is a vibrant, women-led business based in Hong Kong that has been delighting clients for nearly nine years. Specialising in customised products, personalised gifts, party favours, and bespoke hampers, the company transforms celebrations into memorable experiences with thoughtful, tailored touches with bespoke offerings that are rarely duplicated.  

Young Angie Uttamchandani, the owner and director, brings passion and creativity to every project. Born and brought up in Hong Kong, but having travelled the world, she's the embodiment of the can-do spirit of go-local, think global, catering to ideations beyond borders, providing insightful gifting ideas to her international clientele, all interested in curating experiences of the gifting ritual. More than the intrinsic value of the gift, its all about personalisation - a mantra many of the F+ortune 500 luxury companies have embraced, let alone this little engine that could.

Personalised, initial carved watch cases with a hidden message, USB sticks with family surname, gift hampers filled to the brim with thematic ribbon-wrapped boxes, all with personalised letters. The idea is simple, a love note is so much more valuable that an item's market value - a keenly observed modus operandi that makes this event gifting company, a solution centre and think tank for friends, family and loved ones. 

With a background that blends entrepreneurial drive and attention to detail, she has built A La Fête into a go-to name for unique gifting solutions in Hong Kong’s competitive market. The name “A La Fête” (French for “to the party” or “in celebration”) perfectly captures the brand’s festive spirit. 

Highlights of the Business

The company excels in personalised gifting across life’s milestones. From elegant 50th birthday setups with custom backdrops and favours, to baby girl/boy hampers, corporate client gifts, and festive occasion boxes, A La Fête offers made-to-order creations that stand out. 

Skimming through its official social media handles, popular items include custom ribbon candles, themed party favours, Mahjong-inspired chocolates, personalised pill boxes, and beautifully curated gift baskets for occasions like Chinese New Year, anniversaries, birthdays or corporate events, private launches, business landmark celebrations. Be it a family event or a shareholder gathering, creating an appropriate and memorable parting shot is the key idea.

What sets A La Fête apart is its focus on quality and customisation. Clients receive one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect personal stories or brand identities, whether for intimate surprise parties, corporate gifting, or large-scale celebrations. The business has grown a loyal following through Instagram (@alafetehk), showcasing creative ideas that blend functionality with elegance -from tea party accessories to thoughtful wellness gifts. 

As a female-founded enterprise in Hong Kong, with all women team, A La Fête exemplifies resilience and innovation in a dynamic city that never sleeps. Nearly a decade in, it has helped countless individuals and businesses celebrate life’s special moments with style and sincerity. 

A La Fete's personalised accessories provides a range of ideas that's second to none

With the world as her global source, the founder of the company is keen to provide solutions, budgets, options. From a USB with a private company's symbol to an embroidered jewellery box studded with precious and semi-precious stones, the figures run the gamut suiting anyone's budget. What's important is how the giver and receiver are left feeling, what the enduring memory is - as opposed to the fiscal responsibility entailed at any given party. 

Angie’s vision continues to inspire, proving that thoughtful details create lasting joy. With its emphasis on personalisation and quality, A La Fête remains a shining example of women-led entrepreneurship in Asia’s world city. 

For more information, follow the official social media account of A La Fete here, and here.

The Goods column in Post Magazine

 

Things you find in old computers...  

My Post magazine menswear column, The Goods. Some of it archived here. 

Essentially, a menswear and accessories column on ... what's good. Key point, had to be easily available in Hong Kong for the readers/viewers of Post mag/SCMP! 

Mathew T strikes a pose - French photographer and friend Sami Alliot took the pics. 

Writing Advertorials: The Challenges. The Triumphs

After 23 years in this industry, I thought I’d seen it all. Turns out, the game doesn’t get easier - you just learn to adapt faster. The past five weeks have been a masterclass in patience. I’ve been writing advertorials and client-led features where the brief seems to change daily. Sub-editors, brand managers, and various stakeholders (many of whom aren’t entirely sure what they want) request rewrites… only to eventually circle back to Version 1.

Sound familiar?

I’ve worked with publishers (two... rhymes with stunts... come to mind) who thought nothing of shifting direction at 5:59pm on deadline day. You roll your eyes and roll with the punches. Take a breath, and get it done. Because that’s the job. The real skill isn’t just the writing anymore. It’s navigating feedback loops, managing egos, protecting the integrity of the piece, and still delivering something that actually works for the brand - all while keeping your sanity intact. Writing advertorials is a unique craft. It demands creativity, diplomacy, and the patience of a saint. Would love to hear from fellow writers, content creators, and editors: how do you handle endless rounds of revisions and unclear direction? What’s your survival strategy?

On the plus side... well, nothing pays better. =0)

The Absolute Perfection of The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai:

Ah Taj... sigh. 

Luck and other people's great fortune (!) has afforded me multiple stays at this... something greater than "hotel"... 

How do I explain this phenomenon to the world outside who has never set foot at this pile of brick and mortar in Mumbai that is greater than the sum of its parts... 

There are almighty tomes written about the place, but here's my 2 Hong Kong cents; 

The Taj Mahal Palace stands as Mumbai’s undisputed icon of grandeur and timeless elegance. Opened in 1903 by visionary industrialist Jamsetji Tata, this heritage masterpiece in Colaba, overlooking the Arabian Sea and Gateway of India, was built in defiant Indo-Saracenic style, blending Moorish domes, Rajput flourishes, Florentine Renaissance, and Oriental details into pure architectural poetry. Its soaring central dome, built on Eiffel Tower scaffolding, has welcomed royalty, dignitaries, and dreamers for over 120 years.

What makes it the greatest hotel isn’t merely its opulent history or prime location - it’s the way it consistently takes your breath away. Every stay feels like stepping into a living masterpiece. Service reaches perfection: warm, intuitive, and never intrusive. Staff anticipate needs with quiet grace, turning ordinary moments into cherished memories. Whether it’s personalized butler service or seamless attention to detail, the hospitality feels genuinely heartfelt.

And then there’s the sheer photogenic beauty. Every nook and corner - marble corridors, jewel-toned lounges, sea-facing balconies, and lush courtyards - invites awe. Even a cup of tea (admittedly pricey) becomes an event in such surroundings. The Taj doesn’t just host you; it envelops you in legacy, luxury, and unmistakable magic. No wonder it remains a destination in itself. Pure, unforgettable splendour. Found these images in the ol' camera from my last trip there...

TBT: A look at Steve Leung’s Holiday Home

 

An impressive chapter in his already impressive portfolio, here’s an inside look at the famed architect Steve Leung’s house on the hills, plus an exclusive chat with the man himself. The multi-hyphenate founder-architect-interior-designer used his myriad skillsets to see a dream realised: a holiday abode in Niseko, the Asian ski capital of the world, or—that Western deployment of meta metaphors- the Aspen of Asia.”

Full feature out at Robb Report HK. 
 

Richard Mille RM 55-01 Manual Winding: Ultra-Light Skeleton Watch Under 5 Grams

In a delicate dance of lightness and minimalism, Richard Mille sways us with the RM 55-01, a manual-winding timepiece that delivers exceptional comfort through extreme skeletonisation.

Richard Mille has unveiled the RM 55-01 Manual Winding, a wristwatch that embodies pure mechanical necessity through radical weight reduction. This new model centres on the ultralight Calibre RMUL4, a skeletonised manual-wind movement weighing less than five grams. By eliminating the rotor, the design allows light to flow freely through the architecture while enhancing overall comfort on the wrist.

The entire feature is published in Prestige magazine in June, 2026 

How a Renaissance Masterpiece was Reimagined as Knit Art for French May 2026

 

In “Mona Lisa & Her Adventures in Hong Kong,” which ran from May 8 to 31 at D2 Place ONE and TWO, LAWSGROUP marked its tenth year partnering with French May by recasting the Giaconda smile through the precise medium and heritage of knitted art.

Designer Annie Lo fragmented, enlarged, and reassembled the Renaissance icon into tactile works that pulse with minimalist pop sharpness and intricate layering. The original masterpiece was created around 1506 in Florence, Italy. The oil painting depicting Lisa Gherardini is famous for its enigmatic expression – often called the Gioconda smile – subtle sfumato technique, and atmospheric depth.

Read the full feature at PrestigeOnline.