Take 5: Nadja Swarovski

Words: P Ramakrishnan
Images Courtesy of Lane Crawford

Nadja Swarovski (fifth generation of “the” Swarovski family) who has the twin role of Creative Director and Vice President of International Communications for the Swarovski Crystal Palace was in Hong Kong briefly, where we caught up with her quick chat. Envisioned by Nadja herself, a diverse group of the best emerging and established talent from worlds of architecture, art, fashion and interior designers have been asked to re-imagine and reinterpret the power of crystal, the idea being to change the way people look at lighting and crystals.

Q: So tell us about your Hong Kong trip. What was it like, what was your reaction and response to your brand and products in Asia?
Nadja Swarovski: Having lived in Hong Kong from 1995 to 1997, it was pure fascination to be back in 2008. You can sense the same vibe of productivity, creativity and entrepreneurship while at the same time sense a huge amount of change in terms of modernisation especially in its architecture.

We are thrilled with the launch event at Lane Crawford Pacific Place home store and we do hope that the collection was well-received by the customers in Hong Kong. Lane Crawford is an incredible role model in the luxury industry in terms of merchandising and visual display and it is an honor for Swarovski Crystal Palace to be part of their product assortment.

2. Are you surprised at how well recognised the brand is wherever you go in your vast travel – especially in Asia?
NS: Swarovski enjoys great brand perception and appreciation within Asia and we hope this will contribute to future growth with a product which is relevant to the consumer.

3: Nicole Kidman famously sang “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” in Moulin Rouge, but she was wearing Swarovski crystals in fact! Shouldn’t the song be Swarovski are a girl’s best friend?
NS: Yes, you are right! It actually should, but inevitably it means the same thing as diamonds and crystals have the same quality of sparkle, brilliance and ability to add glamour to a woman’s life. It was my great, great-grand father Daniel Swarovski’s dream to bring the sensation of wearing a diamond to every woman when he created a material that was so similar… and yet affordable.

4. What’s ahead for the brand and the company?
NS: The yearning for continuous growth, innovation and modernisation has motivated us to move into new product categories such as lighting, art and architecture. Within these arenas, we have found a vast number of creative designers who have used our products in unimaginably innovative ways, thus pushing our own boundaries of creativity.

5. Will there be any special products for China? What can we expect in our region from the brand?

NS: We hope to exhibit Swarovski Crystal Palace in China next year, either in Shanghai or Beijing. We would like to integrate Chinese designers within some of the Swarovski product lines to reflect the zeitgeist of modern China.

Man to Gentleman

Words: P.Ramakrishnan
Images: Sebastien Goyon
Location: Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong






When graphic designer and part-time model Abram Hodgens landed in Hong Kong after riding his bike across the United States, it had been a while since he got a proper haircut, shave and by the looks of it, a hot shower. Just days before casting and job interviews he needed a place to clean up and look more professional, before plunking into employed status.

The Mandarin Oriental team came to the rescue. Their famed barber shop on the second floor of the prestigious hotel sees more VIPs and business tycoons than any world conference each year. Sophisticated with an old world charm, the way they still use finely honed knives to give an old-fashioned brush and lather shave, it’s a haven for many businessmen to come and relax. At the same time, they can get a professional hair cut, a crisp men’s manicure and pedicure (in a private room if need be), a relaxing shoulder massage, and come out looking and feeling like a profitable exercise in razor sharp deals had just transpired.

We introduced the young lad to Andrea Clark, the Creative Director and Salon Manager for Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. She had many tips and advice – while keeping in mind a look that he was comfortable with. Hodgens did not want too much of his hair cut, just trimmed and neat. Presentable for Asia’s fashionable folks for his partial gig as a model, and yet neat enough for when he had client meetings for his graphic artwork.

Says Clark, “Months of travel with no haircut and very little shaving has left the hair and skin dry and dehydrated. To merge back into an urban lifestyle Abram needed to tidy up his look while still keeping his own personality.”

In Hong Kong and in many Asian cities, a trend of following the styles of celebrities is very common but people should not always follow their idols. However, Angel Gonzalez, Artistic Director at the Mandarin Oriental, says, “People should get haircuts and colour according to their own skin tone, their face and head structure, something to enhance their own looks. Following star style is not always a good idea.”

Having worked with many celebrities in the US, he’s new to Hong Kong, but certainly not to style and grooming. “If the hair-dye colour does not suit you skin tone, then even the best dye in the world won’t help your look. Using the best products is also key – cheap hair products and chemicals can do more damage than good.”

How many businessmen and bankers go to the Mandarin for a quick trim? “I’ve lost count,” says Gonzalez. “But young guys, the fashion forward, will come for a quick fix too. Because of our location, convenience and tradition, a lot of the banking and financial community do come here.”


Of course in a busy city like Hong Kong, its all timing and location. The stylist agrees. “Time is of essence as everyone is rushing to go to meetings but when they have break, people do come in to relax, get our famous Shanghai pedicure, have a cup of coffee and then they are ready to hit Central again.”

So what did they do to makeover the hippie look of Mr Hodgens before he could hit Central? Here’s the process:

First came the Mandarin Shave where hot towels infused with essential oils are used to open up the pores and soften the growth. The barber then lathers and skillfully removes the facial hair revealing a much younger looking traveler.


The shave is not complete without a facial massage using True Gentlemen After Shave balm to sooth and moisturize the weathered skin. Thick long hair that suits Abrams style had no shape and was dry and untidy – so a few inches were taken from the hair, the added shape allows him to wear his hair longer while still looking groomed.

And after all that jazz, “Product and maintenance is key; using a good barber and stylist is essential for both hair and skin, now that he’s back in the city,” concludes Gonzalez.




The Mandarin Oriental Barber Shop

Telephone: +852 2825 4088
Email: mohkg-barber@mohg.com
Monday to Saturday 8am–7pm
Sunday 10am-6pm
Reservations are highly recommended


IMAGE CREDITS
Jacket: Emporio Armani
Shirt: Verri
Belt: Gucci
Shoes: Costume International
Jeans: Calvin Klein

Goan Gal: An Indian inspired photoshoot in Hong Kong

German supermodel Dzenita H loves to mix things up. Her versatile looks on camera come from a well-traveled career, spanning continents, magazine covers and catwalks around the globe. Hosting the best of top Indian designers with an original spin on ethnic-chic, Fine’n’Rhine, the Indian designer store, boasts a warm and versatile collection. So when the top mod with the hot bod saw the collection, being a huge fan of fusion fashion, she channeled her inner Goddess to strike a powerful pose. Capturing the bohemian chic often seen in Goa, the gorgeous Mz Hasovic got the look down pat.

Photography & Retouching: Hyvis Tong
Stylist and Art Direction: Sujata Assomull
Hair & Makeup: Karen Yiu
Model: Dzenita H
Producer: P.Ramakrishnan

Shanghainese style fuschia tunic with floral embroidery from Saffron by Fine'n'Rhine

Multi-colour panel skirt by SJ, arabesque printed head scarf by Givenchy, black top model’s own

Chantilly lace body wrap by Janvi, Swarovski crystal studded pashmina head wrap and stole by Saffron, bejeweled necklace by Prerna Kumari and other Fine'n'rhine accessories.

Netted tunic with coloured embroidery by Niki Mahajan, head piece stylists own and bejeweled ring by Prerna Kumari.

Shear Georgette long tunic with silver sequins by Saffron, full stone handbag in Silver crystal by Saffron

Black Kaftan with silver antique embroidery by SJ

Cream coloured shawl with coloured stones and intricate antique work by Janvi

Crochet linen top by Deepika Gehani

 










 

Behind the Scenes:

Dzenita is one of my fav people in the world. Introduced to me by a mutual friend Michael S, I met her and fell instantly in mad lurv!A gorgeous person inside out, we've worked together in a few shoots and she's one of the best models in the biz! She's so hard working, so versatile & so stunning! And its a long day's shoot with loads of laughs.


Having been in the biz for long, she knows how to find her light, strike the pose, follow the photographer's instructions to the letter. A joy to work with (which is RARE believe you me!), I hope we get a chance to do many, many more shoots.

Karen Yiu of course, did her magic with hair and make up yet again. With Karen... nothing works! Bless her. Sujata, who styled the shoot was, well, exhausted by the end of it - in my digicam, my fav shot of the day is of hers, as she pulls her hair out. But what an amazing day and such great pics came out of it.

More outtake shots - er from my cam!

Just Shoot Me: Photographer Jeff Hahn in Hong Kong

I'm not one to be... photographically blessed. The extra chins, the dark circles, the spare tyres, the bad hair, the moobs... its really a work in progress that whole... body thing. So when I do see a snap of myself lookin' un-horrible, I plaster it allllllll over the place. The prodigal, the prodigious, the promiscuous, the precocious, the pro that is Jeff Hahn shot me. And I liked it. ha.

http://jeffhahn.blogspot.com/2009/08/fly-away.html 

Oh and it gets better, I've shot Jeff too. 

And he.. er didn't care for it. hahahahahah

Photoshoot: A Man for All Seasons: Indian TV star, actor, model Abhinav Shukla at 4 Seasons Mumbai: East meets West

Outtakes from a shoot I did in Mumbai last summer. 

Behind the Scenes: Originally, this shoot was supposed to mix Western designer-wear with Eastern (including Indian, Chinese and Japanese luxury brands). The idea was to hit the streets of Mumbai to capture the razzmatazz of beloved Bombay (er Mumbai) and showcase the city of Technicolor dreams. 

Unlike the dull palettes of other cities, Mumbai’s got a grand sartorial hybrid, you can see a girl in jeans and an Indian top, an embroidered ‘kurta’ with the latest GQ-esqure accessories on a dude. Some sad Uncle in a Versace shirt and ‘dhoti’! LOLs. 

There’s no confusion in the fusion, except in language. Hinglish is a bit horrifying – especially in print but is spoken at length in Mumbai; a mix of Hindi and English. 

Unfortunately, everything went haywire when terrorist attacks hit Mumbai city, a day after I landed. Blasts in train stations, others in the heart of the city, every block was a potential landmine waiting to erupt. And with the chorus of my mother’s constant panic (aah the uncut umbilical chord…), it was all going horribly wrong. I had deadlines and dead bodies on my mind and was pacing up and down my copious room (the suite was SWEET!)… I was getting that knot in my stomach – the ones that others get when they do a sit up. 

Stuck with a suitcase full of clothes, having booked an entire team in Mumbai for the shoot, I really didn’t want to rent a studio. We could have done that anywhere, so why bother flying all the way down to India? While mulling around the hotel, it hit me. Why go out when 4 Seasons Mumbai provided the most incredible background?! 

Born of necessity more than preplanned inspiration, we got a fab spread; 4 Seasons Mumbai is MAGNIFICENT! I loved every moment of my stay there; the food, the décor, the comfort, the amazing staff, the finesse of everything. I coordinated with their amazing PR and marketing team and they helped us out to the hilt. 

From food, stay, changing rooms, getting people to move things around, I was beyond impressed and touched by the amazing, anonymous folks that fly the 4 Seasons flag high. I’ve had the joy and privilege to stay in many of their hotels and Mumbai’s been my favourite. In times of need, they stepped up, for which I’m eternally grateful. 

Back in 2005, having worked with photographer Ayesha Broacha (the brunette in blue jeans in pics above) before, I knew we’d have fun. A few years ago, I had done this massive cover story and shoot in Mumbai for a cover story for a British magazine TRI (see here) and we spent hours together taking snaps of the city and its gorgeous people. I adored working with her as, despite the cloying heat, we kept each others’ spirits up. I also love the fact that she’s hyper efficient and fast on her feet. We didn’t do that whole ‘getting permits to shoot in the city’ bit and the guerrilla style photo-shoot came off brilliantly. This chick rules! 

And I’m planning my third (fourth?) shoot with Ayesha in 2010. It’s going to be our annual affair on camera. (BTW she’s happily married to the popular actor/VJ/comedian Cyrus Broacha } for those who know the famed VJ/TV personality). 

I can’t remember exactly who it was, but I sent out mass emails to everyone I knew in Mumbai and one of the responses (definitely a googly-eyed girl who had a massive crush on gym-sculpted Shukla) recommended model turned TV actor Abhinav Shukla for the shoot. Being a Gladrags graduate, I knew Abhinav would look the part and have the height to pull off the sample sizes from Zegna, Dior Homme, Shanghai Tang, Cavalli etc but working with starlets on a shoot can be painful (the Olsen twins’ interview was great fun, the shoot…. Er. Not so much). Fortunately, he turned out to be the nicest guy (who was late on the date of the shoot - ahem!) and did the fastest changes. These are ALL the shots I took during ‘The making of’. I always take them for references and credits. 

From the date of shoot to date of publication, there can be a long gulf so, its good to keep a record of everything. Mumbai’s the best. During one of the meetings, I had an incredible job offer from Conde Nast India, for a very senior position at GQ India. I sat on that invite and decision to shift to Mumbai for weeks. But I had other (regrettable!) commitments in Hongkers. So I came back. But every time I see GQ India in a shop… Aah coulda, woulda, shoulda...

In pics, Model/actor Abhinav Shukla and India's FINEST menswear designer Narendra Kumar Ahmed, photographer Ayesha Broacha

PUBLISHED SHOTS, photography byAyesha Broacha

1. Embroidered jacket by Samsara, jeans by Shanghai Tang, shoes by Ermenegildo Zegna
2. Striped shirt and leather bag by Ermenegildo Zegna, velvet jacket, red pants and shoes by Narendra Kumar, shades by Shanghai Tang
3. Wardrobe by Narendra Kumar, pearl pendant by Signature, shades by Juicy Couture
4. Jacket by Narendra Kumar, shirt by Shanghai Tang, jeans by Juicy Couture, white leather briefcase by Valextra (courtesy of Lane Crawford) and shoes by Ermenegildo Zegna
5. Pants and shirt by Shanghai Tang, embroidered jacket by Valaya Quantum jacket at Samsara, shoes by Ermenegildo Zegna, sunglasseses by Juicy Couture
6. Overcoat and pants by Narendra Kumar, shoes by Ermenegildo Zegna