Galaxy cover: Summer 2012: Kimberly Verge stuns in Armani on the cover of the magazine

Super-duper thrilled with the Summer 2012 issue of Galaxy. Best cover, best cover-shoot yet. 

Gorgeous cover girl Kimberly Verge in Armani, shot inside China Rouge. 

The full shoot coming up... 

Photography: Jonas Lillie 

Stylist: Jolene Lin 

Makeup: Karen Yiu 

Hair Adam Wong 

Models: Kimberly Verge and David Elliott from Starz People 

Art Direction: P.Ramakrishnan 

An amazing shoot done at Galaxy Macau's China Rouge. 

Sridevi's Top Ten Dances

My feature for Filmzine.




By P.Ramakrishnan

Long before the term 'item number' hit the Hindi film vernacular and film-zines, southern sensation Sridevi was uplifting the cinematic experience with her dose of glamour, grace and dancing style in Mumbai's movie musicals. Her dances are a highlight of many a movie that are otherwise unwatchable, particularly in the drivel of the ‘80s.

Sridevi had an innate, untutored talent for dance, she never studied the art unlike her South Indian contemporaries like Meenakshi Sheshadiri, Jaya Prada, Bhanupriya, Radha or famed film rival and Kathak-exponent Madhuri Dixit. What she did have was natural rhythm and a treasure-trove of myriad expressions. The audience couldn't wait to get to the part where Sridevi let loose on screen with her magical moves in films that often had little else.

Sridevi's sizzling act on screen was often partnered with non-dancers like Rajesh Khanna, Sunny Deol, Anil Kapoor and the like, much to the chagrin of choreographers. But they were left unperturbed as the opportunity to work with Sri was compensation.

She could do any number with ease, be it classical, modern or a western number. You wanted her to break-dance and ape Michael Jackson? Done. Do a navasara-nritya under the shadow of the Natraj? No problem. Seduce on screen in monochrome chiffon saris? Done, and how!

Sridevi was a Jack(y) of all trades, no step beyond her reach, no expression beyond her faculty. Like her Tamilian predecessors Vyjanthimala, Hema Malini, Rekha, it was the unspoken yet acknowledged rule that to rule B’wood, acting chops and scintillating beauty wasn't enough; you had to dance like a dream.

And even in the garish technicolour dream sequences of the ‘80s, Sridevi shone through. Whittling down the list to just ten song/dance sequences is hard (with over 100 films and roughly six songs in each, that's a lengthy cinematic CV) but here's what it, roughly, boils down to:




10. Main lagti hoon Sridevi
Choreographer: Saroj Khan
Singer: Aasha Bhosle
Music: Bappi Lahiri
Film: Nakka Bandi (1990)

Never heard of it? Youtube it. The film Nakka Bandi is God-awful, but the song is a complete delight. The lyrics are deliciously loopy. The choreography isn't perfect but watch Sridevi in her cheeky, unadulterated best as she mimics yesteryear actresses. Note her comic timing and getting the gist of her predecessors in two-second shots. Irreverent but without being profane, Sri, as always, gets it right.


9. Morni baaga maan bole aadhiChoreographer: Saroj Khan
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Shiv Hari
Film: Lamhe (1991)

Oh what a song! What a film! What a performance! Five-time Filmfare winner, Lamhe was the most surprising flop from the Yash Raj banner, that walked away with the most astonishing acclaim. This isn't the big jhatak-matak number that Sridevi was most oft famed for. Simple, subtle, a reinterpretation of a traditional Rajasthani folk song, its magic.

Megha re megha, Mohe chedo na and Morni were a series of songs Sridevi performs as Pallavi, the older woman Virendra Pratap Singh (Anil Kapoor) falls for. It’s hard to pick which of the three numbers were better than the other, but for argument’s sake, lets elect Morni. The undulating sands, the gorgeous (Neeta Lulla’s National Award winning) outfits, the intricate movements and expressions, its heaven on the ear and easy on the eye.


8. Main aisi cheez nahinChoreographer: Chinni Prakash
Singer: Kavita Krishnamurthy and Mohd Aziz
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Film: Khuda Gawah (1993)

Although Sridevi was in a league of her own like her Goliath co-star Amitabh Bachcahan, the two superstars appeared on film together just thrice; Inquilab (1984), Aakhri Raasta (1986) and, the best of the lot, Khuda Gawah (1992). The dance perhaps best captures the unspoken yet palpable sense of competition the reigning royals of Bollywood had while sharing screen-space. The engulfing costumes can barely tame the leonine Sri from giving the number her almighty all. Even Big B’s left watching her agape at the ferocity of his leading lady and was most notably eclipsed by the lunar charms of Chandni herself.


7. Dushman dil ka jo hai Choreographer: Chinni Prakash
Singer: Kavita Krishnamurthy
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Film: Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993)

It’s the song that inspired Amitabh Bachchan to send a truck-load – not a bouquet - of flowers to Sridevi’s house much to her sheer joy and self-professed embarrassment. Roop Ki Rani... was excessive in every way, the over-the-top mishmash of every Hindi film cliché was an expensive and expansive venture that was a lengthy yarn which left audiences yawning.

Indubitably, the best bits of the film include Sri and some (not all) of the dance numbers stand out. As dance director Chinni Prakash says, “When you see a dance, the first thing you see is the face and Sri is ex-ce-llent in the face.” See the multi-shots focusing just on her expressions near the end of the song's antra . Damn right, she’s excellent.

6. Tarapat Beete Choreographer: Gopi Krishna
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Rajesh Roshan
Film: Jaag Utha Insaan (1984)

One of Sri’s earlier (and better) films with the much-whispered about co-star Mithun Chakraborthy, Sridevi has three incredible semi-classical numbers in the film choreographed by the dancer of dancers, Gopi Krishna. The fact she gets her mudras bang-on and posture perfect without lengthy lessons makes her performance all the more laudable. As Bharatnatyam danseuse and Malayali actress Shobhana says, “The fact the Sridevi’s not a trained dancer yet so good makes her one of my favourites.” Many would concur.


5. Nainon mein sapnaChoreographer: P.A. Saleem
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar
Music: Bappi Lahiri
Film: Himmatwala (1983)

The song that started it all? Perhaps. Sridevi was already a mega-star in regional films and with a flop like Solva Saawan with Amol Palekar behind her, but she burst into the collective consciousness in flashes of orange and hot pink. In scintillating amrapali outfits among hundreds of pots and pans, feather dusters - don’t forget the feather dusters – its Sridevi glistering throughout this metrical exercise. It ignited a slew of similar cutlery doubled as accessories dance numbers for the succeeding diabolical decade. The antics with her white-pant and white-shoe’d co-star Jeetendra (who on second-viewing appears notably stiff unlike her other limber dancing co-star Rishi Kapoor) is the defining image of the masala movie mayhem. Sri in her conical bra-like tops maintained a distinct lack-of vulgarity in an era otherwise crippled with it.



4. Classical music Choreographer: Saroj Khan
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Film: Chaalbaaz (1989)

Who needs words? Like Janet Jackson, Sridevi made the country grove to her rhythm nation. Chaalbaaz was a tour-de-force double dose by the diva as she essayed both Manju and Anju with equal panache. Forget the comical duets in the film (award-winning Kisike haath and Tera beemar mera dil), watch the dances that Sridevi does in the early reels to instrumental beats, as she wraps each step with rage, fear and tears. It’s a new-age taandav that should not be missed as she whips the air with her long plait and burns the carpet with her steady steps.


3. Kaate nahin kathe yeh din yeh raatChoreographer: Saroj Khan
Singer: Alisha Chinai and Kishore Kumar
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Film: Mr India (1987)

For the past 25 years, Kate nahin katthe has lead the pack as the sexiest duet of all time. Mercifully, choreographer Saroj Khan (who had a rather tumultuous relationship with Sridevi though their interlinked careers provided many of the aforementioned dance nuggets) kept non-dancer and one-step wonder Anil Kapoor, hidden in the shadows and she reserved the thundering steps for thunder-thigh’d Sridevi. It was raining amen. Every rain-song that’s followed (and there have been many done by younger and lesser stars) remains a pale imitation to this class act. As the adage goes, many have imitated, none have bettered.


2. Main teri dushmanChoreographer: Saroj Khan
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Film: Nagina (1986)

A song can't make a movie run is the axiom, but in 1986, Sridevi proved otherwise. Rising above a mediocre script filled with jantar mantars and snakes morphing into people and vice-versa, the highlight of the film is the climactic song that drew audiences in droves. As snake charmer Amirsh Puri’s been starts echoing across the halls of the haunted haveli, Sridevi starts undulating to the music in an erotic blend of sensuality and venom. As a genre, Nagina is a fantasy thriller but the real thrill is watching the curvaceous Sri dance in a flurry and flourish as her sequined ghagra spins around her evil sapera. As a dance, Main teri dushman is a trinity of genres amalgamated; movements from Punjabi folk, expressions and gestures from Bharatnatyam and Kathak’s heady turns, all cobbled together for the seven-and-half minute finale.


1. Mere haathon mein nau nau choodiyan Choreographer: Saroj Khan
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Shiv Hari
Film: Chandni (1989)

The song bursts into the screen four minutes into the movie and the beats have echoed across weddings from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Sung with the impish glee of a sixteen year-old by sexagenarian (at the time) legend Lata Mangeshkar, knitted with an infectious beat and complimented with memorably cheeky lyrics, Sridevi elevated a wedding song into an anthem.

As Yash Chopra says, “Sridevi gets very excited about a dance number. I’ll do this and I’ll do that, she says and puts a lot of her personal contribution as an artiste into each song.”

The song captures all of Sridevi in a nutshell; its got her child-like insouciance, her sauciness, her animated antics, her comic genius and her sultry act all rolled into one rocking number. Phew, that’s some number.

The Interview

A couple of weeks ago, ran into an ex-collegue of mine at the MTR and she said, I've got something to send you. It was an interview I did for a magazine in China aeons ago. Firstly, they spelled my name wrong throughout (ah phone interviews, apparently Krishnan sounds Kristian to 'em!) and then put up the most hideous pic of me (and not the pic I sent that Jeff Hahn took ughmylife).

How quixotic I was and how informed I sound. Tsk. Fake it, till ya make it. Ha!

Rama Kristian, 30

As the youngest editor-in-chief of one of the largest Chinese luxury & lifestyle magazines in Asia, Rama Kristian, 30, gets our vote for a mover-and shaker. He kick-started the glossy "Sentinel" in a record two months as thousands of copies were directly mailed to the VIP client list of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).

"The challenge to create a luxury magazine aimed purely at the Chinese market was tough," he says. "But I recognised early on that the business model the publishing house had was brilliant - controlled distribution to the top tier of spenders had a greater potential than launching a new magazine to a market over-saturated with rags in the newsstand. When you can provide exact figures to a brand, as opposed to fictionalized numbers from a semi-plausible survey, you pique the interest of ad-men and admin.”

Despite a language barrier and a senior position at another lifestyle magazine, Kristian was hand-picked to launch and lead the new title for PPA Media Publishing House.

“I wanted in, but with a huge hurdle of not knowing the language (my Mandarin's as good as my Greek. I know the numbers!), not fully understanding the readership, we – and I speak of my bril team – did go into producing the first issue rather blindly.”

Call it blind ambition but the risk paid off as the monthly publication has created ripples from Beijing to Guanzhou as a go-to reference point. As a directly mailed Mandarin magazine that reaches over 50,000 VIPs in mainland China, this is the fourth title to churn out of Beijing based publishing company PPA, with other titles that are in the works.

“We knew how to create a beautiful looking magazine, we knew how to create content for it,” says Kristian from his office in Sheung Wan, that neighbours Hong Kong’s iconic Man Mo Temple. “I had seen other magazines of the kind and I really didn’t want it to look like an ikea-esque catalogue of brand after brand running the pages, under-whelming the readers. The magazine had to be something people wanted to keep on the coffee-table and not chuck after flipping through it once. There was a lot more stealth in ingratiating product placement within our pages.”

With celebrity interviews, features, a more than generous dose of branding, high-end fashion shoots (“all produced by our team in Hong Kong, we haven’t taken the easy way out of buying content and simply translating them”), it’s indubitably a league ahead of its predecessors.

“I did look at magazines churned out of Conde Nast as a reference, where its about defining a cultural lifestyle as opposed to just style. There’s a huge distinction,” he says.

The magazine is rather thick on designer labels. “Despite my wardrobe, I am brand savvy enough to recognise what would and wouldn’t work for a reader where budget wasn’t much of an issue,” says Kristian. “One of our bosses’ sons was visiting Hong Kong and I took him to a designer boutique, keeping in mind his age and credit-card in mind. Little did I know. After going over jewels as blindingly blingy as they come, he turned around and said to me, ‘I want something even more expensive’. Off to David Yurman and Van Clef we went.”

“Years of dealing with people looking for a discount, a special rate, a mate’s rate… this was a unique experience for me, but it’s a minutiae of what the readers wanted.”

So what is the Chinese luxury market about now? “Where Hong Kong was in the ‘80s. Unshakable loyalty to a recognisable emblem, that’s how I see it. But it’s a transitory phase. It is foolish to assume Chinese buyers will buy anything.”

The long lines outside of Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, in Tsim Sha Tsui say otherwise.

“That’s underestimating a knowledgeable buyer. Sure they’re queuing up, but they know what they want. Without naming names, there was a major designer jewellery brand that tried to haul off all the items that didn’t sell in Europe to China. They opened a pretty shop in a mall and tried to peddle their goods, goods that didn’t even sell well in Dubai. Well, it didn’t work. Miscalculating the buyer was hubris.”

There were initial talks of making the magazine bi-lingual initially but that faded quickly. "Simple fact, Chinese people like to read Chinese magazines. Didn't need a survey to figure that out but I believe from head office (in Beijing) there were inquiries made and it was an overwhelming response.

So what’s it like to be person of influence in a publishing?

“Influential? Me?,” he laughs out very loudly. “Ok, I have no delusions on that aspect. But am definitely privileged, humbled and honoured to be in a position to shed light on things worth shedding light on. That sound lofty enough?”

Just about.

NOTES:

After the horrific time I had with Prive Asia, and the nightmare of dealing with its publisher and self-imposed editor - who was by far the worst person* I've ever met/worked with - Sentinel was a dream gig. I wish I had appreciated it more at the time but we were so busy churning out a mag every four weeks, we didn't take time to smell the ink. Had a good team in the office and we all just got down to work with, no muss, no fuss. Not to toot my own horn - I think the above does that - even I know I was a rockin' editor. If the office hadn't moved to Beijing and the mag hadn't turned to its current incarnation, wonder what life would be like... Oh well.


* how bad was it?! An ex-colleague created "No longer suffering As'th'ma" on FB which has over 100 people! I don't know how that happened considering the team was about 4 people at most - but you must see and hear about the tales. Its shocking how one delusional woman created so much turmoil and damage to so many people's lives. As a lovely friend of mine said recently, "God, don't even think about her. No one else does in the community. She was a nobody wanting to be a somebody!"

Ameen.

Hong Kong's fit and fab talk to Style magazine about health and fitness: Brian Cha, Jocelyn Luko, Tony Mok

High achievers share their secrets for good health and pass on their tips for happiness and well-being. 

BRIAN CHA 

BRIAN CHA’S role is to keep the body beautiful; not just his own but those of some of the most notable names in media and screen. Fifteen years in the business, he’s the soul of discretion, keeping the roster of celebrity clients close to his chest. What separates a screen-star from your average Joe at the gym? 

“Usually celebrities have particular goals to reach in a shorter time frame,” says Cha. “They have to be on a film set in two months and be fighting fit; the timeline is set in stone."

Cha says variety is key to staying toned. :I’ve always mixed it up and I tell my clients to do the same. Don’t just run on the tread-mill; same-ness doesn’t work well in the long-run.” 

As people venture away for the summer holidays, a common pattern develops. “Yes, it’s a holiday but you can do simple things to stay active. Even if it’s playing basketball, beachball or something; just keep the body moving.” 

And celebrities have the same issues as the rest of us: not eating right, too many after-hour cocktails and a sedentary lifestyle. “I’ve seen this especially among the 30-something folks. They look so much older than their actual age. Just by cutting out all sugary drinks and beer you’ll see visible changes within two weeks – even with no exercise. And not just alcohol – there’s usually four spoons of sugar in just one glass of ice-tea.” 

Cha also advises on diet and nutrition, a vital part to any exercise programme. “Eat smaller portions at meal times. We grew up with the breakfast, lunch and dinner timetable. Actually, eating four small meals a day is better for your system. I don’t believe in avoiding food groups, but try and avoid carbs after lunch. 

According to Cha, one of the most common mistakes people make is believing that cardio workouts, such as running, will help solve the problem of belly fat. “Of course running helps, but appropriate weight training can help you get a washboard stomach quickly. Mindlessly running in circles isn’t as effective.” 

Each client has their own goal. All good trainers must design personalised programmes for their individual clients – and it’s a process of study and elimination.” 

Just before leaving Cha’s gym, we ask who his star student is at the moment and he lets a name slip. 

“Lately, model Mandy Liu has really impressed me with her discipline and dedication,” he says. “There is no easy way to get a body beautiful. It’s hard work!” 

FIT TIPS 

“Start a weight training programme. Not just for aesthetics but also for health. You need to maintain strength as you grow older. 

Change your workout routine every two weeks; do something different. 

 “Eat! Do not deprive yourself – eat four small healthy meals a day.” 

JOCELYN LUKO 

IT’S ALARMING how good Jocelyn Luko looks without an ounce of make-up. Having just finished a run around the Happy Valley race-course with her DJ/model husband Anthony Sandstrom, there’s a sigh of relief that yes, she, like the rest of us, has to work to get that slim silhouette that’s made her one of the city’s most popular models. 

“After trying many different types of exercise I find that Pilates and Bootcamp at least three times a week works best for me,” she says. “Pilates tones and lengthens my muscles while re-aligning my body, and Bootcamp is great for burning fat and toning muscles because of the intense interval and cardio training. We do different forms of cardio and mix things up, so our bodies don’t get used to the same routine.” 

In a similar process of trial and error, Luko has also found what doesn’t work for her as she matures. “I used to be a huge meat eater and eat a lot of junk food but I realised how important food is for your body and I started eating healthy and doing cleanses,” 

But the life-changing – and perhaps career-changing – moment was prompted by an illness in the family. 

“Eight years ago my mum got sick and the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle was brought home to us. Because of this experience we realised there is an increasing demand for natural health and wellness products that work. This is why we started our company Simple Pure Health." 

As passionate as she is about her business, she also maintains a balanced lifestyle. She has her own tips for getting fit but adds, “I believe the first step is taking care of your mindset. If you’re happy and confident it shows no matter who you are.” 

FIT TIPS 

“It’s important what you put in your body. We always try and eat as healthily as possible. Whenever we eat we think, ‘Is my body going to thank me for this food?’ When I’m on vacation and I eat a lot of junk food it definitely shows on my face and body, even in my energy levels. 

 “Exercise! You have to get your blood circulating and give your body a regular workout. In Pilates they say you’re only as young as your spine is flexible, and that’s so true. When I work out there’s a huge difference in not just my body shape but also the way I feel. 

Take care of your skin. It’s very important to use natural products. Putting chemicals on your skin may make your skin look good initially but can be damaging in the long term.” 

TONY MOK 

REMARKABLY FOR a physician, Dr Tony Mok reckons he’s “a terrible example” for health and fitness, he says with a laugh. “I love food, love eating and I eat anything that tastes good,” says Mok, a professor in the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Department of Clinical Oncology. 

Still, he doesn’t over-indulge. “The advice I give to others is one I exercise personally: ‘everything in moderation’.” 

When it comes to exercise, the good professor takes it step by step. “I started walking when my daughter was in primary school, she’s in college now. That has extended to now having regular, long walks on a daily basis. I also go to the gym at least once or twice a week and do a harder workout with weights. But daily walks have been effective for me.” 

Professionally, Mok’s research interests encompass lung cancer, liver cancer, and traditional Chinese medicine. 

Will there ever be a cure for cancer? 

“Cure is not a concept to be indulged when it comes to cancer; curtailed is. Once considered a near death sentence in the ‘70s and ‘80s, we now consider it a chronic disease that with the help of effective treatment the patient can co-exist. In the early days, there was only surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Now we have molecular-targeted therapy that identifies potentially cancer-causing genes, called oncogenes, and stops them multiplying with very specific and relatively non-toxic medication. 

So how much does smoking, eating red meat, stress levels and other such factors have on cancer? “Well, whether a person is a vegetarian or not, cancer is a unifier; anyone can get it. There are many studies that detail exacerbating factors, but the one I find lofty is ‘stress’. We all have stress to varying degrees. The trick is how to handle it and minimize the adverse effects.” 

Despite the constant warnings, and the plethora of studies directly linking cigarette smoking and cancer, there seems to be no decrease in nicotine consumption in our part of the world. 

“Hong Kong is in relatively good shape. However, the statistics in China show 66 per cent of the urban male population smokes, 356 million are long-term smokers and 15 million are teenagers. Hong Kong is doing rather well when it comes to exercising effective tobacco control. The fact that you can’t smoke in public, in restaurants and bars, and the heavy taxation, is helping decrease the number of smokers. 

In China, the aggressive marketing strategies of tobacco companies are targeting young people and women by making cigarettes more attractively packaged, despite the fact that in 2005 the Chinese Government signed the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. China pledged 10 million yuan to the project, only a minute fraction of the billions of dollars it receives from tobacco taxation!” 

When asked for health tips, Mok says simply: 

“Be happy! I see cancer patients from all walks of life and the number one question posed is ‘Why did I get it?’ There is no answer to this. Lifestyle contributes but does not eliminate the risk of cancer. So pursue what makes you happy and live life well! That is far more effective for your over-all health than running endlessly on a treadmill.” 

Style 

Words: P. Ramakrishnan 

Photo: K. Y. Cheng. 

Photo: Felix Wong 

Photo: May Tse 

July 6, 2012

Bags behind the baubles: Marcello de Cartier: Interview with Marlin Yuson, Creative Director for Cartier leather goods

Marcello de Cartier is a roomy accessory from a brand that's quietly into leather, writes P.Ramakrishnan.

Later this month, the glittering baubles and watches that line cases in Cartier's boutiques will be competing for the spotlight with Marcello de Cartier bags.

Marlin Yuson, creative director for Cartier leather goods, admits jewellery and watches are always going to be the main event. 'The bags are the supporting cast but an important character,' says the designer, who has worked with Ferragamo, Polo Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, and spends her time between Florence and Paris.

The fact that the brand is not known for its leather goods has long represented a challenge for Yuson. 'In a way we are battling a common perception of the brand. Most people don't realise that Cartier does leather bags,' she says. 'If you weren't part of a generation that knew that Cartier did leather products, then the Marcello bags would come as a surprise. I still get that, even after 10 years with the brand. There's no bag campaign and there won't be. The leather goods are part of the family, but they'll never be independent products.'

Yuson says Cartier bags were considered 'it' bags in the '70s and '80s, modelled by celebrities such as Tina Turner. 'Then it stopped. Cartier did other dressy bags but very, very classic bags. And then the whole handbag accessories craze took over.'

When designing the Marcello, Yuson knew what a contemporary bag should - or rather, shouldn't - be. 'I really don't see it as an 'it' bag, not something as ephemeral as what's in trend,' she says. 'I didn't want it to be too old-fashioned and seem like a relic, either. I didn't want to stick a panther or leopard on it; that would be too easy. I haven't put in animal prints, either, yet. And it's really not for 'ladies who lunch'.'

Yuson decided to maintain the hard corner of Cartier's earlier bags. 'I wanted to keep that iconic bookend sort of arch. The bags needed volume and pockets to be practical for the woman on the go.'

Yuson says that she doesn't have a particular muse but she'd love to see Alexa Chung or IMF chief Christine Lagarde carrying her bags. 'Strong, confident, influential women who didn't sacrifice their femininity in their business,' she says. 'Women on the move, who have children, or are working ... they're the ones I hope will embrace the bag, for its practical purposes.'

The Marcello is a large bag with the interlocking Cs logo that will be joined in stores with a series of evening clutches in September.

Cartier's first evening bag came out in 1906. 'Initially, the evening bags were very much about jewellery,' says Yuson. 'The finishings on the bags were precious, and the bags themselves were one-off pieces for royalty and unique order customers.'

She says that when she was creating the designs, she carried the bags around during her travels to observe their functionality.

'Translating the Cartier bag to the present and keeping that identity - that luxury feel to it - is hard, especially where there are so many fashion brands around,' she says. 'I stuck to a family of colours to keep it coherent: red and black, tobacco or cognac.'

The primary inspiration for the bags came from the materials, she says.

'Looking at the quality, texture and colours, concepts come to mind,' says Yuson. 'Even something as trifling as a buckle becomes a starting point. Texture is really important. We don't have too many prints, so the material has to resonate.'

P. Ramakrishnan
Jul 06, 2012

P. RAMAKRISHNAN

Published: 12:00am, 6 Jul, 2012

Musicians join yoga instructor's chorus of concern against sex trafficking

A host of live acts took centre stage at Grappa's Cellar for the Women Stop Traffic event. Claudia Whitney, a popular yoga instructor in Hong Kong, championed the event to raise awareness and money for a worthy cause.

"I've been working with Off the Mat, Into the World (OTM) for years - it mobilises the global yoga community to come together to activate real change in the world," she said of last weekend's event.

"This year, we gathered to help victims of sex trafficking in India. Most of us don't know much about this criminal industry, which enslaves women and children for sex. Part of the success of this business is that it's hidden. I've been practicing yoga for many years and felt it was time to tacky my practice off that big black mat and help create awareness and change in victims' lives."

Joining Whitney's chorus of concern, many musicians in Hong Kong performed live, for free, including Gretchell 'Djemayah' Yaneza with De Kai, Dan Lavelle, Mitu, Rebecca Walker with Andrew Stanley, Cassie Lee with Ohad Levitt, Miya Dunets and Ankie Beilke.

"I love live music and I have so many talented friends, so it was a no-brainer to organize an event like this," says Whitney. "The community has come together for this cause and I am so grateful.

"My intention is not only to raise funds but also create awareness. The more we spread the word, the more we can support groups working hard to free and rehabilitate victims."




CITYSEEN
P. Ramakrishnan
Jul 04, 2012

Strictly Ballroom: Hong Kong supermodels Rosemary Vandenbroucke and Tanner S: Cover shoot: The View magazine

Photography: Olaf Mueller 

Art Direction: Ann Tsang 

Stylist: Reema Hair 

Makeup: Denise Toms 

Models: Taner S and Rosemary Vandenbroucke 

Producer: P. Ramakrishnan 

The View magazine

Dandy dearest

Vivienne Westwood's take on the bow tie (HK$760) puts a wicked spin on this conservative accessory with its skull and crossbones print. From Vivienne Westwood, 42 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay, tel: 3549 6308


TBC

8th June 2012
P. Ramakrishnan