STYLE
Travel Booty
For the Adventurer
For the Shopper
For the Epicure
1. The LI’L
GUPPIE MULTITOOL is the
granddaddy of
all multi-function
pocket knives.
Equipped with
a steel blade,
flat screwdriver,
adjustable
wrench and
doubling as
a carabiner,
this tool has
everything you’ll
need for the
great outdoors.
3. The WALKIN’
BAG has a builtin seat for the
hardcore shopper
to take a breather
before the next
shopping spree.
5. On a quest to
taste delicacies
from around
the world, from
Michelin-starred
restaurants to
holes-in-thewall? What better
way to record
everything than
on a MOLESKINE
RECIPE
JOURNAL?
Complete with
six theme-based
sections for
appetisers, first
courses, main
dishes, side
dishes, desserts
and cocktails,
this is the
notebook for the
finicky foodie!
2. If you’ve ever
found yourself
at a campsite
without a fire
going, you
know the value
of a solarpowered lamp.
SOLLIGHT’S
LIGHTCAP
300 features
an ingenious
bottle cap
that generates
solar electricity,
turning the
bottle into a
lamp! No more
fumbling for
equipment in
the dark!
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4. Known for
its comfort and
style, CLARKS’
ORINOCCO DIP
strikes a balance
between beauty
and practicality.
Not only are
these boots
comfortable, they
match almost
anything in your
wardrobe, so
shopping can be
done in comfort.
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22 • ASCOTT LIVING
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6. Picnics are
much more fun
when done the
traditional way.
The WICKER
PICNIC BASKET
BY WILLIAMSSONOMA, which
is inspired by
classic English
picnic hampers, is
all you need for
the next outdoor
dining experience
as it comes with
plates, cutlery,
mugs and even a
wine opener!
From the sensible to the sublime, these gift ideas are
perfect for your travel-obsessed loved ones. BY CHIN WEI LIEN
For the Laid-Back Traveller
The Hedonist
7. A travel pillow
with a built-in
MP3 player?
That’s what
CABEAU’S
EVOLUTION
PILLOW is all
about. Listen to
your favourite
tunes and
have a good
rest while
travelling to your
destination!
9. Stimulate the
senses with a
luxury perfume of
a different kind.
Every fragrance
from LE LABO is
specially mixed
to an individual’s
preference,
topped off with a
customised label
on the bottle.
This is the
perfect gift for
those who like all
things bespoke.
8. Perfect for
those who
want to laze
on a Caribbean
beach with a
good book in
hand, Amazon’s
KINDLE 3 can
hold over 3,000
books, taking
your entire library
everywhere.
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10. In collaboration
with famed
photographer, Scott
Schuman, a.k.a.,
the Sartorialist, the
KIEHL’S LIMITED
EDITION DOPP
KIT contains
travel-sized
bottles from the
brand’s Facial Fuel
series, including
Energising Facial
Wash, Energising
Moisture
Treatment, Eye Depuffer and many
more in a specially
designed bag.
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ASCOTT LIVING • 23
STYLE
The
Rising Stars
Southeast Asia’s rising stars in the fashion
world on which cities have inspired their
creativity the most. BY CHIN WEI LIEN
24 • ASCOTT LIVING
eve
BY EVE TAN
Singapore
Growing up with a mother who
worked as a seamstress, Eve was
exposed to garment creation at a very
young age. Inspired by the people
the designer met on her travels and
the works of Donna Karan, the brand
eve strives to create an intimate
relationship between the clothes and
the wearer.
In what ways did Singapore
influence your designs?
Due to Singapore’s tropical climate,
the fabrics I choose have to be
breathable and feel good on the skin,
which is why I use modal jersey a
lot. I want the wearer to feel free and
comfortable, yet chic and stylish in
our tropical climate.
Which is your favourite city/
country to shop in?
I enjoy shopping at the Granville Road
area in Hong Kong and Opening
Ceremony in Tokyo, Japan. Their
concept stores and local designers
are very individualistic. Being able to
shop and experience the vibrancy of
these countries is very inspirational.
Given 24 hours in Singapore,
which location(s) will you advise
someone to go to for shopping?
Head to Haji Lane for quirky, vintage
finds. Parco next NEXT at Millenia
Walk also features amazing works by
local designers.
ASCOTT LIVING • 25
STYLE
Proudrace
BY RIK RASOS AND PAT
BONDOC
The Philippines
Proudrace is an experimental, fun and boundary-defying
fashion label that is causing a stir even beyond the
Philippines. What started out as a T-shirt label quickly
became a full-fledged clothing line in late 2009. Inspired by
MTV and the grunge-rock culture of the 90s, Rik and Pat’s
brainchild is a style that is all their own.
In what ways did the Philippines influence your
designs?
We tend to make pieces that are comfortable and light,
with materials that work for a tropical country. Even though
our country is generally very conservative, we try to push
boundaries without losing our aesthetics along the way.
Which is your favourite city/country to shop in
and why?
We love the fact that you can just walk around Singapore
and discover random hidden shophouses around the city.
Club 21 and Blackmarket 02 are our favourites, as they
are great places to check out regional and local designers.
Given 24 hours in the Philippines, which location(s)
will you advise someone to go to for shopping?
If you don’t mind digging through racks and racks of
clothes, there are amazing vintage and thrift stores known
as ukay-ukay, which can be found all over the country.
MYTH in Greenbelt 5, Makati City carries a number of
amazing young local designers. Cubao X in Quezon City
offers some of the best independent concept stores in
the country. For lifestyle stores, we love The Collective, a
warehouse turned retail and lifestyle space that houses
different shops and bars. BACKSTAGE in Serendra is
also a great place that carries a wide range of products
from clothes to shoes and beauty products.
26 • ASCOTT LIVING
Moustache
BY J.A. DAYE AND ELLIS KREUGER
Hong Kong
J.A. Daye and Ellis Kreuger first fell in love with Hong Kong after
watching Wong Kar Wai’s 2000 film, In the Mood for Love, and
decided to set up their fashion label in the city. Moustache is a
label that combines classic tropical menswear with the Old-World
refinement of tailor-made clothes. Drawing inspiration from
the fashion of the 60s and 70s, old movies and the works of
F. Scott Fitzgerald and W. Somerset Maugham, Moustache aims
to transform Hong Kongers’ conservative approach to fashion to
one that’s gutsier, less status crazy and full of fun.
In what ways did Hong Kong influence your designs?
Hong Kong is such a new city, and it’s constantly tearing itself
down to make way for the new. Yet, a lot of that early 60s vibe
remains, particularly in the Sheung Wan neighbourhood where
we’ve lived and worked in since we moved here. We have
always been a lot more interested, from a fashion point of view,
in the 60s and 70s than what’s on the catwalk and Hong Kong is
a perfect place to nurture that.
Which is your favourite city/country to shop in and why?
Tokyo has by far the best shopping! We think the Japanese look
at retail as an art form and the whole experience is flawless.
The collections are extremely well-edited, the interior designs
considered and the service is impeccable!
Given 24 hours in Hong Kong, which location(s) will you
advise someone to go to for shopping?
We’re going to shamelessly, without reservations, recommend
Sheung Wan, our neighbourhood. It is full of small, independent
shops and boutiques. It’s interesting to walk around the old
neighbourhood and see what local designers are up to. You can
also walk along Hollywood Road, down Aberdeen Street, Gough
Street and then up on Tai Ping Shan Street and find lots of great
little shops and a real street life. A similar area is around Star
Street in Wanchai, which has great local and Japanese brands,
nice outdoor cafés and great old low-rise buildings.
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