Makeup
17 Lessons we learnt from Hilary Duff’s “sparkle in quarantine” makeup tutorial

19.05.2020
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Quarantine makeup 101

 Lessons we learnt from Hilary Duff’s ‘sparkle in quarantine’ makeup look

Need a mood booster while you stay home this MCO? Learn a beauty tip or two from actress Hilary Duff. The actress flaunts her skills in a 20-minute long beauty tutorial on IGTV—here’s a breakdown of what we learnt from her “sparkle in quarantine” home video:

Skin-ready

 Prep clean skin with a mist
Duff uses a vitamin C mist to prep her skin before makeup application. Tip: don’t forget to lather on sunscreen if you’re using vitamin C in the daytime.

 Wear your eye balm as a lip balm
In the video, she uses Tata Harper Boosted Contouring Eye Balm for her lips as well. Tip: warm the product up with your fingertips before applying it.

 Don’t be afraid of oils
“I’m an oil queen,” she proclaims. If you find that your makeup doesn’t stay well on your skin, apply oils at night instead.
Hit the base

 go with a light base
Duff uses Giorgio Armani’s Power Fabric Foundation Balm to even out her skin tone—she pats a little bit on her eyelids as well to create a base.

 No brushes? No worries
Use your fingertips to pat concealer on if you have undereye circles. “I don’t like the super white cast beneath the eyes—it looks highly unnatural. But it’s necessary if you have dark eye circles.”

 contour your eyelids
Use a deep brown shade to create a crease in the eyelids, and drag the brush down to the sides of the nose to contour it.

 ‘W’ is the magic letter
Don’t know how to contour? Think of your face as a “W”—glide your brush down and up your facial angles as you would write the letter “W”. Blend the harsh lines out with a BeautyBlender, then apply highlighter using the base of the sponge.

 match your blush with your hair colour
Got a hair colour that best resembles a “murky lake”? Work with it. Duff uses M.A.C Cosmetics Mineral Blushers in a coral hue to complement her hair colour.
All eyes

 Have fun with coloured liquid liners
“I start in the middle of my lash line and paint it out to the edge of my eyes…I flick it out to my crease and make that line bigger.” Tip: Press the liner on the lash line instead of dragging it to create a line.

 just wing it
“Cat eyes can be cousins not twins, because it’s so hard to do. As long as you have the right shape, no one is going to judge if [your cat eye] is spot on.”

 for doll-like eyes
Use mascara on your lower lash line for definition, then comb through the clumps with a spoolie brush.

 Brow game on
Regardless of product, use tiny brush strokes to fill in the brows for a naturally “fluffy” look.

Finishing touches

 there are no rules in makeup
Use your highlighter as an eyeshadow. “I’m going to create a sheen on the lid…I’m not being too precious about it. You can be smudge-y, and you can bring it out to the side of your eyes.” Duff also applied highlighter to her undereye areas to set her makeup.

 continue highlighting…
Apply highlighter on the cupid’s bow and on the tip of the nose; don’t forget your collarbone!

 2-in-1
Duff uses Nudestix’s Magnetic Plush Paints for her lips and cheeks. “It’s nice to be cohesive.” Tip: Smudge your lip colour with your fingers for a stained effect, then apply the same colour on the cheeks with a sponge.

 An extra sheen doesn’t hurt
Swipe some gloss over the cheeks for a next-level glow. Tip: Apply it all over the face if you like, then swipe on bronzer for final definition.

 a final sparkle
“The other fun thing I’ve been doing to make my day more sparkly is to pop face crystals on. My kids really like these,” says Duff.
Click here for more makeup inspiration.

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Fashion
Cannes Film Festival 2016: What goes behind the making of Dior Couture gowns
Hand-stitched luxury

20.05.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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With all the jaw-dropping looks during Cannes Film Festival 2016 as of late, have you ever wondered what goes behind the making of one couture gown? This past week’s red carpet was graced by Dior ambassadresses Liu Yifei and Marion Cotillard, both decked in beautiful Dior Couture gowns during the premieres of “Cafe Society” and “From The Land of The Moon” respectively. We take a look at how each of their gowns is painstakingly made at the Dior ateliers in France:

Liu, who also is the ambassador of Dior Prestige skincare in China, was dressed in a flower-embroidered dress exclusively made for her. The process begins with the seamstresses closely following the sketch to define the dress, movement of its train, and floral motifs. Once the details have been laid out (from the placement of embroideries down to the bust lines and volume at the hips), the ecru faille fabric was cut and sewn to create a preliminary version that was sent directly to China for Liu to try out.

After giving her impressions, the dress returns to Paris and is used as a model for the real dress, retaining the embroidered fabric while topping it with cotton ribbons and pale pink frayed organza shaped into corollas. The stems and leaves are traced out in flat metal sequins, crystal bugle beads and silver thread—all inspired by the Granville roses used in Dior Prestige skincare.
More images of savoir-faire below:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Dior Cannes” rid=”4020″ order=”a_tstamp”}
French actress and Dior muse Marion Cotillard’s gold lamé gown was the exact opposite of Liu’s in every way. Cotillard specifically wanted a unique gold dress that had glittering details for this night. The couturiers then worked from a moodboard of ideas, designing a dress that combined the pared-down simplicity with unparalleled savoir-faire.

Fun fact: Only one single seam is visible on the bust, thus giving the fabric  draped movement that seemingly continues to spill to the shoulder into a ruffle of black velvet, resulting in a beautiful trompe l’œil effect. The beauty of this gown lies in the fabric’s ability to hug the curves of the chest naturally without visible stitches—all thanks to the well-constructed organza foundation beneath it. To ensure that the fabric falls in a fluid motion, a fine copper chain was sewn into the hem of the dress to allow ease of movement.
More details of savoir-faire below:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Dior Cannes Marion” rid=”4019″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Beauty
Shu Uemura collaborates with Super Mario on a holiday collection
For beauty geeks out there

17.07.2017
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Calling all beauty geeks and gamer girls—Shu Uemura’s Holiday Collection this year is one you absolutely want to snap up. The Japanese beauty company has teamed up with the game of our childhood era, Super Mario Bros. on a 17-product lineup featuring the cutest designs in all its 8-bit graphic glory. Slated for release on November 1, this collection is the first beauty collaboration for the Nintendo video game.

“This time we got inspiration from culture. Super Mario Bros. is one cultural aspect that is representative of Japan. It’s also really, really popular overseas. I looked at something behind the Super Mario Bros. game and I tried to find something in common between the video game and beauty. My point of view is that the Super Mario Bros. game is a really simple game. To achieve the goal you have to overcome some kinds of hazards, then finally you will get what you want,” said Kakuyasu Uchiide, international artistic director for Shu Uemura in an interview with WWD.

What to expect from this retro-leaning beauty lineup? Apart from Shu Uemura’s signature products that are reinterpreted in snazzy designs—including the Invincible Superstar Premium Curler and Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil, watch out for new additions that will pack a punch in your beauty bag. The Dual Stamp-Me Liner sports a felt-tip liner on one end, and a star-shaped stamp on the other end; while the Peach’s Eye and Cheek Palette is equipped with stunning hues ranging from orange and bronze to mauve and plum—the cheek colours are even stamped with graphics from the game!

Take a look at the full collection below:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Shu Uemura x Super Mario” rid=”5260″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Food + Drink
Team BURO Answers: Our favourite Malaysian drinks

14.08.2020
By Ronn Tan

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It’s no secret that Malaysia is a blessed nation filled with a vast array of culinary offerings. Gastronomy is at the very core of who Malaysians are; dominating our conversations in school, at work, and even at the mamak.
In conjunction with Independence Month and Merdeka, we decided to  shine a well-deserved spotlight on iconic Malaysian drinks (check out our favourite Malaysian childhood snacks and Malaysian dishes). Here are Team BURO Malaysia’s favourite Malaysian thirst-quenchers.
RACHEL AU, editor

One of my favourite drinks is Milo (#notsponsored). Growing up, I had it every morning but nothing beats the small cup of Milo from the Milo truck that randomly appears in my schoolyard once in a while. Perhaps it’s the perfect balance of Milo meets water (yes, it’s most likely diluted). Or perhaps it meant we were allowed to skip classes (because teachers loved it too!). Perhaps it’s just the sweet memory of a Malaysian childhood.
LOH WEI YEEN, deputy editor

Weekends out when I was a kid always constituted indulgent lunches at my family’s go-to spots (read: chicken rice at the best hole-in-the-wall hawker spot), but as someone who perspires like I’ve just ran a marathon every time I’m out of the house, a refreshing glass of ambra juice (extra ice) is what keeps a heatstroke at bay. Made with ambra aka buah kedondong and sour dried plum (asam), this thirst-quenching drink is sour and sweet with a hint of saltiness all in one. Tip: if your juice doesn’t come in a startling shade of green, it’s probably not gonna be good.
JOAN KONG, fashion editor

Calling myself a tea lover would be an understatement. Be it Teh O Limau Ais, the plain ol’ black tea, fruit tea, or milk tea (in all shapes and forms, might I add), I love worship them all and I can’t imagine a life without them. That said, if I were to choose an ultimate favourite, it would be my kopitiam go-to—Three-Layer Tea. Originated from Sarawak, the drink is made up of palm sugar, evaporated milk, and black tea, and the combo definitely makes it (look and taste) miles better than Teh Ais (sorry, Sarah!). It’s a uniquely Malaysian drink, that’s for sure.
RONN TAN, lifestyle writer

This was never going to be easy. How do you even go about choosing just one Malaysian food or drink? After putting my heart, mind, soul, and everything I’ve got into making a decision, I’ll say that my favourite Malaysian drink is Air Sirap Bandung (I know it’s sweet, Red!). I don’t drink it as much as I used to (because of age and the fear of diabetes) but I remember my magnanimous affection for the pink rose syrup-filled drink very clearly. I actually really enjoy the drink in its sparkling variation too. So refreshing!
REDZHANNA JAZMIN, editorial assistant

Honestly, when it comes to the classic Malaysian beverages, you’re basically choosing between one cup of sugar and another. Ais Sirap Bandung is great but will make you sick from the sweetness, Milo Dinosaur is a tasty one-way ticket to diabetes and Teh Tarik is more of the same. They’re all delicious, but at some point, you’ve got to think of ye olde teeth. Barley, on the other hand, doesn’t leave you with that feeling of “this made my teeth sore and my tummy angry”—quite the contrary, actually.
It’s the kind of drink that makes you feel really healthy; invigorated, really. It’s a nice and creamy ever-so-slightly viscous drink that tastes great hot or cold, and it only has a lot of sugar in it! It’s actually fine, though—barley grain is healthy so it cancels out. Right?
CALLEIGH YAP, senior graphic designer

Whoever created Neslo is a genius. Milo not giving you the caffeine kick? Nescafe too strong for your liking? Mix both and you get the perfect morning drink. It’s my favourite drink whenever I go to a mamak. I highly recommend it if you have not tried it.
SARAH TAI, senior graphic designer

Honestly, I thought it’d be easy to answer this (and trust me, it’s a no brainer) but having to come up with a justification of why I think teh ais/teh tarik is my all-time favourite Malaysian drink is proving to be a struggle. When I told Ronn that I couldn’t think of an answer, he briefly suggested reasons that were far too deep and profound for a mere cup of tea with condensed milk and sugar. He mentioned something along the lines of memories of growing up in Malaysia (did he mention it in his own answersI’m curious?) but really, all my simple mind could think of at that point was, I just like it because it’s yummy.
ZAKWAN TAUFIQ, videographer

What is my favourite Malaysian drink? Limau Ais. Why? It’s actually really difficult for me to choose between Limau Ais and Teh Tarik, but I always order Limau Ais whenever I lepak with my friends at the mamak. I’m also on diet and I’m trying to consume less sugar. Limau Ais is like a common drink in Malaysia. To taste the sourness, it’s best if you drink it without sugar. Then, you can taste and feel the joy of drinking Limau Ais or Limau Panas.
There you go! How about you? Is your favourite Malaysian drink on the list?

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Fashion
Milan Fashion Week SS17: Highlights of Day 1
Ciao, Milano!

22.09.2016
By Buro247

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Ever since Alessandro Michele took the helm less than two years ago, the creative director introduced a new aesthetic to the Italian luxury house, had all of fashion talking and sent sales rocketing. Thus, there is no doubt that Gucci’s showcase is one of the most anticipated shows at Milan Fashion Week. Let alone, the entirety of Fashion Week. This season, Michele drew references from the ’70s once again. While it may not be Studio 54-inspired like last season’s collections, the flamboyant elegance remains with look-at-me pieces like a double-zebra mink coat, matching sequined sets and glitter-framed Elton John-esque eyewear. The collection has its quirky side: from a tiered evening dress that had a giant embroidered heart pierced with a jeweled dagger on the front to a “Hollywood Forever” sash. Nerdy, eccentric teamed with Renaissance-chic vibes, the multiple references converged harmoniously, heightening the maximalist fashion brought by the Michele-led style revolution.

At Roberto Cavilli SS17, the ’70s trend showed no signs of slowing down as the era’s carefree elements are apparent throughout. This season, Peter Dundas cross-referenced American textiles Najavo blankets with Scandanavia, presenting snow-inspired polka dots and platform boots à la chunky wooden-soled clogs. The collection simply spells gypsy luxe with its mixture of ponchos, shawls and drifty dresses, making every girl wish they could don the pieces at Woodstock in 1969. Adding on to the “more is more” style with numbers like an apricot silver-embroidered silk velvet flared pants, patchworked denim and multi-tiered dress, it is safe to say that bohemian has never looked this chic.

At No. 21, Alessandro Dell’Acqua redefined femininity in his exuberant Spring collection. Featuring net hems on macramé dress, tulle-lined anoraks and feather-trimmed scuba-tops, Dell’Acqua merged a romantic direction with sporty elements, bringing athleisure to new heights. While layering is not a trend emblematic of summer, it was done effortlessly and lavishly at No. 21. With loose mesh as an underlayer, the athletic touch is seen under piled-up skirts, patchworked dresses and pleated lamé. Although girlie and light, the looks are far from precious with pieces like an eyelet-detailed oversized shirt, a sweatshirt with ruched chiffon sleeves and pocketed bomber. If there is anything that lets you have the best of both worlds, it is this collection.

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Fashion
From Paris Fashion Week to hipster cafes of KL with Chanel Cruise 2018
Fashion meets food

23.11.2017
By Cai Mei Khoo

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Earlier in May this year, the Grand Palais in Paris was transformed into a scene straight out of ancient Greece. Guests sat amongst crumbling ruins, a replica of the Temple of Poseidon, as models stalked past in gladiator sandals, with Roman columns as heels, wearing jersey gowns and tweed outfits matched with iridescent metal headbands, floral-embellished, multi-layered necklaces, rope bracelets, and colourful leather cuffs with interlocking double Cs.

The Cruise 2018 show was called ‘The Modernity of Antiquity’, and I was curious to see if this modernity would sit well outside of Lagerfeld’s made-up version of ancient Greece. (“Reality is of no interest to me,” Lagerfeld said. “I use what I like. My Greece is an idea.”) And so at the Paris shows in September, I dug into Chanel’s Midas chest to see how it fared in modern-day Paris (although this time, the Grand Palais was transformed into a tropical paradise with six waterfalls for the Chanel Spring/Summer 2018 show).

{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Chanel Cruise 2018″ rid=”5699″ order=”a_tstamp”}

Back in the heat of Kuala Lumpur, craving my typical Parisian breakfast of a croissant and coffee, I head out to one of my favourite spots to get my fill.

A few days later, a meeting brings me to a café that’s set within one of the pre-war townhouses in Chinatown. Set up like a traditional kopitiam with wooden chairs and round tables with marble tops, a feature that struck me within the café were its timeworn walls with layers of peeling paint. Somehow the iridescent metal Chanel headband and bracelets I had on, matched our environs perfectly. And that is Lagerfeld’s genius; his take on ‘modernity of antiquity’ that somehow manages to look timeless yet current.

{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Chanel Cruise 2018-2″ rid=”5700″ order=”a_tstamp”}

All accessories worn are from the Chanel Cruise 2018 collection, available in stores on Friday, 24 November 2017. Chanel is at LC-G06-7, Suria KLCC. Tel: 03-2726 1818.

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Lifestyle
Why Resorts World Sentosa Singapore’s S.E.A. Aquarium is more than just that

02.10.2018
By Rachel Au

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There’s a good reason why S.E.A. Aquarium is a must-visit when in Singapore. For those who have yet to dive deeper into what the popular attraction has to offer, we’ve fished out everything you’ve been missing out on below.

1. The incredible variety of marine life at S.E.A. Aquarium
As one of the world’s largest aquariums, it is home to more than 100,000 marine animals of over 1,000 species, including endangered ones such as the manta ray, Clarion angelfish and a variety of beautiful corals.

2. Witness what happens to a shipwreck
Like a scene out of a movie, the habitat is your first stop upon entering the premises. While it does act as a simulation as to how shipwrecks evolve into thriving marine habitats, it’s also where the aquarium’s shark rays call home. A threatened species that’s usually hard to breed under human care, S.E.A. Aquarium has managed to create the world’s most successful shark ray breeding programme. Look out for the endangered ornate eagle ray here too – it’s the first of its kind to be featured in zoos and aquariums worldwide.

3. Learn more about sharks
Walk past the Shipwreck Habitat and into the underwater tunnel for a 360-degree view of the world of Shark Seas with its over 100 sharks of 12 different species. Be in awe as you watch them move through the waters around you or discover common myths about them as you make your way out of the tunnel.

4. The star of the aquarium
Every tourist attraction has a centrepiece and at S.E.A. Aquarium, it’s the Open Ocean Habitat with its stunning viewing panel that’s 36m wide and 8.3m tall. Holding 18 million litres of water and housing over 40,000 marine animals, it’s truly a sight to behold as you watch majestic reef manta rays, goliath groupers, and more than 100 other species gracefully swim past.

5. A dome just to watch the manta rays
Once you’re able to actually tear your eyes away from the mesmerising Open Ocean Habitat, make your way to the nearby Ocean Dome where you’ll be able to watch a squadron of manta rays (and their smiley faces) glide by above.

6. Dine with the sea creatures
You could easily take up at least half a day at S.E.A. Aquarium. Thus, if and when, you’re feeling peckish, there’s Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora for a unique aquarium dining experience complemented by a grand view of the Open Ocean Habitat.

7. Stay overnight with the sea creatures
Similarly, you can check into the luxurious Ocean Suite where the view outside your window is different from your usual cityscape; it’s instead an underwater view of the busy Open Ocean Habitat.

8. Make your friends jelly with the sea jelly gallery
Easily yet another Instagram-worthy spot at the aquarium, the sight of these 1,000 sea jellies are enhanced with special lightings.

9. Marine conservation projects
Officially known as Guardians of the S.E.A.A., the aquarium’s conservation group is relentlessly involved in various projects be it supporting research, spreading awareness or conducting breeding programs. Come World Oceans Day and they’d have curated a line-up of activities to promote sustainable living and ocean protection.

10. Ultimate Marine Encounters
The fun doesn’t stop there as S.E.A. Aquarium offers a variety of premium programmes separately for those who desire a more up-close and hands-on experience. For example, Sea Trek Adventure, which is suitable even for non-swimmers, lets you suit up with underwater helmets, descend three metres and stroll amongst the marine life; while Open Ocean Dive will have you diving for 30 minutes in the Open Ocean Habitat with the manta rays.
*Separate charges apply and advanced bookings are required.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Maritime Experiential Museum” rid=”6584″ order=”a_tstamp”}
EXTRA: The Maritime Experiential Museum
While you’re there, stop by Resorts World Sentosa’s newest attraction after a massive reconceptualisation: The Maritime Experiential Museum next door where the iconic Maritime Silk Route has been reimagined into 15 unique galleries to tell its story.

How to book your tickets online

S.E.A. Aquarium

The Maritime Experiential Museum

Klook is an official ticketing partner of Resorts World Sentosa where you can easily purchase tickets online and have them saved on your smartphone so you can skip the queues and avoid the possibility of leaving your tickets at home.

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Features
Conscious shopping: How Looop is cultivating circular fashion and a better world
Give your clothes a new home

11.12.2022
By Pravin Nair

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When founders Adani Bakhtiar, Bay Doucet, and Emma Khoo met each other while employed at Riuh in the City, they did not know that a few years down the line (and with a lot of blood, sweat and tears), they’d find space for their personal project to be realised in the trendy neighbourhood of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI). The project in question would lead to a cult following of sorts amongst locals in the greater Kuala Lumpur area, allowing them to rehome, reuse and repurpose pieces of clothing and accessories, and thus, starting a loop that is never-ending, one that leads to the better consumption of fashion.
Founded in the month of May 2022, Looop functions as a consignment-based thrift store, allowing contributors to earn back a little money for every piece sold. To get a better grasp and understanding of what goes on behind the scenes at Looop, and the journey that led up to its eventual opening, we’re shining a spotlight on the co-owners to get a sense of what it means to be green, sustainable and conscious in the very fashion-forward world that we live in today.
Watch the video below for a quick introduction, and read on for the full interview.

What you were doing before founding Looop together?
Bay: “I’m formally trained in graphic design but now work as a freelance model and content creator. Graduating from university right before the pandemic gave me a strange relationship with work. I started my freelance career after spending a year working full-time and haven’t looked back. I love exploring my many interests, and Looop was a happy and unexpected result of my love for thrifting and hunting down vintage pieces.”
Adani: “I consider myself a walking directory as I’m always excited to see what’s new around me, and I love giving suggestions to my friends and family from what I’ve gathered. I have a degree in Events Management and gained some experience in hosting creative events in the city. It was through these opportunities that I got to know of local brands that I’ve come to love today. Eventually, I pivoted my career towards design presentation at a consultancy and took on a role as a freelance manager for a few creators. What I do today, I have Bay and Emma to thank for. Each of us plays an important role in keeping each other accountable in our respective careers.”
Emma: “I’m a hybrid of many interests. While my new nine-to-five is in affiliate marketing, the first notch in my career belt was in events management and the creative arts, which is a jarring contrast to my formal law education. I always knew I’d take a path less trodden in my life, and starting Looop was precisely that.”

Consignors can share personal stories of the items they are letting go
1/2

A clean and open space where you can shop comfortably
2/2

Explain what the concept is behind Looop.
E: “Looop is all about rehoming good quality pre-loved clothing. We’re founded on three pillars—Community, Environment and the Joy of Discovery. Each of these pillars holds an individual meaning that leads back to the name of the store:
Community: As a service to our community, we provide a platform where your pre-loved clothes can become someone else’s, and others can become yours.
Environment: A big bonus of Looop is that it slows down clothes from ending up in landfills. We give a second (or third or fourth) chance to a piece of clothing and keep them in a cycle of wear.
Joy of Discovery: We wanted people to experience this feeling in our store, where they can find a pre-loved piece that really speaks to them and one that will end up being a permanent addition to their wardrobe. There’s nothing quite like finding a piece that feels like it was meant for you.”

What prompted each of you to form Looop?
B: “I love second-hand shopping, and I think for me, it was seeing the lack of options for second-hand shopping locally. There are great bundle stores and curated vintage stores, but nothing that really kept local clothing in circulation (apart from Carousell and other online resale platforms). I think having a range of options when it comes to shopping second-hand gives people more access points, and can inspire those who have a negative association with pre-loved clothes, to give it a shot.”
A: “My family loves sourcing second-hand clothing! But ironically enough, even though I do have an adoration for it, I typically get my family members to shop for them for me. I wanted to shop somewhere that was already curated, less ‘dusty’ per se, and to feel comfortable trying out the pieces. Building Looop has allowed us to make the second-hand shopping setting more accommodating, and I hope a lot of people are able to feel comfortable while shopping here, just as we intended it to be.”
E: I purged my closet post-breakup and wanted to sell some good-quality pieces. I wanted to maintain my anonymity, which meant that I couldn’t sell it on my Instagram or Carousell profile. At the same time, I also did not want to go through the hassle of taking photos and doing deliveries. That’s when I was reminded of second-hand clothing stores in other countries that sell on a consignment basis. And Bay, Adani and I quickly saw there was a gap in the local market that we could fill, thus creating Looop.”

Endless stylish options to choose from

How do you see each of your individual personalities influencing the brand?
B: “I did the branding for Looop and it was inspired by my friendship with Emma and Adani. The three primary colours of the store—yellow, green and orange—were taken from our private conversations, where each of us used a distinct heart emoji with the colours of the store when texting. I love taking time to notice the little things and tell a story through visuals. I’m a little nostalgic as well, so honouring the stories behind each piece by letting consignors write out their item’s past life definitely brings me a lot of joy!”
A: “My anxiety makes me micromanage things. I assist in many of the tedious management tasks that require me to have everything on record, schedule meetings, and arrange folders and documents just so that we have no loopholes for any audits. The three of us love to manifest and challenge the impossible. The first step in doing so is compiling and spitballing everything onto a deck. I’m very much the designated slides girl; I enjoy having these ideas converted into a visual setting so it can bring us a step closer to realising them.”
E: “I love running a tight ship. It’s probably what I picked up from event management. What’s important to me is that behind the scenes of all the exterior fluff is a business that makes sense (and cents, if you will)! I manage the finances of our humble little store and keep track of our revenue, costs and consignor payouts. I also have a detailed system for how clothes are hung in the store (i.e. black pieces are not hung side-by-side and sleeved and sleeveless dresses are alternated so the hangers don’t tangle).”

What does a typical day look like at Looop?
B: “During opening hours, we take in our appointments for clothes drop-offs where we curate items that are fit for selling. We also like to highlight some great finds in the store on our Instagram page by trying them on and photographing them. This leads to a little dress-up party of our own! We love chatting with our customers as well, and when the store isn’t too busy, we even help them style outfits and pick out pieces for them. Other than that, it’s pretty regular storekeeping.”

Create a full top-to-toe outfit at Looop for any occasion

Could you explain the process for consigning items at the store?
A: “We’ve detailed the entire process on our website, but in short: after you’ve made an appointment to sell with us, you can bring in up to 20 items to the store where we have a quick look through of the quality and condition of each piece. After our curation process is complete, it takes us up to a week to price and onboard the items before they go out onto our racks for eight weeks.
It is during this period that we hope they get adopted into new homes! We pay out your 40 per cent cut of the sales price via bank transfer on the last Monday of each month. At the end of the eight weeks, you can opt to come in and pick up your unsold pieces, or we can donate them on your behalf.”
Do you intend on opening an online platform, or are you focused on the physical space for the time being?
E: “We’re definitely more focused on the physical space at the moment, but we’re working towards creating an online platform for very special pieces that don’t leave the floor in its eight-week cycle.”

What are some of your future plans for Looop?
A: “We hope Looop is able to introduce circular fashion to a broader audience since it’s relatively new in this region. We hope to expand our model beyond TTDI and Kuala Lumpur and continue to keep local clothing in a local cycle.”
For more fashion stories, click here

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Beauty
Women in beauty: Glow Recipe’s founder breaks down their best-selling products and deals some pro skincare and business tips

03.03.2021
By Redzhanna Jazmin

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Just six years ago, Sarah Lee and Christine Chang left their cushy jobs as product formulators and marketing executives at L’Oreal to pursue the launch of their very own beauty brand. Glow Recipe began as a curation business that sought to bridge the gap between the Korean and American beauty markets, introducing the now-ubiquitous K-Beauty philosophy to the Western demographic.
Today, it has become one of the most popular skincare brands out there, with a keen cult following—and for good reason too. With over ten years of experience as product formulators and marketers, the fruit-filled skincare line is more than just eye (and skin) candy; it is a collection of effective, considered vanity staples.

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From the texture of Glow Recipe’s products to the individual ingredients and even the smell, each product is optimised for the perfect balance of efficacy, aesthetic, and convenience, to ensure a luxurious sensorial experience with every use. The only hitch—the brand hasn’t been available in our corner of the world…until now.
We had the absolute pleasure of chatting with one of the brand’s dynamic duo, Christine Chang, about the brand’s launch in Malaysia and she ended up having some absolutely top-tier pointers to share with us. To get some pro-tips on your skincare routine and learn more about the cult-favourite brand that has hit our shelves, read on!
How did Glow Recipe come about?

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“It really felt like fate. I’ve known Sarah for over 15 years (I met her on my first day as an intern at L’Oreal in Korea), and back when K-beauty was relatively unknown in the US, we were the only two people in the L’Oreal New York offices who had experience with both the Korean and the US beauty cultures. That felt special and meaningful and we decided it was time to leverage that experience and give [starting a beauty brand] our best shot.
“Just to give you an understanding of the market in the US, at the time we started this business, skincare was not trending. People hated doing their skincare routine. It was something you had to slog through—most of the brands that were in focus were clinical brands that were a little more serious. [Skincare] wasn’t really a ritual or anything that was really pampering or fun. In fact, I remember going on a business trip with one of my L’Oreal colleagues and she was shocked when she actually saw my skincare routine. All she did for skincare was splash her face with water, put on a moisturiser, and then go to bed. That’s when I realised that there was a real opportunity here.
“After we made the decision, it all happened very fast—we quit our jobs (which our parents had a lot of things to say about at the time) and started Glow Recipe with just USD25,000 each of our savings. We flew to Korea right away and succeeded in getting eight brands on board without even a website. We talked through what our mission was: To create a platform for them.
“We eventually phased out of our curation business in 2019 as [the brand] was growing so much, but we actually helped to connect these businesses to different retailers in the US so they could continue growing the platform that they had grown here.”
Glow Recipe products are formulated around fruit-derived antioxidants. How would you describe your formulation and marketing philosophy?

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“In the beauty industry, you kind of fall into this cycle of chasing the highest concentration of active ingredient as opposed to thinking about gentle, efficacious daily use. So, for us, it’s really not about achieving a super high percentage of acid or retinol. It’s about testing and optimising to reach something that is still gentle for all skin—including sensitive skin—while prioritising the sensorial experience. We believe that skincare should be the best part of your day, where you unwind and enjoy that ritual so part of that is us focusing on the beauty of certain textures—like how it feels when it wraps your face, and even down to the jars.
”The fruit antioxidants that we have chosen for our products are the same fruits we grew up using in our skincare routine. They’re the same fruits we saw our mothers and grandmothers use (such as rubbing watermelon on their skin in the hot summer months in Korea), and we pair that with gentle, powerful actives.
“Each fruit serves a synergistic purpose for the active it is paired with. In our Plum Plump Hyaluronic Serum, plum is synergistic with hyaluronic acid because it helps to support that AHA production in the skin. In our Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask, avocado works as a great buffer for retinol. Watermelon is a very soothing ingredient, which works as a great counterpart to the gentle dose of AHAs that we added into the formula for the resurfacing effect.
“It’s that balance of hydration and exfoliation that we strive for throughout our products—not because we feel you have to over-exfoliate or resurface all the time for great skin, but because gentle exfoliation is an essential part of a healthy skincare routine. It’s important for us to constantly ensure that if our products are used together, it is always the right amount of hydration and exfoliation coming together to both protect but also renew the skin.”
How does Glow Recipe differ from the other K-beauty and Western beauty brands on the market?

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“I think that a really nice way to sum up the ethos of our brand is that it has married both traditions. There are all these great Korean holistic approaches to skincare that we grew up with and that we wanted to incorporate into our skincare experience. However, at the same time, when we saw that first wave of K-beauty coming to the US, we saw the trend of having a 10-step skincare routine was actually turning people off.
“We would walk into a Sephora and a beauty adviser would say ‘I can’t recommend this to my customers when I myself cannot handle a 15-step routine!’. That’s when we knew then that we had to really myth bust to assure the public that it’s not really about the steps—no one is really sitting there counting the number of steps in their routine—but also that there are a lot of innovative hybrid products that help you get your results faster. We wanted to combine that approach of the West’s more practical skincare with Korea’s holistic sensibility. I think we have created a brand that is neither US- nor Korea-based—it’s really more of a hybrid.”
Do you have any pro tips for applying skincare?

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Tip #1: Don’t dry your face between skincare steps
“After cleansing, we suggest that you don’t actually rub your face dry with a towel—pat your skin dry instead. The reason for this is that in your typical bathrooms, your towel hangs right next to your toilet. So, for hygiene issues, it’s best to avoid using the towel on your face (unless you’re washing it every day). It only takes a few more seconds to pat your skin dry with your hands and go on to your next step—besides, skincare actually works better when your skin is damp anyway, so this is a little technique of ours.”
Tip #2: Start your routine with your eye cream
“Online, we see recommendations about using a serum before your eye cream. You can, but another one of our recommendations is that you actually start with the eye cream. This will allow you to buffer the delicate eye area with a product that’s ophthalmologist-tested specifically for that area before moving on to serums and moisturisers that can have higher concentrations of actives.”
Tip #3: Employ the 1 + 1 method when using a cleansing balm or oil
“Balms and oils don’t work differently. Balms, like our Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm, are just a solid oil. The difference is that using them is a more mess-free experience (oils tend to run down your hands and they can be a little more unwieldy to manage). That said, you can use either for the first step of your cleansing routine. There is a very specific technique we follow when using it (it’s the 1 + 1 method).
“So, you massage the balm or oil into your skin for a full minute, and then you add a little water to emulsify it and continue massaging for another minute. It’s really important to wet the skin and continue the massaging so that you’re massaging and emulsifying at the same time. This will make sure that everything comes off when you rinse, and you’ll find that your skin is not stripped and not dry afterwards and that it still has that barrier intact.”
Tip #4: Look for retinol in your products
“Retinol is highly recommended for a broader age range than you’d think. We’ve seen people use our Avocado Retinol Mask as an acne treatment because retinol helps with skin cell turnover—this also makes it so effective for concerns like milia.”
Tip #5: Ageing starts with your eyes, so you might want to think about investing in an eye cream
“If you’re really young, you probably don’t need an eye cream. That being said, your eye area is one of the first places you’ll feel signs of ageing because the skin there is so much thinner [than the rest of your face] and it lacks as many oil glands.
“Plus, eye creams like ours with retinol are great for treating concerns in younger skin—retinol isn’t only about anti-ageing. Around the eye area, it can really help with dark circles, milia, roughness, texture, and puffiness. Either way, I think prevention is always easier than the cure.”
Tip #6: Find a way to incorporate enzymes into your cleansing routine
“Enzymes, unlike acids, actually target only the dead skin cells on your face. So, it really gets that dead weight off, which gives you that perfectly clean canvas and helps you to gently resurface without the irritation associated with acids or any harsh ingredients.
“Something like our Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm is a beautiful way to start off your double cleanse routine—and the papaya antioxidants also help to brighten skin over time.”
Tip #7: Avoid cosmetics that do not contain preservatives
“We think it’s really important for brands to be responsible and not claim to be ‘preservative free’. It’s irresponsible because unless the product is something like an oil that has no water in it, all products need preservatives to be able to withstand fingers and touching and usage. It’s just a normal part of the formulation process.”
What products do you recommend as a starter kit?

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“For those of your starting off at glow, we recommend our “Pore Four” or “Glow Game Changers”. This is the Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner, the Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser, the Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask, and the Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask. These are awesome and are our best selling products. With this, you kind of have a comprehensive routine; you have the toning step, the moisturising step, the eye cream step and then a mask to rotate in and out of your routine.”
It’s so great to see women of colour in entrepreneurial positions, especially now that it’s Women’s Month. Do you have any advice for any women also looking to break into the entrepreneurial game?

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“Absolutely! When I started this business, I think there were a lot of doubters. People would ask ‘why are you leaving a perfectly good career as an executive at L’Oreal to take this risk?’, and my point of view was that—and this maybe doesn’t apply to everyone—I had kind of built enough experience in the industry where I was just like ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’. I would do this business for one or two years, and if it didn’t pan out I would just go back to another beauty company leveraging that creative experience and I would’ve lost one or two years, most. That risk was worth it for me.
“And I think it’s important, in hindsight, how useful that experience at L’Oreal was. It really was an incredible training ground. I actually have friends at L’Oreal in Malaysia so I know that worldwide it’s a pretty demanding environment, but I think it was an incredible training ground for everything that we went through while in the business. Gaining experience in a relevant industry before starting is really important; that network, that tribe of women and female founders that have supported us have been incredibly important as we’ve grown the business.
“I also think that the last point is to make sure that you have a point of difference. I think the beauty industry, in particular, is very saturated. So, if you don’t have a clear philosophy or ‘North Star’ as to what you want to bring to your customers and the industry, it becomes very difficult. For us, we knew from the beginning of our business that this was the long game: To create our own product because we had done exactly that for a decade at L’Oreal. It was our expertise and our wheelhouse, and so we created each step of our business with that long-game in mind.
“Being Asian women in our positions in the beauty industry has been especially meaningful because we’ve been able to deploy our resources to organisations that support equality and combat racism, and through these acts—it’s incredible to have been able to grow and run Glow Recipe the way we are today.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Find more beauty insiders here.

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Technology
iPad Pro 12.9-inch review: Can this tablet replace your laptop?
The Pros and cons

22.08.2017
By Rachel Au

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With each release of the new iPad, my heart would develop an instant crush, telling my mind, “This is The One.” The novelty of having a bigger screen for reading, watching videos and playing games—among other productivity uses—has always intrigued me; and with each bump in the specs, and the introduction of the Apple Pencil, it only fanned the flames of my desire to own an iPad.
But alas, the more sensible voice in me thinks, “Do I really need to lug another gadget around?” and I end up thinking I’d rather invest in a bigger iPhone. Then, the latest iPad Pro came along, teasing me to change my mind with all its new and impressive hardware. Since it’s sleek (6.9mm thin) and light (677 grams), if it can replace my Macbook Pro itself for when I’m out for meetings or on holidays, why not? All my questions (and yours too, I’m sure) were answered after a month of ‘bonding’ with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which you can find below.

What’s the deal with the A10X Fusion chip?
I’ll spare you all the tech-y details and numbers but it is indeed as revolutionary as they (namely, Apple) say. Whether you’re playing heavy-performance games, editing 4K videos or rendering 3D images, it can effortlessly handle any demanding tasks just like a high-end PC.
Combine the chip with the ProMotion technology (and its 120Hz refresh rate) and what you get is a seamless, fluid-like performance that’s evident even when you’re merely switching between apps. No waiting, no lagging, and no complaints.

What about the Apple Pencil?
Featuring palm rejection and absolute precision, it’s such a joy to use whether it’s jotting down notes for a meeting, brainstorming ideas (with graphs, drawings and added photos—see our list of recommended apps for these here), or plain sketching. Since the iPad Pro’s camera is designed to  scan documents, it gives the Apple Pencil another much appreciated use—signing them or adding markups for changes.
My only displeasure with the Apple Pencil is the lack of indication for its battery life. Yes, I stick it into the iPad Pro’s charging port but how do I know when it’s running low on juice or fully charged?

Favourite feature on the iPad Pro?
Hardware aside, I love the multitasking ‘split screen-like’ feature where I can essentially type my stories in the Pages app on one side, and open Safari on the other to look up some information. Or I can easily pull up the Calendar to check my schedule when setting up an appointment over an email. You get the gist. The upcoming iOS 11, however, will make multitasking (and the entire tablet itself) even more productive and I’m looking forward to the update.s

What’s the camera like?
Sporting 12-megapixels and an f1.8 aperture, it’s the same one in the iPhone 7. It’s capable of shooting 4K videos, complete with optical image stabilisation. At the front, a 7-megapixel HD camera that’s great for selfies and FaceTime.

How’s the battery life?
Apple claims the iPad Pro’s battery can last up to 10 hours. I say I can max out its use for up to two days. It’s insane. On the downside, it doesn’t juice up as fast as I would like. My advice is to plug it to charge before you go to sleep.

Anything else?

The iPad Pro is a complete package and by that, I’m referring to its breathtaking redesigned Retina display. The colours are vivid and almost lifelike while its TrueTone feature helps to adapt the screen according to the surroundings to maintain a natural viewing experience regardless if you’re in- or outdoors. This very experience is assisted by the A10X Fusion chip and ProMotion technology.
Then there is the quad speakers. One in each corner to deliver a crisp and rich stereo sound no matter if you’re using it in Portrait or Landscape orientation.
Also, its Touch ID is now two times faster than its predecessor.

Can it replace my MacBook Pro?
No. But only because, at the moment, iOS10 doesn’t allow me to have control over my files—specifically photos, and specifically editing its canvas size and resolution. However, this applies specifically to one of my job tasks which is uploading thumbnails and photos into the Buro CMS. For ease of typing out my stories, the Smart Keyboard has that covered. It requires no pairing or charging but magnetically attaches to the iPad Pro and voila, instant connection.
If your tasks at work constitute creating presentation slides, editing photos, art/design-related and sending out emails, then yes, you can consider it as your new ‘laptop’. If your personal interests include reading digital books, sketching or practising calligraphy, watching videos, and playing HD games, then yes, you can consider it as your new toy.

But again, iOS11 is set to change the ballgame especially for the iPad Pro. I’ll get back to you come September when the update is released.

The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts from RM3,499. The Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard are sold separately. For more info, visit the website.

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Florals? For spring?

Fashion
Florals? For spring?
Groundbreaking

12.04.2017
By Buro247

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We must agree with Miranda Priestley in that florals for spring are far from a groundbreaking idea. What we especially tire off are the same, tired looking dresses that sprout like weeds in every high street store imaginable. Sweet, flouncy little things with a halter or sweetheart neckline, that flare out from the waist in some garden variety floral print (worn by basics—potentially with flower crown—to a summer music festival). Please, let the pain stop. Here’s how we propose you incorporate florals into your wardrobe (can Raf Simons ever do wrong?):
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1. Calla lily-print hooded sweatshirt by Raf Simons
2. Embellished leather sneakers by Fendi
3. Oversized floral silk brooch by Gucci
4. Floral embroidered linen trousers by Chloé
5. Gold-tone, leather and suede bracelet by Loewe
6. ‘Lily’ shoulder bag by Nina Ricci
7. Embellished sunglasses by Dolce & Gabbana

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Lifestyle
Flying high in the Four Seasons Private Jet
Luxury in the skies

19.05.2015
By Buro247

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If you thought staying at any Four Seasons hotel around the world is something to look forward to, here’s how you can take it one step further – by flying to your pre-planned destinations (organised by Four Seasons, of course) with accomodation at the company’s hotels and resorts around the world, on board a glossy black Four Seasons private jet.

Once on board, settle into one of the hand-crafted leather flatbed seats designed by specialised aerospace Italian designer Iacobucci, wrap yourself in a cosy Mongolian cashmere blanket and enjoy the details in the hand-woven woollen carpeting and fine tableware. And if you get hungry and thirsty on board the flight, you won’t be served any prepacked flight meal. Thanks to in-flight executive and sous chefs, the menu changes daily to reflect on the destination.

Said Dana Kalczak, Vice President, Design, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, “Along with the core objectives of comfort and functionality – and adherence to strict aircraft safety standards – we wanted to create an exceptionally luxurious ambiance, and Champagne and caviar became our inspiration.” Well, we’d certainly toast with a glass of Dom Pérignon (available on board) to that.

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Beauty
Rocking blonde hair and dark brows the Rita Ora way
Beauty juxtaposition

26.11.2015
By Su Fen Tan

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Never one to shy away from bold statements, Rita Ora has been sporting icy blonde tresses and dark, blackened brows for as far as we can remember. From sultry luscious waves and her signature red lip do, to sleek pixie cuts and toned-down nude lips, she owns the sass and confidence to pull it all off effortlessly. As the singer turns 25 today, we take a look at some of her best looks for a little style inspiration—maybe someday we will rock the regrowth as well as she does.
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Art + Design
Italian Design Day 2023: 4 Luxury brands share the significance of Italian design
The epitome of beauty

13.04.2023
By Natalie Khoo

Featured image: H.E Massimo Rustico with the Italian Embassy and Italian Trade Agency Team members

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On 16 March 2023, Italian Design Day commemorated its seventh edition at Sky51, EQ Kuala Lumpur, commanding a prestigious guest list from various backgrounds and professions. Initiated by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Italian Trade Agency, the event took place globally in more than 100 cities all over the world—setting a benchmark for Italian design while presenting novel approaches for sustainable innovation.
H.E Massimo Rustico mingling with guests.
Continuing its legacy from last year’s event, which was conceived by Ambassador Massimo Rustico, industrial experts from world-renowned Italian brands were invited to share their knowledge and testimony with the honourable guests in attendance. Themed “The quality that lights up. The energy of design for people and the environment”, Italian Design Day 2023 highlighted the industry’s commitment to creating quality products that combine both aesthetic and functionality using production processes that respect the environment and people’s health.
H.E Massimo Rustico giving his speech at Sky51 @ EQ Kuala Lumpur for Italian Design Day 2023.
The event kicked off with a welcome speech by Ambassador Massimo Rustico and his co-host, Kavita Sidhu, a Malaysian actress and model. Franz Cerami—a visual artist and university professor who serves as the “Ambassador of Italian Design” in Malaysia—then graced the stage to talk about urban regeneration and his design methods. One highlight of his presentation was the unveiling of his extraordinary work on “Pink City Kuala Lumpur”—a virtual concept for Kuala Lumpur’s vertical city.
Brand representatives of renowned Italian companies sharing their testimonies.
Among the world-renowned Italian companies involved in the event were premium automaker Maserati; luxury fashion house Roberto Cavalli; VIP helicopter company Agusta, a brand by Leonardo; handcrafted fine Italian jeweller Roberto Coin; Icona Design Group, a design company for smart mobility and automotives; Lightcraft, a contemporary lighting company for Malaysian homes; and Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups.
Ahead, four brand representatives from these Italian houses share the hallmarks of Italian design and its significance to their brand and industry.

Agusta, a brand by Leonardo

Describe the hallmarks of Italian design that make it so distinctive and celebrated around the world.
Manuela Barbarossa, Head of VIP/Corporate Segment Marketing: “It’s a unique combination of ancient and contemporary; it’s pioneered, imaginative, and versatile, with meticulous care for quality and detail and having beauty as its guiding light.”

Why is Italian design so important to your company and industry?
MB: “There are several reasons for it. Technology and innovation are part and parcel of Italian design in  many ways and many sectors—a prime one being the aviation industry since the early centuries. After all, this sector in Italy immediately set multiple records thanks to its pioneering mindset. If we look at Leonardo and Agusta-branded passenger transport helicopters today, we still see that unique combination of craftsmanship and advanced technology. Italian design’s versatility translates into vast customisation possibilities, which is another winning driver for us. Also, borrowing the well-known statement, “for an aircraft to fly well it must be beautiful”, we would say that the beautiful and sleek design of our helicopters is what makes them fly very, very well—fast, agile, smoothly, comfortably, and safely.”

Roberto Cavalli

Describe the hallmarks of Italian design that make it so distinctive and celebrated around the world.
Anna Cordini, Brand Manager of Roberto Cavalli: “I believe that the hallmarks of Italian design have been made clear since day one of its history. Good design must be reliable and useful, withstands time, and continues to improve—Italian design ticks all these boxes and more. [Hence, the] hallmarks of Italian design are timelessness, innovation, and beauty.”

Why is Italian design so important to your company and industry?
AC: “At Roberto Cavalli, we are the fashion of Italian design. Fashion has the extra ingredient in the Italian design recipe: creativity. This is what makes every piece of our collections special and new. It is important to let a fashion designer’s creativity flow to always create new, beautiful designs, as embodied by our clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories.”

Fincantieri

Describe the hallmarks of Italian design that make it so distinctive and celebrated around the world.
Fabrizio Ferri, Head of APAC Region at Fincantieri: “I believe Italian design is a combination of passion, imagination, culture, and our capability to  mediate between past tradition and future innovation. You can see it in everything we do, be it fashion, cars, furniture, ships, interior decorations, and so much more. All Italian products are  beautifully designed, and they perfectly serve a functional purpose.”

Why is Italian design so important to your company and industry?
FF: “Fincantieri builds beautiful cruise ships, and when a passenger goes for a vacation on one of our cruises, they want to experience emotions, enjoyment, and comfort. This is exactly what our ships can give considering that they are a perfect combination of Italian passion and beauty with engineering competence and manufacturing excellence, this is what in Fincantieri we call Italian design.”

Roberto Coin

Describe the hallmarks of Italian design that make it so distinctive and celebrated around the world.
Roberto Coin: “The Renaissance was the period where talents in sculpting, painting, architecture, literature, food, banking, innovation, and jewelry were born. It marked the rebirth of a new world. Over the centuries, the “made in Italy” brand has become synonymous with timeless elegance, impeccable style, glamour, and beauty.”

Why is Italian design so important to your company and industry?
RC: “As we are very much an Italian company (to be precise, we are Venetian), we represent diversity and innovation by continuously changing styles. The worldwide consumer considers the “made in Italy” brand as a symbol of the highest quality and beauty, and that’s what we uphold. Art is our soul and culture is our heart.”

Find more art and design stories here.

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Food + Drink
Sips of Coffee To Go and snappy chats at Dome with Lynn, Malek and Sazzy
Guys, take it away

02.03.2017
By Buro247

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Great coffee should not be a thing reserved only for those with time to spare. For all of you who strive for excellence even when life becomes a whirlwind of things to do and places to be, why settle for second best when it comes to your favourite brew?
It’s all about quality at Dome Cafés. A sumptuous emerald mat at the doorbeckons with three words: World’s Finest Coffees.
Five paces in, the menus on an elegant hardwood counter await with an array of beverages derived from nothing but the finest Arabica beans from renowned coffee regions across the globe. Place your order; then, take in the calm ambience synonymous to Dome Cafés for a brief reprieve of the hustle outside. And in just a couple of scrolls through Facebook, Instagram or (if you must) your email inbox, your cup of “Coffee To Go”—containing a shot (or two) of Dome’s signature espresso—will be ready to accompany you onto your next mission.
We caught up with three local personalities in the midst of their daily grind over a quick takeaway cuppa. The obvious choice: Dome “Coffee To Go”.

SAZZY FALAK
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ON THE MORNING DASH
“I am woken up every single morning by my two beautiful girls. To kick-start my day, I like to cleanse and detox with full glass of water while basking in the goodness of some essential oils. But as my fantastic manager knows, I always need to get a foot up on my busy schedule with my morning coffee—he never fails to show up at my door with coffee to go in hand.”

ON JUGGLING WORK AND MOTHERHOOD
“It takes a village. I have many team members—right-hand men and women who help me out both at work and at home. I feel like I’m called to balance many roles; I can’t only stay at home nor can I solely focus on working all day long in this industry. So, thanks to a huge support system, great coffee and of course, my husband and partner for life, I can achieve what I set my heart on.”

ON DOME’S COFFEE
“I like my coffee pure. No hazelnut or caramel or any of that type of thing. One of my picks at Dome is their Long Macchiato—two shots of espresso with just a splash of milk.”

MALEK MCCRONE
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ON HIS WEEKLY QUOTA OF CAFFEINE
[Laughs] “Hah, I try to keep it to a maximum of three cups of coffee a day. It’s difficult—I tend to hit three cups before lunchtime arrives. On weekends, I start off with watching some television and helping out with chores around the house before I head out, but grabbing coffee for the road is still a must—otherwise, I get cranky.”

ON ORDERING COFFEE TO GO AT DOME
“There’s something different about Dome Cafés. The interiors are so warm and classic. Every time I drop by, even if it is just to get coffee to go, I feel like I’m being transported to a different time or an old world, if you get what I mean.”

ON ALTERNATIVE BEVERAGES
“I know we’re talking coffee but I have to say I really love the Chai Latte here—the wonderful aroma of the spices, ginger and that kick of cinnamon. I drink too much coffee; chai is a good alternative.”

 LYNN LIM
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Dome ‘Coffee To Go’ Lynn” rid=”4883″ order=”a_tstamp”}
ON THE PROS OF BLACK COFFEE
“‘Right; so, when I’m ordering a drink to slowly sip on, it’s always Dome’s Iced Latte—a guilty pleasure, in other words. But a really good cup of coffee to me is something with no milk and not much sugar; that’s when the true aroma of the coffee can be enjoyed. Also, order your coffee black—no weight gain!”

ON LIFE’S ESSENTIALS
[Deep thinking] “To be honest, I don’t need much when I am out and about. I keep it simple; as long as I have my phone and wallet, I am good to go! …Oh, and my cup of takeaway coffee, of course.”

ON A BALANCED LIFESTYLE
“It’s funny; when I’m in the middle of a shoot that requires being on set every single day, I long for a relaxing getaway. Then, when I do get the chance to experience a slower pace on days off, I start thinking about work! I thrive on being busy and productive but it’s really all about keeping things balanced.”

Next time you’re dashing off to the next slot on your schedule, pop by one of Dome’s cafés for your caffeine fix. Have your “Coffee To Go”. Look up all the Dome Café locations here.

Credits:
Photography: Eric Chow/Blink Studio
Styling: Alyssa Lee
Makeup: Shiyo Joo
Hair: Cody Chua
Styling assistant: Jasmine Leong
Art Direction: Chong Yi Suen
Photography assistant: Joel Lee
Location: Dome Café @ The Intermark

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Beauty
Make Up For Ever opens first flagship store in Malaysia
"Life is a stage"

21.11.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Inspired by the world of professionals, Make Up For Ever’s first flagship store has a concept quite unlike any other. Equipped with studios for the photographer, artist and backstage area, the space encapsulates the brand’s creator and artistic director Dany Sanz’s favourite phrase, “life is a stage”—which isn’t a surprise as this motto is proudly displayed in giant graffiti at the entrance.
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Features of the new store include a bar area that highlights Make Up For Ever’s best-selling ranges of brushes, false eye-lashes and other products on light-tube wall sculptures. An interactive experience is encouraged as well, with a play table where customers can learn all about sample star products via digital face charts and iPad tutorials. For a complete makeup tutorial, makeup artists will lead you to stations resembling celebrity dressing rooms thanks to red stage curtains on its facade. But what makes the store stand out is the array of eye-catching details, including clipped visuals of products to wall rails that evoke a darkroom sentiment, digital touch points via giant screens that play tutorials and launch videos, and all the LED lights that takes the store’s ambience up one notch.

Not forgetting, the flagship’s interior is one to take note of as well. Black is a recurring colour in the decor—raw concrete wall panels juxtapose dramatically with black wood floors, while matte black laminate and marble are found throughout the space. The brand’s signature red also makes a scene within, spotted in the alcoves, drawers and on the seats.

Make Up For Ever’s flagship is located at Level 3, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

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Culture
Buro Spotlight: The truth behind Cole Sprouse’s other (not-so-secret) successful career

04.08.2019
By Tammy Chan

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Yup, that’s right! The Disney alum, who turns 27 today, knows his way around a camera lens – and unless you’re a big fan or have been following him on Instagram, this is one talent you probably wouldn’t have known he had. So let us fill you in!
Cole Sprouse currently has over 27.4 million followers on Instragram and out of the 995 posts (as of 3 August 2019) on his profile, 90% of them are pictures of his own photography work. Striking good looks aside, the actor, who plays Jughead Jones on the popular American hit TV series Riverdale, is doing a good job in proving he’s more than just a pretty face with the help of his portfolio as a photographer. However, the story of how he got there isn’t quite the merry one.
Famously known as the adorable blonde-haired child actor in Disney’s The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Friends, Cole took a break from acting in 2011 to further his education at New York University. Ever since graduating with his archaeology degree in 2015, he has been open about his battle with mental illness and how hard growing up in the entertainment industry was for him. But after every storm, there is a rainbow, and it was thanks to his experience with depression that led him to discover a newfound hobby which would later evolve into an impressive side job.
“It was depression that drove me to do it. That’s the real truth. It was depression that led me to the camera. It heals you know, a hobby. There’s no band aid like a hobby. I’ve been destructive, I know that now. I can see that I’m in a desert, and I’ve been thinking about that oasis when I should’ve been trying to get out,” Cole shared on an Instagram post from 2016.
A year after that post, he further elaborated on his passion in an interview with Teen Vogue: “Maybe it was escapism, but I had become obsessed with going to remote locations and keeping myself behind the camera, that came from a personal place where I was very dissatisfied with the way my society was treating me. Photography is a pursuit that allows you to be very hands-on with what you show people of either yourself or the art you want to make, and acting is kind of the exact opposite. You do have a modicum of creative freedom as an actor, but you’re still very much a cipher for other people’s art. If you’re a photographer, you end up being the raw creative force that allows other people to see what kind of narrative you want to be giving or what kind of art that you want people to see.”
Are you ready to see the skills this man possess? We’ve narrowed down all our favourite work of his below!
Wall Street Journal Magazine‘s Young Hollywood spread
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Kendall Jenner in The Sunday Times
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Sophie Turner for W Magazine
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Irish fashion retailer, Primark‘s 2019 Spring and Summer collection

Dylan Sprouse (his twin brother) for LA denim company, J Brand’s Spring 2019 campaign
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Portraits of his Riverdale cast members
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And last but not least, some of his travel landscape shots that never failed to fuel our wanderlust
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Cole Sprouse Travel Photography” rid=”7482″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Culture
#BuroAList: 3 Malaysian cafe owners take our #InstaCoffee challenge

13.06.2018
By Su Fen Tan

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For this episode of #BuroAList, we place the spotlight on three prominent players in Malaysia’s booming cafe scene—Azlan Khalid of Whisk, Tan Boon Wy of Eight Ounce Coffee Co. and Peter Sehested of Kopenhagen Coffee. Scroll down further to learn about their thoughts on the local coffee industry in the interview feature below.

Azlan Khalid | Whisk

Founded by Azlan along with his sisters Emma and Nora back in 2010, Whisk is one of the early pioneers of the local specialty coffee industry. The excellent coffee and fresh, sweet bakes at their first cafe in Empire Shopping Gallery (Subang) have since propelled them to greater heights—they now run four branches, with Azlan overseeing the operational side of the business, including the quality of coffee as well as staff training.

Tan Boon Wy | Eight Ounce Coffee Co.

Having graduated with an economics degree, Boon Wy ventured into the banking industry in 2008—not the best of times, given the 2008 Financial Crisis. Then he stumbled upon the coffee business, and the rest, as they say, is history. Eight Ounce Coffee Co. took off in 2013, with five outlets under its belt at the moment. Boon Wy now spends most of his time in the R&D department and programming to develop better coordination across their outlets.

Peter Sehested | Kopenhagen Coffee

Kopenhagen Coffee founder Peter Sehested hails from Copenhagen, so trust him with the know-how of the cosy Scandinavian way of life that has translated into the beautiful space in Mont Kiara. While the cafe is fairly new to the scene, it has quickly won hearts over with its minimalist aesthetic, warm service and handcrafted coffee. This isn’t Peter’s only entrepreneurial venture though—he also heads a software company, and has been based in Malaysia for the past six years.

Tell us about how you got started in the F&B industry.
Azlan: I got started by luck actually. Back then, me and my sister just came back from studying overseas and were figuring what our next step should be. She studied in New York, where the coffee scene is quite established, and when she came back, she missed having good coffee. At that time, we didn’t know of a specialty coffee place locally, so that’s how the idea of opening up a cafe started.
Boon Wy: Quite like Azlan, I got into the industry because I thought that whatever people did overseas was great, and it would’ve been awesome to bring it back to Malaysia. I felt like the level of food quality here was good and we should showcase it to the world. That was the real reason why, but also it was me being young and naïve at that time, thinking it wasn’t that hard!
Peter: To be honest, I wasn’t really planning on starting a cafe, but one day the idea came to me as a hobby that I would like to pursue—I had no clue how to brew a cup of coffee, or setting up a cafe in a foreign country! But coming from Copenhagen where the food scene has been booming over the years, I was very much intrigued to start something on my own and I knew I was able to bring new ideas to the cafe scene in Malaysia, and that’s how I got started.

Thoughts on the current cafe scene in Malaysia?
A: I think it has taken Malaysia by storm in a way that I didn’t imagine it would at the time I started. In about 8 years, it has gone from a few cafes to like hundreds of like places. I think it’s great, and it makes the barista profession more highly regarded as well.
BW: Yes it’s way more competitive in the market now than it was a couple of years ago. A large aspect of it is because our talent pool hasn’t quite caught up with the amount of cafes opening up, so that has really been a challenge. I would imagine that it is more difficult to sustain a cafe business now than when I first started out.
P: The good thing about the booming scene here is it’s offering a great variety of experiences to the customers, and cafe owners are definitely getting more innovative. So it’s great for consumers, and also us as cafe owners, as it pushes us to constantly innovate and improve our standards.

What do you think defines a successful cafe?
A: I think the determination to survive is quite important in running a successful cafe. Over the past 8 years, there have been a lot of cafes opening up, but there have also been a lot of them closing down. The ones that survive are the ones that put emphasis on quality products and service, and the ones that keep on learning.
BW: It’s completely subjective but I think the answer to that is innovation with the customers. It’s all about listening to the customers and what they want, along with innovating together with them. When we talk about the cafe scene 5 years ago, no one was talking about gluten-free, chia seeds, and the like. But now we’re seeing a lot of that and evolution with the customers is really important. A lot of people fall in the trap of not innovating nowadays.
P: For me, it’s a few things: 1) Having regular customers, which allows you to create your own community within the vicinity; 2) making the cafe a place that is part of the routine to these regulars to stop over for coffee to kick start their day; and 3) profit and sales, of course.

In the sea of cafes that are now out there, how do you distinguish your space from the others?
A: By just simply being ourselves. We were in a mall because we wanted foot traffic, but at the same time we didn’t want to be commercialised. We wanted it to be a personal experience for the customers, for the people behind the counter to be human beings with their own personality and not just a coffee shop worker who’s there to serve you. So we set ourselves apart by encouraging our crew members to be more personal and approachable.
BW: For Eight Ounce, we tend to hire people who are skillful in other aspects—apart from just baristas. For instance, we’re hiring more programmers now as we’re trying to move to a more tech-backed company. We knew we needed to innovate and use technology to improve business to a larger extent. It’s easier to coordinate with smaller groups of people but when it comes to larger organisations (we’ve got five outlets all around and we aspire to be bigger than that), you really have to know how to front the business properly. One of it was innovation in tech.
P: I think it’s all about concept and staying true to the idea in which how the business started out in the first place. At Kopenhagen, we focus on our Scandinavian heritage, which gives us a different approach on everything from design to how we source our beans.

What were some of the major considerations when it came to setting up your cafe?
A: We kind of went with our gut feeling, but we roughly know what we wanted, which were foot traffic and security, and that’s why we are in a mall. Also, Empire Shopping Gallery was very new at the time. Location was great, and we got a small lot, which is perfect because we didn’t know if the business was going to be sustainable at that time, but I’m glad everything worked out.
P: Yes, location is really quite key. Preferably with ample parking space, which is something I’ve taken note of—big consideration point for my future endeavours!
BW: I actually kind of stumbled upon the coffee business and started learning stuff on YouTube. I’ve since learnt that what makes a good cup of coffee or barista is really perseverance and dedication.

What were some of the challenges you came across in running your own cafe?
A: Learning everything from scratch was the main challenge. We didn’t come from F&B backgrounds, but between my two sisters and I, we took up different areas of expertise—finance, marketing, HR—and just went with it. Working with people can also be quite unpredictable. We have to learn to work with and understand different personalities, both in terms of staff and customers.
P: Agreed, and good level of service staff is always a tough nut to crack. The team spends a lot of time training, but still it is often a challenge.
BW: The challenge for me back then was finding a mentor who would work well with us and guide us at the same time. I was fortunate as I had a very good mentor to look up to. He was actually also from the finance industry and seeded and groomed us to what we are now.

And what do you enjoy most about running your own cafe?
A: Everything coffee related. I love drinking coffee. I also love educating on coffee, and to see how the baristas become so technically developed and proud of their work. Someone I know once told me “coffee connects people”, and I think that is very true.
P: Being at the cafe, working with my team of baristas and making coffee for our customers.
BW: I actually spend time more at the R&D department in the office now. My job is to get new products out in line, and I’ve also been spending a lot of time in programming—from email scripting to developing end-of-day sales reports.

If you could go back to the beginning of your career and tell yourself one thing, what would it be?
P: I think I’m still at the beginning of my career, in particular when it comes to F&B, so maybe I can learn something or two from these guys right here.
A: Have more fun. Relax, experiment a bit more, and be confident.
BW: Stay focused on your job. A lot of times we forget about what’s important—family, loved ones and the like. So stay focused on what you want to do and you’ll naturally guide yourself down the path.

What advice would you give to people aspiring to open a cafe of their own?
A: Study everything in detail. Do your best—if you’re stressed out and stuff like that, you should relax, and know that you’re already doing everything you can. Always try your best and strive to move forward continuously.
BW: Don’t open a cafe! Jokes aside, find a mentor who you can talk to and have that good relationship with. Join us at Eight Ounce first! We’ll go through all the hardships together and learn from each other. We’re here to groom people and teach them right and wrong. Don’t do this on your own.
P: Adding to that, always have some extra cash for operations, and spend time on being a nerd around your products.

Stay tuned for more Buro A-List in the next few weeks.

Credits:
Videography: Octopost Studio
Art direction: Rachel Au, Loh Wei Yeen
Interview: Tan Su Fen
Hair and makeup: Taisu
Location: Common Man Coffee Roasters, TTDI

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Technology
Love to take selfies? This camera is perfect for you
Enhanced selfie-taking pleasure

10.04.2017
By Rachel Au

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From knowing the right angles to our face’s ‘better side’, many of us have probably taken enough selfies to have perfected the art of it—as embarrassing as that sounds. Take that (guilty) pleasure a step further by using a camera dedicated to shooting self portraits with features to make it more fun and equipped to produce crisp quality photos. Casio Malaysia’s latest Exilim EX-TR80 fits that bill.

The new camera is an upgrade from the EX-TR70. It’s sleeker, faster and smarter. For starters, the ‘all star’ makeup mode consists of more than 9,000 combinations with six sets of beauty settings such as ‘skin tone’, ‘smooth skin’, ‘dark circles remover’ and ‘sculpting’. Otherwise, try the advanced Intelligent Makeup Mode which can automatically adjust the settings according to the lighting. All these while ensuring the image looks natural. This coincides with the double LED light function which helps to capture beautiful shots even in dark locations.

Using the EX-TR80 is easy with its user-friendly interface which allows wireless connection for instant transfer between the camera and your smartphone so you can upload your snaps on social media in a snap. Another feature you’ll appreciate is the Mirror Image Inversion where it automatically inverts selfies from left to right, processing the image as it appears on the screen. You can even play around with a wide variety of angles with the rotating feature or produce your own personalised movies where the makeup effects can also be applied. All this and more with the new Casio Exilim EX-TR80.

#BuroGiveaway
Why not test it out for yourself? We’re giving away one unit of the new Casio EX-TR80 (in white) worth RM4,099. All you have to do is:
1. Follow Buro 24/7 Malaysia on Instagram
2. Post your best selfie on Instagram, tag @Buro247Malaysia and include the hashtags #Buro247MY and #SelfieIsCasio in your caption
The contest is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Lim Xiao Yao.

Giveaway terms and conditions:
– This giveaway ends at 11:59pm, GMT+8, 17 April 2017. The winner will be announced on 18 April 2017.
– Only selfies posted during the contest period will be valid.
– The winner of this giveaway will be notified via Instagram Direct Message.
– The winner is required to collect the prize from the Buro 24/7 Malaysia office.
– All steps must be complete to qualify for this giveaway.
– Inability to contact the winner within 1 (one) week of notification will result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.
– Prize not claimed within 1 (one) month of correspondence will result in forfeiture.
– This giveaway is open to residents in the Klang Valley only.
– Buro 24/7 Malaysia will not entertain any complaints on the quality and quantity of the prizes after the prize is in the possession of the winners.
– Buro 24/7 Malaysia shall not be liable for any loss, including but not limited to direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage, personal injury or death which is suffered or sustained (whether or not arising from any person’s negligence) in connection with participation in this competition or accepting or utilising a prize.

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Features
Buro 24/7 Exclusive: An interview with Sir Paul Smith
The multitalented designer

11.05.2016
By Buro247

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Despite British designer Sir Paul Smith’s latest slew of honourable awards and orders—the recent one being the French ‘Légion d’Honneur’, he is incredibly modest for a man who has fared excellently in both realms of fashion and design. The 69-year old designer isn’t particularly interested in the typical symbols of wealth (by his own admission) and still prefers taking the bicycle over a car ride oftentimes. Sir Paul Smith shares many facets of his personality in the following interview:

I heard you dislike it when people call you “Sir”. Why is that?
(Laughs) Well, I think it doesn’t really suit my character. When I was knighted Sir I wasn’t entirely sure whether I should accept it. Sometimes it happens that people got titles for wrong reasons. But my staff said: “Yeah, of course you should accept it!” – and so I did.

Do your staff call you Sir?
No, they call me just Paul which is perfect, I think. By the way, two or three weeks ago I was given France’s highest honour – the Légion d’Honneur. And we had a big event in the French Embassy in London dedicated to this. I also have the CBE which is the Order of the British Empire and it’s the most excellent order in the Great Britain. And I was awarded an honorary fellowship of the Royal Institute of British Architects. So it seems I got plenty of different rewards.

Do have something like a special place for all your rewards?
Oh, no (laughs). It would be too odd.

Before you were involved in fashion you had been a professional cyclist. But you had got into traffic accident and that had changed all your plans about sport career.
That’s right. But thanks to this accident I discovered a whole new world of creativity. I’d been in hospital for three months and there I met two boys – one was after a motorbike accident and another was after a car accident – and we became friends. We decided to keep in touch after we left the hospital. Luckily for me one of them chose a very extraordinary English pub in our hometown for the meetings. This place was special because students from the art school went there every day. So after visiting this pub for a few times I got interested in people there and started asking them about what they were doing. And that was how I discovered architects, fashion-designers, photographers. The whole new world of creativity opened to me and I thought: “Wow! It’s possible to earn money for living from doing something creative”.

Have you ever regretted that you didn’t become a cyclist?
I think I would have never been good enough at it. It was just a dream for me. But then I met a girl who asked me if I could help her start a little shop because her dad gave some finance. And so we did. Then eventually I started my own shop and slowly I got where I am now.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Paul Smith Stripes” rid=”3984″ order=”a_tstamp”}
It seems that lucky coincidences are a great part of your life. Even your famous bright stripes that were supposed to be a part of only one collection became the symbol of your brand.
Oh yeah, those stripes…Actually now we’ve stopped using them. We use them only in wallets, scarfs and other small things but not in shirts or bags or something big. Why? Because it is very distinctive for the brand and became too popular. Today I find it not modern enough. But while getting back to your question about lucky coincidences, well, that accident I got into while cycling probably can be called momentous. And these stripes which were made for only one season and then everybody started to ask me to make them again – they too can be called some kind of luck. But actually that’s all, I can’t remember anything else that can be viewed as a lucky coincidence.

Are you one of those people who prefer bikes to cars? I know you still ride a bike…
Yeah, I ride a bike. I like bicycles because there’s something personal about it. When you ride a bike it’s all about you. When you put your foot on the accelerator everything is about the car. But definitely I don’t reject cars and I drive a Mini which is absolutely convenient in London where you always have troubles with parking. In Italy I have a Land Rover and that’s all. I think I am a very modest guy and I am not really interested in all those symbols of wealth.

You said once that if you weren’t a designer you would have become a photographer. How did your passion for that come along?
When I was 11 years old my father bought me a camera. He was an amateur photographer himself. Now it’s all digital but he used a film camera so in the attic of the house he equipped a laboratory for himself where he kept all the chemicals, films and other things. When I was 12 or 13 I used to develop photographs together with my father in this room. He also started the local camera club in our town and I used to go to the meetings of this club where I learned about lighting, composition, etc. Now I shoot a lot of my campaigns, shoot stories for magazines. So photography is still a part of my life. But besides it I have my “day job”.

You have just published a book with your photographs called “Paul Smith: From A to Z”. Can you tell more about it? And do you have plans about some more books in future?
The next book is going to be about my collection of cycling memorabilia. It might be boring for you, but for me it’s really meaningful. I have many jerseys signed by famous cyclists, many magazines and tickets from championships. One of my friends is writing the text for this book. It will be called “Paul Smith’s Cycling Scrapbook” (by the time this interview was published the book had already been introduced. Devoted fans of Paul Smith or cycling can buy it on Amazon – Buro 24/7). My book “Paul Smith: From A to Z” is interesting because it was made literary in one hour! There was a TV documentary made by ARTE called “Paul Smith, Gentleman Designer”. When the ARTE team came to interview me about what to put on the cover of the DVD, I told them so many things that one of the guys was like: “Oh, God, that’s too much information!”. And the idea to make an A to Z book came into my mind. So about in one hour we created the whole book. It was really spontaneous!

I know you have a great collection of books in your office.
Oh, yes, an enormous collection!
“You should get satisfaction from your slow growth…I don’t desire a great wealth. When I make a little bit of money I put them back into the business.” – SIr paul smith
It’s said you prefer reading biographies. Whose biography is your favorite?
I love the biography of Yves Saint Laurent. It’s not the one I’ve read recently, it’s the story that helped me when I was at the start. It was interesting to see how he and his team got the right balance between business and creativity. As you may know, Paul Smith is quite a unique company as it’s totally independent, it doesn’t belong to any big group—it’s just my company. And sometimes things become complicated because I not only discuss design with my team but also have to think about business. So reading biographies like Saint Laurent’s can be very helpful in this aspect: you just learn how things work in different situations and with different people.

That’s actually an interesting question: How did you manage to prevent your business from being a part of a big group like LVMH?
That’s unusual nowadays, isn’t it? Today every brand is either very small or a part of a big group. The answer to your question about how to keep your company yours is being patient and not trying to go like a rocket. You should get satisfaction from your slow growth. As I said earlier, I don’t desire a great wealth. When I make a little bit of money I put them back into the business. For instance, this building we are in now, is my own, we don’t rent it—I bought it. My shops are also located in my buildings. I don’t put money in private airplanes or something like that. I am interested in other things.

You said once you prefer doing men’s clothes because it’s easier. But today there are a lot of lines under the Paul Smith brand—how do you manage to control all the processes?
Every week we get offers to design something. It could be a design of a car, a hotel, furniture, etc. And normally I reject all the proposals because frankly speaking I am so busy! And I don’t give projects to someone else since I prefer doing everything myself, especially something challenging. Usually I can give an answer whether I’ll take the project or no immediately. It’s always very instinctive. If I say “yes” it’s normally means that I have some sort of a link with the thing. I hate things that are untruthful. I couldn’t resist working with Leica Cameras because I remember my father dreaming about one day he would have a Leica. And the approach was very exciting. I am so familiar with designing clothes and can do everything really quickly without fitting or measurements. But designing a camera was something absolutely new.  When you dive into a new sphere the process is always long because you are learning and you want to understand every detail.

You are a famous collector and you collect many different things. Do you have something like a system for all the items you collect?
(Laughs) No, there’s no any system at all! One of my friends said to me recently: “Oh, you are a great collector”—and I was really surprised about that. I don’t think of myself as of a collector. But I do really have a lot of selections of the same things. And she said it’s exactly what a collector is. But there’s no any system. I just buy things spontaneously.

How do you think being a designer today differs from being a designer when you started your career?
Well, I think literally everything has changed! Things are so instant now because of e-commerce, social networks, etc. And we have a lot of low-cost brands like H&M or Zara, which copy the clothes from the fashion shows faster than we manage to produce them. Now as a fashion designer you have to clear your point of view, have a strong concept and think about what surrounds your brand. Fashion is not enough—you need a position.

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