Lifestyle
Porsche brings Sally Carrera from Pixar’s movie ‘Cars’ to life—yes, you can drive it
The Porsche 911 Sally Special

16.08.2022
By Rachel Au

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Life isn’t always a race, but when it is, you learn about the true things that matter, such as friendship, family and doing right by your conscience. By a stroke of irony, Pixar Animation Studios released a film titled Cars in 2006, following those values in the shoes (or should we say wheels?) of a bright red race car named Lightning McQueen. Brimming with ambition, McQueen is set on the right path thanks to love interest Sally Carrera, a lawyer out to make a difference. She was a beautiful blue 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera who stole the hearts of many with her on-screen character and off-screen build. But what if you can actually drive a Sally Carrera?
In anticipation of Sally Carrera’s 20th anniversary—since production began 20 years ago and the character was based on a 2002 model—Porsche and Pixar Animation Studios reunited over the question of “what if?” Sure, there was a life-size Sally Carrera back then, but it wasn’t the same.

“We decided early on that we wanted to create a completely drivable 911—inspired by Sally Carrera, but just not an exact copy. Sally Carrera loves to drive—that was our inspiration,” said Jay Ward, Creative Director of Franchise of Pixar Animation Studios.
They asked each other: “if Sally were built today as a road-approved model, what would she look like?” And so, the project began in November 2021 with the original Cars team, which included Ward and Bob Pauley, the Production Designer who first drew Sally Carrera for the Cars film. Joining them on this ride were members of the Sonderwunsch team at Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur in Stuttgart and designers from Style Porsche in Weissach. In just ten months, they designed and built the one-and-only, street-legal Porsche 911 Sally Special.

“911 Sally Special is based on the fastest and most agile variant of the 911 Carrera model line, the 480-PS 911 Carrera GTS. The car is equipped with a manual gearbox, tapping into Sally Carrera’s passion for driving,” explained Boris Apenbrink, Director of Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur vehicles.
Everything about the one-off car is unique and limited to the Porsche 911 Sally Special. For starters, the exterior is handpainted in Sallybluemetallic, a chromatic colour made with Pixar just for this project. It’s also applied to parts of the interior to create highlights and subtle details. Additionally, Porsche interior designer Daniela Milošević shared that they developed a special Pepita houndstooth fabric upholstery in three colours, combined with chalk-coloured leather and stitching in Speed Blue. You’ll also find that Sally Carrera’s Turbo-look rims were reinterpreted by Style Porsche designers in Weissach and manufactured primarily for the 911 Sally Special.
During a roundtable interview, Porsche revealed that there were a lot of creative juices flowing to create the car, but one of the main challenges was that the original Sally did not have an interior. So the team had to develop something completely new and funnel it down to a street-legal version.

In addition, the lucky owner of the Porsche 911 Sally Special will receive a matching timepiece by Porsche Design (in collaboration with Pixar); a special indoor car cover from Porsche Tequipment; a wheel rack with an additional wheel set consisting of Carrera Exclusive Design wheels; a book on the development and production of the one-off model and original drawings by designers Shuichi Yamashita and Bob Pauley.
It was evident that the Porsche 911 Sally Special was made with so much love. Looking back, Ward shared an anecdote of how the collaboration with Porsche came to be, adding that the team assumed it would have been the most difficult to get the company’s permission to use the 911 Carrera for the ‘Cars’ film. However, they turned out to be the most accommodating, with only one concern: that the character was female.
The Pixar team felt the model was perfect with its sleek curves, but Porsche responded that their customer base was predominantly male owners. “I told them, ‘Well, it sounds like the place you want to grow in the ownership is female owners’, and the guy said, ‘Yes, that’s a good point’. So it made perfect sense that Sally would be a female car,” said Ward.

But creating a modern-day, life-sized, street-legal Sally Carrera had a bigger purpose than adapting a character to reality. Both Porsche and Pixar were adamant that it had to be done for something meaningful. And so, just as Sally is driven to help those in need, the one-off car will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s on August 20, as part of Monterey Car Week in California.
Proceeds from the auction will be donated to two charities. A portion to Girls Inc. that will help provide education for young women, while the other will go to the USA for UNHCR, an organisation that supports refugees from Ukraine.
“Vehicles need a face and a story. And the animated Pixar’s film Cars has impressively done just that: brought cars to life on the big screen,” said Dr. Sebastian Rudolph, Vice President of Communications, Sustainability and Politics at Porsche AG.
“The story conveys values such as friendship, love and mutual support—and in the middle of it all is a Porsche: ‘Sally Carrera’. Together with Pixar, we have brought the spirit of Sally to life in a new way, not on the screen, but off the screen. With this one-off street legal 911, the ‘Sally Special’, which we are auctioning for charity, we want to help people who urgently need support, in keeping with the spirit of the film character.”

For more information, visit the listing on RM Sotheby’s website.

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Watches
The second-biggest uncut diamond in the world now belongs to Louis Vuitton

24.01.2020
By Joan Kong

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In 2016, British multinational jeweller Graff broke the record with the world’s largest D Flawless heart-shaped diamond. And just last year, the brand introduced Lesedi La Rona—the biggest square emerald-cut gem in history. But when it comes to rough diamonds, ever since the largest stone (3,106 carats) was discovered in South Africa in 1905, nothing has come close to that weight until April last year. At the Karowe mine in Botswana, Canada-based Lucara Diamond Corp mined a 1,758-carat stone weighing 352 grams and roughly the size of a tennis ball. The mining company named it “Sewelô” which translates to “rare find” in English. Nine months later, the gem has resurfaced with its new owner, and it’s none other than luxury French brand Louis Vuitton. The move, no doubt, signifies the Maison’s ambitions in the high jewellery market, having launch its first collection back in 2012.
The brand is currently working closely with master diamond cutters from Antwerp to “assess the final potential of the stone, and plan the optimum yield of individual finished, cut and polished diamonds”, according to its press release. Its next step? To fully utilize the Sewelô gem and offer bespoke, custom-cut diamond to its clients, and when the time comes, the made-to-order service will, no doubt, be much sought-after.
Take a closer look at the Sewelô diamond below:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] LV Sewelo diamond” rid=”7824″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Fashion
Style spotlight on Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’: The revival and modernisation of classic goth fashion
"Wednesday's child is full of woe"

07.12.2022
By Phyll Wu

Images courtesy of Netflix, Paramount Pictures, respective brands, ssense, and net-a-porter

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There is nothing quite like the Addams family. Weird, kooky, mysterious and broody, the unmistakable fictional clan has left an ever-lasting mark on the world of fashion and pop culture that only grows more palpable by the year. Even if you’ve never indulged in a single episode of the infamous franchise, just its name alone will spark a clear, distinct image of the Addams in your head. And at the front and centre of that image: Wednesday Addams, the OG goth style icon.

1991, 'The Addams Family'
1/2

2022, 'Wednesday'
2/2

Addams’ closet is pretty much the exemplification of the dark academia aesthetic that’s been all the rage on TikTok in recent years. In the many iterations that the Addams daughter has gone through since the fictional clan was introduced over eight decades ago, each has basically retained the same look that we’re all too familiar with. Pigtails, white-collared black dress, pale complexion, a deadpan stare—you get the gist. Defined by Christina Ricci’s Wednesday Addams from the 1991 classic series, it’s a look we can bet a million dollars on that we’ll catch at least more than once on Halloween. She’s almost like Santa, but for the spooky holiday.
Read: TikTok’s “Dead Girl” makeup trend comes to life in ‘Wednesday’—here’s how to get Jenna Ortega’s look

1964, 'The Addams Family' starring Lisa Loring as Wednesday Addams
1/4

1991, 'The Addams Family' starring Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams
2/4

2013, 'Adult Wednesday Addams' starring Melissa Hunter as Wednesday Addams
3/4

2022, 'Wednesday' starring Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams
4/4

In what seems way overdue, the beloved sardonic teen has finally received her very own Netflix show titled Wednesday, directed by the one and only Tim Burton and starring Jenna Ortega as the titular character—and we all know that it has become an instant hit (as it should).
Within the first week of its release, the series amassed 341.23 million hours of views on Netflix, breaking the record for the most viewing time in a single week for an English-language series on the streaming platform. Twelve days into its run, the number has skyrocketed to a whopping 752.52 million hours viewed, further cementing her gothic legacy in the 21st century. And, of course, her wardrobe was one of the most prominent highlights of the show, courtesy of Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood whose credits include Memoirs of a Geisha, Sleepy Hallow, and Edward Scissorhands.
While we could never get sick of her trademark ensemble, Atwood wanted to spice things up for Wednesday, expanding her signature wardrobe with an assemblage of designer pieces that got all the fashion fanatics squealing with excitement. In conversation with DigitalSpy, Atwood explained that her plan was “to start by establishing who each character was at the core before infusing it with her own vision,” and she couldn’t have done it more flawlessly.

Her first outfit was, as expected, the white-collared dress. Speaking to Variety, Atwood elaborates, “With Wednesday, we can nail the iconic look right away with a nod to the original pointed collar, little print dress and modernised platform shoes, and then put her in an environment that she totally contrasts with: an American happy-time public school. Then you’ve given the nod to all that’s come before.”

As the show focused on the gloomy teen’s time in Nevermore Academy, her black dress was later replaced by a custom-made uniform in her signature colour that set her apart from her peers, completed with a pair of Silent D Black Platform Oxfords and Cambridge Satchel Company Black Double Buckle Square Leather Backpack. In her downtime, we get to see Addams in an assemblage of various looks that added more depth to her enigmatic character.

Stripes were a repeated print in Addams’ sartorial choices, which is no surprise for a Tim Burton series, but it was certainly a different look for her in particular. Above, she’s fashioned in an oversized black zip-up hoodie sweatshirt over a loose-fit striped shirt—an ensemble that we never thought we’d see on Wednesday Addams.

Checks were another print that was unexpected on Addams, but we can all agree that we absolutely need to see more of it. Her striped and checkered ensembles offered us a different side of her that we have never seen before, as her signature looks usually featured sharp and clean details. In a way, her loose-fitted and oversized looks gave her a softer, laid-back appeal that only makes her character even more lovable.

And finally, the Rave’N ball dress. Secured by her handy companion, Thing, with a “five-finger discount”, Addams donned a stunning black ruffled dress from Alaïa’s AW20 RTW collection—it was easily the best look in the entire show. Atwood revealed in an interview with IndieWire that she initially assumed she would have to make the dress from scratch, until she stumbled upon the Alaïa piece on a mannequin at Bond Street in London. It wasn’t the perfect dress solely because it matched Addams’ aesthetic, but because it also captured her character’s growth throughout the series in its details.
“The fabric was [one] I was familiar with because I’ve used it in dance costumes. You don’t see it that well on camera, but it’s tie-dyed. It wasn’t just solid black [but] was black with kind of an earth-brown colour in it, so it caught light in a really nice way for a black item,” she explained.
Just *chef’s kiss*.

Shop the look
Want to channel the goth icon? Below, we’ve rounded up 20 stylish pieces that Wednesday herself would add to cart.

Black Sheer Blouse, Anna Sui

Black Embroidered Collar Dress, Valentino

Off-White Doria Blouse, Shrimps

Striped ribbed merino wool scarf, Joseph

Black Side Gore Zip Boots, Toga Pulla

Belted tiered cotton-blend poplin midi skirt, Proenza Schouler

White Organic Cotton Mini Dress, Ganni

Black & White Distressed Edge Cardigan, R13

Off-White Doria Blouse, Shrimps

Browne Navy Sack Blazer, Thom Browne

Black Rib Sweater, Moncler

White Button Up Shirt, Yohji Yamamoto

Cropped open-back leather-trimmed striped merino wool-blend top, Monse

Monolith pointy brushed leather loafers, Prada

Tova cashmere-jacquard turtleneck ves, Lisa Yang

Black Sull Socks, Alexander McQueen

Black asymmetric pleated midi skirt, We11Done

Striped wool and cotton-blend turtleneck sweater, Toteme

Black Polli Jacket, The Row

Black Tulle Skirt, Shushu Tong

For more fashion reads, click here.

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Culture
Singapore Dance Theatre’s ‘Ballet Illuminations’ returns to Malaysia
En pointe

03.05.2017
By Buro247

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For the eighth year running, some of the finest dancers in the region will grace our shores through performances by the Singapore Dance Theatre (SDT). The much anticipated ‘Ballet Illuminations’ makes its annual comeback this year with a special piece amidst its lineup that has never been seen before in Malaysia.

Showcasing the highlights from the company’s repertoire, expect a diverse performance of classical and contemporary ballet by award-winning choreographers. ‘Ballet Illuminations’ will bring their talents to both the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) and the Performance Arts Centre of Penang (PenangPAC).

DETAILS FOR KUALA LUMPUR:

Incomparable Beauty by Ma Cong | PREMIERE IN MALAYSIA
Created for SDT, it was inspired by the beautiful and emotive scores of Italian Composer, Ezio Bosso.

Swipe by Val Caniporali | PREMIERE IN KUALA LUMPUR
Originally created and premiered in 2011 for Richmond Ballet, Swipe is performed to the music of London based composer and producer of Electro, Hip-Hop and Dance music, Gabriel Prokofiev.

Raymonda Divertissements after Marius Petipa
One of the lasting ballet pieces choreographed by Marius Petipa, Raymonda was performed by SDT in its inaugural performance in 1988

Date/Time
5 May, 8.30pm
6 May, 3pm and 8.30pm
7 May, 2pm
Venue
Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre
Tickets
RM25 – RM152

DETAILS FOR PENANG:

Raymonda Divertissements after Marius Petipa
Blue Snow by Toru Shimazaki
Incomparable Beauty by Ma Cong

Date/Time
12 May, 8:30pm
13 May, 3pm and 8:30pm
14 May, 2pm
Venue
Performing Arts Centre of Penang
Tickets
RM18 – RM48

For tickets:
Call 0340479000 (KLPAC), 048991722/2722 (PenangPAC), or 037880799 (TicketPro). To buy online, click here for KL and here for Penang. Alternatively, walk in to any TicketPro outlet or the KLPAC and PenangPAC Box Office.

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#GetGifted with Kate Spade New York

Fashion
#GetGifted with Kate Spade New York

16.11.2015
By Wei Yeen Loh

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GET GIFTED

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and kate spade new york is sharing taxis uptown, downtown, and everywhere in between with a cast of characters, dressed in their finest conversation-starting pieces with presents in tow! kate spade new york kicks off the holiday season with a bold new campaign that celebrates interesting individuals leading interesting lives.
The Holiday 2015 campaign, shot by Emma Summerton, shines a light on a fascinating group of real-life stars – including supermodel and philanthropist Karlie Kloss and her BFF, writer Derek Blasberg, along with their pooches Joe and Monster; literary agent Anne Borchardt; soulful singer Alice Smith and daughter Lulu Greenwood; actress, model and photographer Sasha Froloba; and Non, Maru and Akiko Matsura, founders of the family-run business Aloha Picnic – while highlighting the fun and festive ready-to-wear and accessories in the kate spade new york Holiday ’15 collection.
Debuting this October and featuring print images shot on location in NYC, studio
portraits and video content, the Holiday 2015 campaign brings to life the brand’s
#GetGifted initiative, which honors individuality and the range of personalities of
the modern day woman. With this initiative, kate spade new york transforms
objects into gifts with a personal touch in the most charming ways imaginable.
“As a brand, we’re constantly inspired by interesting women, and we want to inspire
women to be their own interesting individuals in ways that extend far beyond what
they wear,” shared Deborah Lloyd, President and Chief Creative Officer of kate
spade new york. “Whether she’s the girl who likes to shake things up or frequently
has her head in the clouds, kate spade new york has something personal for all of
the fascinating women on your list.”

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Music
Coldplay’s magical new ‘Up&Up’ video is all kinds of wonderful
Call it magic

17.05.2016
By Su Fen Tan

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A surrealist work of art, that is what it is. Directed by Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia, Coldplay’s new ‘Up&Up’ video is a visual marvel, featuring a montage of whimsical scenes: a volcano spouting fresh popcorn, a giant butterfly perched on a construction out on the sea, highways in the galaxy and more—each scene is a sight to behold. If this album is indeed going to be their last, there’s no doubt that Coldplay is holding their most magical moments till the end.

Watch the video for ‘Up&Up’ here—we hope you have time to spare, because you’ll be wanting to watch this more than once:

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Food + Drink
Review: The Samsung Convection Microwave Oven is an all-in-one cooking machine
A hot multi-tasker

29.12.2022
By Rachel Au

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One oven, six cooking functions—Samsung’s Convection Microwave Oven with HotBlast can air fry, grill, bake, steam, microwave, dehydrate and even ferment your foods.
Despite having a wet and dry kitchen in my home, my family has run out of space for more kitchen appliances. So far, the air fryer and the blender have had to give up their permanent spots in favour of the rice cooker and microwave oven. As such, it’s a hassle to bring out either of those cooking appliances from the cupboards when their duties call.
Hence, it sounded like the simplest solution when Samsung said they’ll send over their Convection Microwave Oven with HotBlast technology that boasts a myriad of cooking functions. One countertop and one home appliance equal a clutter-free kitchen.
It’s only been a week, and the Samsung Convection Microwave Oven has refreshed my cooking experience and curiosity. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from this all-in-one microwave oven for your consideration.

BUILD
On paper, the Samsung Convection Microwave Oven sounded like a miracle worker, and the colours also look aesthetically pleasing for the kitchen. But I underestimated its size (yes, even though the dimensions are clearly written on the page). The box was huge, and it took two people to lift it out of the box and place it on my countertop. Even then, the width of the oven is an exact fit with no space allowance in front or at the back.
However, beyond the size, the full glass touch controls with white LED make the oven look and feel premium. For the interior, it’s completely ceramic, making it super easy to clean, and it is scratch-resistant. According to Samsung, the non-stick, durable ceramic enamel ensures a sanitary surface and won’t discolour over time.

ACCESSORIES
It came with a thick manual, which I religiously read from cover to cover, though most of it were recipes you could try with the oven. There was also a laminated Quick Cooking Guide with a magnet at the back so you could stick it on your fridge to conveniently check which pre-set cooking modes to select according to some of the most popular dishes. Example: Frozen lasagne, frozen pizza or roast beef and vegetables.
There’s also a newly designed Crusty Plate perfect for the air fry function, as it has a dent on the edge to gather the oil residue, preventing your crispy, crunchy food from getting soaked in oil during the process. The other accessories include a Pro Steamer set and wire racks.

FEATURES

As someone used to individual kitchen appliances for their respective uses, it was slightly overwhelming to fiddle with the ten settings at first.
For example, do I choose ‘microwave’, ‘grill’, ‘HotBlast’ or ‘Auto HotBlast’ for my roasted vegetables? I didn’t have the suggested Pyrex glass dish to put them in, but the manual said no to metal trays, though microwave-safe utensils are generally acceptable.
The good news is that when in doubt, my advice is to start your experience with the Samsung Convection Microwave Oven with the two Auto features: Auto Cook and Auto HotBlast. The settings according to the meal you’re trying to cook are all in the manual—you only need to know what you can do with the oven.
The HotBlast technology enforces powerful, hot air to blow through multiple air holes directly onto the food so that it’s cooked evenly with an outer crisp but juicy inside.

The AirFry technology lets you cook fried dishes without a slight touch of oil at 50 per cent faster cooking time compared to air fryers, thanks to the combined heat source of convection meets microwave.
Amp up the heat and power with the PowerGrill Duo mode to grill foods more perfectly yet with a significantly reduced cooking time. On the flip side, the Pro Steamer set of accessories includes a three-layered stainless steamer cover to ensure your food doesn’t dry out and stays tender.
And while I have yet to try these functions, you can also defrost, keep dishes warm at a constant temperature within, dehydrate, bake, ferment yoghurt and other similar items, as well as proofing dough.

CONCLUSION

There are way too many combinations to try with the Samsung Convection Microwave Oven, where one week isn’t enough to familiarise myself with the appliance—but it’s promising and exciting. I could follow the recipes, assemble the ingredients and key in the pre-set cooking modes with the Auto Cook feature. And it’ll work, like my last couple of meals.
What impressed me the most was heating a croissant straight from the fridge, which came out fluffy on the inside with a crisp outer layer. My roast chicken with garlic butter was evenly cooked, while the vegetables had the right texture where previously they would either end up soggy or hard.
Next up, I’ll be testing its baking abilities, but so far, the Samsung Convection Microwave Oven has proven to be an excellent addition to the kitchen inventory, be it for seasoned cooks or enthusiastic beginners!

The Samsung Convection Microwave Oven is available at RM1,959 on Samsung’s website.

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Fashion
Farfetch partners with Condé Nast for a seamless content-to-commerce experience
Inspiration to transaction

13.06.2017
By Buro247

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Immediacy in fashion has been gaining quite a momentum of late with multiple designers giving the see-now-buy-now model a whirl. In launching their global partnership, Farfetch and Condé Nast take a cue from that concept; creating a seamless technology connection between content and commerce.

Starting today, Style.com will discontinue operations and redirect to Farfetch.com. This strategic tie-up connects Condé Nast’s global editorial portfolio with Farfetch’s e-commerce, technology and logistics platform. The idea is to bring consumers from fashion inspiration to purchase gratification by integrating products from the world’s leading brands and boutiques into Condé Nast’s digital and social platforms for instantly shoppable and commercialised content.

Jonathan Newhouse, Condé Nast International Chairman and Chief Executive joins Farfetch’s Board of Directors as part of what he calls “an industry defining collaboration”. José Neves, Founder and CEO of Farfetched said: “This will significantly augment the retail experience for our customers, and we see it as a natural step in Farfetch’s approach to commerce and our strategic vision to connect those who create fashion, curate fashion and develop fashion content.”

Natalie Massenet, Co-Chairman of Farfetch, added, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Condé Nast. Since 1999 I have believed in the importance of combining content and commerce in order to elevate the digital shopping experience. Content educates, entertains, and inspires purchases which is crucial in the customer journey of discovery.”

The partnership will begin with Vogue and GQ in the US with further plans for expansion and innovation in the works.

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Lifestyle
Give your post a ‘Game of Thrones’ stamp of approval
A cool collectible

05.01.2018
By Gwen Ong

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If you’re a stamp collector and also a fan of Game of Thrones, you’re in for a double whammy of luck. The Royal Mail in the UK will be issuing a series of 15 first class stamps featuring some of your favourite characters from the show—dead or alive, humans or non-humans. Who says stamp-collecting is boring?

From the likes of Daenerys to Jon Snow, Tyrion and Arya Stark, there will be a total of 10 characters in the line-up that also includes the Night King, giants, direwolves, dragons and the Iron Throne.

The stamps’ designs were created to encapsulate key moments in the characters’ story arcs such as Tyrion’s Wildfire pyrotechnics and Jon Snow against the Wall. Also at play is the interesting mastery of colouring that has come to be synonymous with the cinematography in Game of Thrones. Hence, the icy blue tones for Jon Snow, fiery red for Daenery and luminescent green for Tyrian. A stellar job of detailing is appreciated in the Royal Mail stamps.

The limited edition Game of Thrones stamps will go on sale from 23 January but pre-orders are open now if you’re interested.

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Beauty
Your step-by-step guide to a breast self-examination

14.10.2018
By PurelyB

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According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breast cancer is the most common cancer globally, and “early detection to improve survival remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control”. In light of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month and with this statement in mind, make sure you carry out regular self-examinations and annual mammograms. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started with a breast self-examination (BSE).

This story was originally posted at PurelyB.
PurelyB is Asia’s leading health and wellness online community and content guide, with a mission to make healthy living easy and sustainable for all. We cater to localised Asian lifestyles and cultures with digital content, guidance and tools created by the best wellness experts, to help communities in Asia overcome their health issues and live a better quality of life.

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Lifestyle
24 Minutes with Jeffrey Webb, Malaysia’s alpine skier and 2018 Winter Olympics athlete
With ski high ambitions

13.02.2018
By Rachel Au

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It’s on every news article, on the tip of every tongue. Malaysia, a country with no snow-capped mountains and icy lakes, finally makes it debut at the Winter Games. We may have sent one of the smallest contingents to the 2018 Winter Olympics but our Malaysian pride is huge. One of the athletes that made this possible is 19-year-old Jeffrey Webb.
Born to a Malaysian mother and an American father, Webb moved with his family to the United States of America when he was five. But he’s no stranger to the local culture as he would spend three months in Malaysia each year while he was growing up. There, he developed his love for the snow and the sport and eventually decided to compete under the Malaysian flag – without any funding from the Youth and Sports Ministry.

Webb has participated in many competitions such as the 2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games and other races in Canada and the United States. By competing in several Alpine Ski Racing events, he managed to score the points needed to secure a spot in the 2018 Winter Olympics. For that, he took a gap year from his university to concentrate on the Games. We had a quick chat with Webb on how he developed his love for alpine skiing (the feeling it gives), his training diet and more.

Hi Jeffrey! How’s 2018 treating you so far?
Awesome! I feel that my skiing is in a great place right now and I’m just looking to keep up with it and enjoy where it takes me.

What does a week in training look like for you?
Six days a week on snow when I’m in between races as well as a couple of days in the gym to maintain the muscle gains I’ve had from the offseason. I usually wake up between six to seven in the morning and then train from 9am to 4pm most of the time.

Tell us about your training diet.
Essentially high protein foods to give me energy and to maintain muscle. During training, I eat some sugary snacks to help give me a boost of energy between runs.

Any guilty treats for your ‘sugary snacks’?
Gummy bears.

Going back to the beginning, what was your first encounter with skiing?
My parents took me skiing for the first time when I was very young. They got me into it as just something to do. When I got a little older, I hopped in onto a few races and eventually joined the local ski team. The funny thing is, I joined the team because I really liked the way their jackets looked.

So when, where and what was your first skiing competition?
I don’t really remember but it was most likely the Apple Cup race at my local mountain when I was about six or seven years old.

Compared to the other sports, what is it about alpine skiing that you love?
Alpine skiing is a very unique sport because there are a lot of variables you can’t control. The weather, course sets, snow conditions, competitors, and the shape of the hills are always different. I love the constant variety and challenge it brings; and how it is very rewarding when all the hard work pays off. Skiing gives me an adrenaline rush every time I push out of the start that nothing else does for me. I realised my love for it from the very the first time I skied.

What are some of the biggest difficulties of the sport then?
As I mentioned, it’s mostly the things you can’t control such as the weather, the snow conditions or the course sets. So sometimes you’ll have to ski in the rain and get wet or there’ll be days where you can’t finish your run. There are a lot of challenging (and frustrating) days in skiing. But it’s also a mentally challenging sport because some courses and hills may be more intimidating than the others. It requires a lot of both athleticism and skill. You may gain a lot of strength but you also have to work on your technique.

It’s definitely a very challenging sport. Have you had any major injuries from it?
I’ve had a lot of problems with my back, ranging from tearing my lower half to having joint issues. It was mostly from overworking though, and a few crashes. When I was younger, I also had my braces go through my upper lip and got stuck.

Out of all the places you’ve visited to train and to compete at, where has been your ultimate favourite slope to ski?
I loved skiing in Japan because of the culture shock it gave me and its unique culture. It’s also one of the best places in the world for powder skiing which I was very excited for.

What was going through your mind when you found out you qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics?
I’m still wrapping my head around it, realising that I get to participate with some of the top athletes in the world. I’m just really excited that I get to go and put Malaysia on the map for winter sports. I’m really going to enjoy the experience.

Are you feeling overwhelmed from the upcoming Games then?
I try to treat all my races the same so I don’t end up psyching myself out. I do my best and treat everything as just another day of training.

Three things no one knows about you.
I play guitar; I love cars; and I’m a terrible artist.

Being based in US, where are your three favourite places to eat when you come back to KL?
Mr. Dakgalbi for Korean food, Paul’s in Pavilion KL, and Raju’s in PJ for, personally, the best roti canai.

As it’s the first time Malaysia has qualified for the Winter Olympics, what advice would you give to fellow Malaysians aspiring to be a national winter sport athlete?
Be patient and follow through with it. Everything takes time – the longer you spend doing something, the better you’ll get. Nothing is impossible if you commit to it.

Jeffrey’s first competition—alpine skiing (slalom)—takes place on 18 Feb at 9.15am Malaysian time. Follow him on Instagram for more updates.
Update: Jeffrey finished the men’s giant slalom event in 68th place (out of 110 skiers). However, his time at the Games is not over yet as his next competition is the men’s slalom run on Thursday, 22 Feb.

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Technology
Dyson’s new purifying fans make your home a healthier place
Pure coolness

30.04.2018
By Rachel Au

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Threads 101: How to start and everything you need to know

We always think about the air pollution outside—in the city, on the streets, any open-air area—but rarely about inside our homes. It could allude to the fact that these microscopic particles are not often visible to the naked eye. They could be pollen; or pollutants from seemingly everyday objects such as scented candles, cleaning products, pet hair, air fresheners and even furniture (some contain foam that can release formaldehyde gas). That’s where the new Dyson Pure Cool purifying fans have an upper hand. It detects, reacts and cools every corner of the room.

With a new LCD display, you’ll be able to know which particles and gases are in the room, as automatically sensed by the Dyson Pure Cool purifying fan in real-time. You’ll even get an air quality reading. The new range comes in two shapes: a large tower format and a smaller desk format. Both are however fitted with a new filter, enabling them to capture gasses (including odours) and 99.95 per cent of ultrafine particles.

Since Dyson does call it a fan. It does just that. It absorbs pollutants but projects clean air to every corner of the room – reportedly up to 290 litres of purified air per second. Having a 350-degree oscillation helps. Of course, if you’re feeling chilly enough, you don’t have to opt for the forward airflow mode (where it works as a very clean fan). There’s also the diffused airflow mode (aka purification-only).

While the purifying fans do come with a magnetised remote control, it’s even more convenient with the Dyson Link app (available on both iOS and Android). It lets you track indoor and outdoor pollution, temperature and humidity levels. You can also control your machine with it and see how many hours of filter life you have left. Who wouldn’t be a fan of this product, right?
The Dyson Pure Cool purifying fans are available from RM2,399 on shop.dyson.my, the Dyson Demo at The Gardens Mall, and major departmental and electrical stores.

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Career
BURO Academy: How to be a successful freelancer, by presenter, moderator and voiceover actor Audrey Lim

27.07.2020
By Rachel Au

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Hello, I am Steffi Sarge Kaur: The national women’s football captain defying all odds

The thought of being your own boss, setting your own work hours, choosing the jobs you want to do—they all sound both tempting and promising. On the other end of the spectrum, however, are doubts, fears, and a lack of job (or rather cashflow) security. Being a successful freelancer or thriving in a gig economy isn’t impossible but it’s also not for everyone. If you’ve been considering it, take it from presenter, moderator and voiceover actor Audrey Lim, the guest speaker for today’s BURO Academy episode on freelancing hacks.
“I would not recommend leaving your day job if you’re not sure what you’re going to do next, if you’re not sure how to pay for yourself or your dependents, and if you don’t know what would happen if that one stream of income dries up.”
Trust her. She has over eight years of experience doing this, after all. Watch the video above as Audrey shares her expert insight on common pitfalls, the right steps to take for aspiring freelancers and more. Interestingly, all the previous episodes of BURO Academy applies too. Then again, we did say that this exclusive webinar series is all about self-improvement, featuring key personalities and industry experts and their bite-size tips, practical skills sets and crucial advice. This is the last episode for the month, but if you’d like more, feel free to let us know via email, Instagram or Facebook.

For more BURO Academy episodes, head over here.

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Beauty
Tried-and-Tested: Do lash lifts work on stubborn Asian lashes?
#AsianStruggles

16.06.2023
By Phyll Wu

Images courtesy of Pexels

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BURO Beauty Empties Giveaway Week 2: Win up to RM4,500 worth of beauty prizes

My fellow Asian gals, there is hope for our stubborn, stick-straight lashes after all…
Having naturally lush, feathery lashes is every girl’s dream—sadly, it’s a blessing that many of us can only dream to have. Sure, there are lengthening and volumising mascaras that can help us achieve that look, but here’s the thing: some of us are cursed with short, annoyingly stubborn lashes that grow straight down and refuse to curl no matter what. And I’m one of the unlucky few.
From the best Asian mascaras to Shu Uemura’s famed curler; lash serums to lash primers, no product has ever been able to get my lashes to curl and stay curled. Of course, lash extensions and false lashes are infallible alternatives, but as someone with monolids, they were awfully uncomfortable and too much of a hassle to be decent options.
I’ve tried everything—everything except getting a keratin lash lift. While I was always intrigued by all the satisfying lash lift videos on Instagram, after years of countless failed attempts at getting my lashes to simply cooperate, I eventually gave up and admitted defeat before I even considered booking an appointment. Then, on one fine day, Lyla Beauty Lounge generously offered to give our team a makeover, and I was finally able to tick off the last option on my list. So, did it work? Read on to find out!

The process

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A post shared by LYLA Beauty Lounge (@lylabeautylounge)

Upon entering the beauty salon, I was instantly charmed by its stunning Pinterest-y interior and serene ambience, especially with all the sublime wooden and marble elements that were beautifully complemented by rattan details and cloud-like chairs. It was a vibe.
Without delay, my lash technician guided me to a private room and snuggled me up on reclined sofa with a soft blanket before diving into the procedure. The entire process was quite therapeutic, she was gentle with each step and regularly checked in on me to ensure that I was comfortable. With the cozy setting and jazz music playing in the background, I started dozing off just minutes after getting started. About an hour later, I woke up from my quick beauty snooze and she was all done!

The results
Before:

After:

Truth be told, my expectations were low. In fact, I doubted that it would even work, but I was hoping to be proven wrong—and I was! In terms of how my lashes looked, they were pretty much the same, except they were nicely curled up and stayed curled for longer than they ever have. While the curl would slowly relax after a couple hours, I could easily revive it with my Shu Uemura lash curler (that has been collecting dust on my vanity table for over a year) and a thin coat of mascara.
It has been three months since my visit at the salon, and my lashes are still curl-able even without taking any aftercare measures—and I mean absolutely none. I double cleansed my face as usual on the first day and every following day, didn’t avoid excessive sun exposure, used waterproof mascara often, rubbed my eyes numerous times, and took steamy showers daily. I’m honestly surprised that it lasted this long.
To conclude: I should’ve booked that appointment years ago.

For more beauty reads, click here.

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Jewellery
Meaningful gifting ideas for the loved one in your life
 All good things are worth the wait

21.12.2022
By Sarah Hani Jamil

VIDEOGRAPHY: NEW STORYBOARDS PRODUCTION / MAKEUP: ALVIN LOH / HAIR: MEI CHOI / OUTFITS: MASSIMO DUTTI / LOCATION: BETA KL

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These 7 genderless jewellery collections are breaking style norms

The in-between Christmas to New Year gifting season is undoubtedly the hardest to shop for. You’ve got all these amazing options available, and you tend to put a lot of pressure on yourself to buy the perfect gift—we know it’s a daunting task! However, consider this: jewellery makes the ideal gifting option as they are not only timeless but also memorable. Plus, not a lot of people splurge on luxury jewels for themselves (even though they should!), so now would be a great time to gift it!
Wearing jewellery is not restricted to a specific gender. No matter if you’re male or female, accessorising with necklaces, bracelets, rings, and the like will certainly elevate your sense of style. Now, with gender-fluid fashion on the rise, men too can choose from a variety of options. Pick from matching couples’ jewellery for sentimental value or unique Kaimirra Tutan ammolite trinkets to better express his or her persona. We share some ideas below:

UNITY

Necklace
1/3

Earrings
2/3

Bracelet
3/3

For a truly classic yet on-trend pick, chain jewellery is the way to go. The sleek interlocking silver chain, in contrast to the iridescent brown, blue and green ammolite stone, is perfect for the man or woman who loves modern yet minimalist craftsmanship.

MIDNIGHT

Ring
1/3

Bracelet
2/3

Necklace
3/3

Featuring high gloss jet black brushed titanium, these picks will undoubtedly give any outfit a sleek and refined touch. The juxtaposition of black with vibrant ammolite exudes an exceptional stylish flair. Mix and match jewellery from this collection or with other silver metals for the special person in your life.

DUSK

Bracelet
1/3

Ring
2/3

Necklace
3/3

Named after the serene period of darkness at night, these chunky, masculine, yet gender-free pieces look and feel luxurious. For accessories with an edge, look to these to make you truly stand out. Styling-wise, they are great to be worn alone or stacked with more delicate pieces.

WATCH: See which item makes the perfect gift for Jane Chuck by Han Pin

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The Kaimirra Tutan flagship boutique is located at S043, 2nd Floor, East Atrium MidValley Megamall. For more information about Ammolite gems and Kaimirra Tutan’s extensive Ammolite jewellery collections, head over to www.kaimirratutan.com.

For more holiday reads, click here.

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Work the look with Uniqlo

Fashion
Work the look with Uniqlo
Dress for success

02.03.2017
By Buro247

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Couture wedding gowns that will make you feel like a fairytale princess

Whether your job is corporate or creative, choosing the right look for the office can be challenging—you want your outfit to be work-appropriate but not boring. So what is the fail-proof way to looking fashionable at work? Keep it simple and, of course, chic. Recognising that men and women want to look their best but may not have lots of time to spend, Uniqlo has the best pieces to help you build a paycheck-savvy wardrobe. From ankle-bearing pants to crisp button-up shirts, we round up effortless ways to take your work ensembles to the next level. Click ahead to see the pieces on Amanda Chaang and Faiz Hak, and get set to be the best dressed in the office:

AMANDA CHAANG, TV HOST
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FAIZ HAK, MODEL
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”buro uniqlo work faiz” rid=”4889″ order=”a_tstamp”}
All pieces featured are available for purchase today at Uniqlo stores nationwide. Shop the clothes above at Uniqlo Work Wear.

Credits:
Photography: Eric Chow/Blink Studio
Styling: Jasmine Leong
Makeup: Cat Yong
Hair: Juno Ko
Styling assistant: Tan Su Fen
Photography assistant: Tommi Chu
Location: Someplace Beautiful Café

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Technology
Nikon D850 arrives in Malaysia and photography enthusiasts will be amazed by it
Silently powerful

02.10.2017
By Rachel Au

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Come any huge milestone and you can expect a brand to drop something equally phenomenal. For Nikon, it’s their 100th anniversary this year and they certainly have much to celebrate, be it multiple awards or NASA recently placing an order for 53 Nikon D5 DSLR cameras (on top of their previous purchases). For anyone starting out in photography, it might interest you that the Nikon D5600 was awarded the title of Best DSLR Entry Level. But here’s another thing the successful company is celebrating: The addition of Nikon D850 to their DSLR lineup. They describe it as ‘Extreme resolution meets extreme speed’. Here’s everything you need to know about it and why it’s such a big deal.

Photos taken by Malaysian photographers with the Nikon D850
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• The Nikon D850 succeeds the widely popular FX-format D810 (2014) with advanced features designed for both photography and videography.

• It’s silent. Whether you’re snapping a photo or hitting the record button, your subjects will no longer be distracted by clicks and beeps. This might be especially beneficial for wedding photographers.

• It’s powerful for photos—high shutter speed, 45.7-megapixel CMOS sensor, EXPEED 5-image processing engine, a dynamic range of ISO 64 TO 25600 and an optical viewfinder with approximate 0.75x magnification (the highest ever in a Nikon FX-format DSLR).

• It’s powerful for videos—superior full-frame 4K UHD video capabilities, 4x and 5x slow-motion videos in Full HD, and 8K time-lapse movie production using interval timer photography.

• It’s fast. With a choice of either 9 fps (frames per second) or 7 fps continuous shooting mode, moving subjects are easy to capture but that’s not all. A dedicated autofocus (AF) engine that engages the 153-point AF system and 99 cross sensors ensure all details of the photo to be captured even if it’s in low-contrast situations.

• It’s easy to transfer images and movie files to a computer or FTP server thanks to the availability of WT-7/A/B/C Wireless Transmitter support (available separately).

• It’s flexible. With its 3.2-inch 170-degree tilting touchscreen, a variety of angles is achievable. There’s also button illumination to assist when shooting in dark situations.

• It has improved its dust and water-drop resistance.

The Nikon D850 is now available at RM15,498 (body only) at selected dealers nationwide. For more information, visit their website.

Related stories:
Nikon’s Small World 2015 photomicrography competition takes us into the miniscule universe
Review: 5 Cameras to consider for a road trip
Spark is the new mini camera drone that just launched in Malaysia

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BURO Spotlights: La Mer Blue Heart in Gaya Resort Island, Sabah


Jewellery
An insider reveals what you didn’t know about Tiffany & Co. diamonds

22.10.2020
By Rachel Au

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These 7 genderless jewellery collections are breaking style norms

Tiffany & Co. diamonds need no introduction, just like how the signature Tiffany blue box needs no explanation. Tiffany & Co.’s story began in 1848 and since the very beginning, the brand has been handcrafting some of the world’s most beautiful diamonds.
Founder Charles Lewis Tiffany himself was fondly known as “The King of Diamonds”. Perhaps one of his most famous stories was when he purchased one of the world’s largest and most celebrated Fancy Yellow diamonds. It was a 287.42-carat rough stone, which was eventually cut into a cushion-shape brilliant that weighed 128.54 carats. It also featured an unimaginable 82 facets—24 more than the traditional 58-facet brilliant cut at the time.

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A post shared by Tiffany & Co. (@tiffanyandco) on Aug 2, 2020 at 5:35am PDT

That is the key point we want you to take away from that little history lesson. Because a beautiful diamond isn’t just about the carat weight. At Tiffany, there’s a stringent vetting process before a rough diamond is deemed worthy. Part of this process touches on diamond traceability and sustainability as well.
In 2019, Tiffany became the first global luxury jeweller to provide the provenance (region or countries of origin) of its individually registered diamonds (0.18 carats or larger). More recently, the brand has expanded that level of transparency, revealing the full craftsmanship journey.

Customers will know where exactly their diamonds have been: from its country of origin to the place it was cut and polished, graded and quality assured to where it was set in jewellery.

“Sharing the craftsmanship journey of Tiffany diamonds reflects decades of investment in our supply chain. Directly sourcing responsibly mined rough diamonds, and crafting and setting those diamonds to our standards in our own workshops, is unique to Tiffany among luxury jewellers.”
— Andrew Hart, SVP Diamond and Jewellery Supply, Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany Love Engagement case line featuring the Diamond Source Initiative
There has been a larger question mark regarding sustainability and ethical work practices when it comes to diamonds. In response, some have even turned to manmade diamonds as an alternative slash solution (but we’ll leave that topic for another day). Tiffany & Co. understands this. Tiffany & Co. supports it. To start a change is to be that very change, and by taking this first step, it is hopeful that many others will follow suit.
We had a quick chat with Andrew Hart, SVP Diamond and Jewellery Supply at Tiffany & Co, to find out what brought about this industry-changing decision, what passes as a Tiffany diamond and other insider tidbits!

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A post shared by Tiffany & Co. (@tiffanyandco) on Jul 29, 2019 at 11:50am PDT

First off, congratulations to you and the brand on this wonderful new chapter. Diamond traceability has been a long time coming—why do you think it has taken this long?
The need for transparency evolves with the expectations of consumers. As the younger generation grows increasingly concerned with environmental and social issues, it is important to provide them with information that will help them to make informed decisions. In 2019, we started disclosing the provenance of our newly sourced, individually registered diamonds. Now, we are taking a step further in our commitment to diamond traceability by sharing the full craftsmanship journey, which reflects the decades of investment in our supply chain.

Quality Assurance of the final polished Tiffany diamond

Quality Assurance of the final polished Tiffany diamond

Quality Assurance of the final polished Tiffany diamond

On that note, could you please elaborate further on why it (tracing the origins of diamonds and offering that level of transparency) is so important?
We believe that providing provenance and the full craftsmanship journey are vital in ensuring that our diamonds are responsibly sourced. We believe that knowing both the origin of a diamond and the conditions under which it was crafted is the best means to ensuring environmental and social responsibility.

Rough white diamond versus a Tiffany diamond at a workshop in Antwerp
Tiffany & Co. diamonds are, simply put, world-famous. Originally rough stones, the brand evidently follows a strict grading system at every step—what qualities in them constitute as a passing Tiffany & Co. grade?
At Tiffany & Co., we only accept 0.04 per cent of the world’s gem-grade diamonds, which follows a strict vetting process adhering to our responsible sourcing standards as well as the 4Cs. Once a rough diamond is deemed worthy of Tiffany, it must be cut to our superlative requirements, often by one of our 1,500 talented artisans in our own workshops. Tiffany diamonds are always cut to maximise brilliance, not carat weight. Further, we only accept engagement diamonds ranging in the “colourless” and “near colourless” spectrum.

Rough white diamonds at the Tiffany diamond workshop in Antwerp
What are some common misconceptions about diamonds and diamond sourcing?
Among my least favourite misconceptions about diamonds are that they’re not truly rare and that their supply is somehow controlled by a monopoly. Both are entirely untrue. Natural diamonds, an incredible miracle of nature, are increasingly rare and valuable.

Diamonds are tested for fluorescence at the Tiffany diamond workshop in Antwerp
Tiffany & Co. sources diamonds “mined in countries such as Australia, Botswana, Canada, Namibia, Russia and South Africa”—what differences do diamonds sourced from different countries have, if any?
Diamonds from different regions possess different geological characteristics. For example, many of our best yellow diamonds were mined in Australia, a provenance known for its particularly vivid coloured diamonds. While many jewellers buy only polished gems on the open market, Tiffany sources rough diamonds directly from responsible sources.  Cutting, polishing and setting take place in our own workshops around the world. This allows us to both meet our own superlative quality standards while ensuring a safe and welcoming working environment for our artisans.

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Buro Loves
Clean beauty buzzwords: What does it all mean?

07.04.2020
By Kelly Lim

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BURO Beauty Empties Giveaway Week 2: Win up to RM4,500 worth of beauty prizes

The clean beauty movement is now mainstream, and for good reason too. Valued at $532 billion by retail analytics firm Edited, the beauty industry continues to grow and shift to cleaner, non-toxic products as consumer awareness of cosmetic ingredients keep increasing. After all, if you are what you eat, then the same goes for what you use for your face, body and skin.
According to a Forbes report on future beauty trends, two-thirds of beauty buyers will be interested in trying new products from other brands if they are natural, 59% agreed if they are clean and 55% would switch for sustainable products.
So, we’re steadily building our clean beauty regime, but hold up—what does clean even mean? How does natural differ? What does green entail?  How important are non-toxic products?
The beauty industry is grossly unregulated. Products and ingredients do not need FDA approval before they go on the market under U.S. law. While there are ways to differentiate toxic products by their ingredients list, the plethora of terms still make it pretty confusing when we’re on the hunt for new products. Definitions often change between different companies and packages, and with more options than ever, it makes it almost impossible to navigate—and tell the truth—between greenwashing and truly clean beauty brands.
Below, we’ve created a list of beauty buzzwords to help you deconstruct and decipher the ambiguous labelling and prep you for your next clean beauty haul.

Instagram / @goop
CLEAN
An umbrella term in the industry, clean can mean a lot of different things and be open to interpretation. But for us, the easiest way to determine whether a product is truly clean is if it’s safe for the people and the planet. Like clean eating, clean beauty products reject the use of harmful ingredients and offer safe alternatives for our skin and health, which are often non-toxic and plant-based as a starting point.
Clean beauty ingredients encompass both natural or synthetically derived ingredients—for example, poison oak is found in nature but it will still give you a rash while lab-made hyaluronic acid is perfectly safe for humans—and often will not include parabens, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes or flavours, formaldehyde releasers, etc. in the formulas.

Brands that fall under this category are also usually sustainable (see below), which means making transparent, conscious decisions around their processes and ingredients, like field-to-face tulip skincare brand Bloomeffects‘ commitment to ethically-sourced, non-toxic ingredients and planet-first processes (recyclable packaging, renewable materials, etc).
NATURAL

Natural-labelled beauty products mean that the ingredients used are sourced from nature, such as botanical oils, natural salts, extracts and butter, etc. The benefits of nature’s gifts are bountiful, from anti-ageing properties to hydrating effects. Usually, truly natural brands will strive to be clean and use non-toxic natural ingredients.
However, it’s important to remember not all natural ingredients are safe for our skin and need to be formulated carefully to create safe, effective formulations. Essential oils, for example, aren’t officially regulated and considering how concentrated they are in undiluted form, will cause major problems for your skin. Natural products may also have a negative environmental impact if produced irresponsibly – rapeseed and sunflower oils need more land to produce the same volume, which can impact habitats and biodiversity, according to WWF.
GREEN

Green indicates that the product brings no harm to the environment. Brands that use the label green should show that they’re eco-conscious and may partake in one or more green initiatives under their philosophy. This can include going completely compostable face wipes, reef-safe sunscreen or Pinch of Colour‘s waterless beauty brand which was created to address the issue of global water shortage.
SUSTAINABLE
Sustainable goes hand in hand with clean and green, but it also sets the focus on the future. According to the United Nations, the term itself represents the wide scope of issues and activities that do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs. What that means that products deemed sustainable generate environmental and social benefits, while not using up too many resources or causing pollution. This can include everything from ethical labour practices to a transparent supply chain and how brands counteract their impact on the environment.

Most companies will have different standards for what sustainable beauty means, along with different guideline and goals towards sustainability. For example, clean beauty retailer Credo offers a recycling-and-rewards program as part of its brick-and-mortar operations in order to reduce their footprint.
In the case of ingredients, those which are truly sustainable should be ethically sourced and environmentally safe, with packaging that is either no-waste, biodegradable, recycled, etc.
ORGANIC

Organic ingredients are ingredients grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilisers, GMO, sewage sludge or ionising radiation. It is one of the few terms that does carry an official form of verification as beauty products that are certified to be at least 95% organic will boast an official USDA Organic seal. These products must also comply with other strict guidelines such as precise handling and manufacturing specifications.
Another certification that you may see around is that of ECOCERT‘s, whose standard is that 95% of the ingredients must be plant-based while 10% of all ingredients by weight must come from organic farming. The packaging must also be recyclable.

While looking for the organic seal can help you identify whether your makeup is really organic or not, certified organic products don’t actually have to use the seal itself. To be labelled organic, certified products must display the organic and non-organic ingredients on their label, along with the name of the organic certifier. So, read the label closely if you don’t see the seal.
NON-TOXIC

Precisely what the words mean, non-toxic products should not contain any ingredients that are toxic or shown to cause adverse health effects at the levels found for use and in the formula. However, since it’s not regulated by the FDA, the label will usually be what the makers deem as non-toxic, which puts you at the risk of being greenwashed.
Don’t be fooled by the label and make sure you read through the ingredients involved. Familiarise yourself with the chemicals to avoid such as parabens, phthalates, triclosan, formaldehyde, and synthetic colours.
VEGAN

Products that are vegan do not contain any animal by-products or ingredients sourced from animals. Non-vegan beauty ingredients include beeswax, lanolin, hyaluronic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids, panthenol, retinol and more.
CRUELTY-FREE

Cruelty-free products will mean that no animal testing took place at any point in its creation or before being sold. This includes individually sourced ingredients, third-party testing and that any animal-derived ingredients were not extracted at the expense of the animal’s welfare. Some brands are certified by PETA or have a “Leaping Bunny Certified” icon to prove their commitment to protecting the welfare of animals. Note: a product can be cruelty-free but not vegan, and vice versa.
It’s a lot to take in, we know. The clean beauty movement has a lot to offer but as consumers, we need to educate ourselves so that we don’t fall victim to aggressive marketing claims that greenwash you. Ultimately, the best thing we can do to find what works best for us is by making better-informed decisions for ourselves and the planet.

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Guide: Singapore-Malaysia Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) SOPs

26.11.2021
By Genie Leong

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* This article was updated on 26 November with detailed SOPs
* Updated on 22 December 2021: Malaysia and Singapore temporarily suspend sales of bus and flight tickets for VTL from 23 December until 20 January 2022 due to the emergence of a local Covid-19 cluster including three positive cases, two of which are possible Omicron variant cases. Ticket sales will reopen on 21 January 2022, and ticket quotas will be reduced.
After weeks (if not months) of discussions, Malaysia and Singapore are finally able to enjoy quarantine-free travel via an air vaccinated travel lane (VTL) between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport, as well as a land VTL across the Causeway, from November 29.

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“Singapore and Malaysia have made good progress vaccinating our populations and managing the pandemic. So we agreed that it is timely to progressively resume cross-border travel between both countries. This will help revive our economies, restore people-to-people ties, and strengthen our bilateral partnership,” Lee said on his Facebook post.
Under the VTL, fully vaccinated travellers are only required to take Covid-19 tests in lieu of serving quarantine or stay-home notice, which was previously mandatory. This is Malaysia’s first VTL.

Here are the SOPs for those interested to travel between Malaysia and Singapore under the VTL scheme:

Only fully vaccinated individuals who have completed the full WHO-EUL vaccine regimen at least 2 weeks before entering Singapore are allowed to travel between the countries
Recovered Covid-19 patients may be considered to be fully vaccinated if they have received 1 dose of a WHO-EUL vaccine a minimum of 28 days after recovery/discharge
Mix and match of any WHO-EUL vaccines is accepted
Travellers are required to take two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests before departure and on arrival at Changi Airport, and must only enter Singapore via designated VTL flights
Unvaccinated children aged 12 and below are allowed to travel under the VTL scheme as long as they are accompanied by a traveller who meets the requirements
Travellers must remain in a VTL country for at least the last 14 days before departure
Travellers must apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass 7-60 days before the planned arrival date, and are required to purchase Covid-19 Travel insurance with a minimum coverage of S$30,000 for COVID-19-related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs
All travellers 7-years-old and above who are able to use a mobile device download the TraceTogether app and register their mobile number and profile for contact-tracing purposes
Children between ages 7 and 12 unable to use mobile devices due to disability/special needs may be issues physical TraceTogether tokens (for more information visit https://bit.ly/3Ehw61O)

Steps for entering Singapore under VTL as a short-term visitor:
1) Application:

Travellers must have proof of full vaccination, and have remained in a VTL nation and/or Singapore for the last 14 consecutive days before departure
All travellers must apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass
Applications can be made online at https://edm.brandthink.my/t/r-l-triiotd-bgoaltd-r/

2) Pre-departure:

Book a designated VTL flight, which are provided only by specific airways (click here for details).
Book and confirm your accommodation. A list of hotels that will be accepting VTL guests can be found here.
Take a Covid-19 ART (professionally-administered) or PCR test within 2 days of departure at an international accredited or recognised lab/clinic/medical facility (refer to this list of accepted facilities).
Obtain the test results and use it as proof when needed. The test must be in English (or accompanied by an English translation), containing the traveller’s name, date of birth and passport number, and reflect the date and result of the PCR test.
Register and pre-pay for the On-arrival Covid-19 test at Changi Airport (travellers are encouraged to do so here to speed up the process).
Submit SG Arrival Card with electronic health declaration online within three days prior to arriving in Singapore (find more information on this website)

3) Checking-in:

Prepare the following documents beforehand and present them at check-in:                                                      — Passport- Vaccinated Travel Pass- Digitally verifiable vaccination certificate- Negative PCR test report in English- Visa (if required)- Registered TraceTogether app holding screen
Take booked VTL flight to Singapore

4) Upon arrival

Present the above stated documents at arrival check-in point
Activate the TraceTogether app once immigration has been cleared
Take the on-arrival Covid-19 test, administered at the airport
Once the test is completed, proceed immediately to accommodation for self-isolation

5) Staying in Singapore

Remain in self-isolation until negative PCR test results are obtained

As a measure against the Omicron variant, travellers entering Singapore must take antigen rapid tests (ARTs) for seven days after arriving in the country. Tests on days three and seven will be supervised and administered at a Combined Test Centre or Quick Test Centre, while days 2, 4, 5, and 6 will be self-administered and unsupervised

Results of the ARTs administered on days 2, 4, 5, and 6 post-arrival in Singapore must be submitted online via a link that will be sent to them through their declared contact details

Comply with the set Safe Management Measures throughout your stay

Use the TraceTogether app to check-in at locations and show vaccination status upon request

Steps for returning to Malaysia from Singapore:
1) Pre-departure:

A negative PCR test result must be presented and the test must have been taken within 2 days prior to departure from Singapore
Register and make payment for their on-arrival COVID-19 RT-PCR Test at the BP Clinical Lab Health Screening Centre at Kuala Lumpur International Airport

2) Checking-in:

Present the following documents at check-in:- Passport or Electronic Visit Pass (e-Pass) which proving that the travellers have remained in Singapore and/or Malaysia in the last 14 consecutive days- Digitally verifiable vaccination certificate- Negative PCR test report in English- The MySejahtera app must be downloaded on a mobile device with profiles registered on the app
Travellers may only take a designated VTL flight into Malaysia

3) Upon arrival:

Complete the on-arrival PCR test at BP Clinical Health Lab KLIA and await the results in a designated waiting area
Travellers may only clear immigration when a negative result is obtained (1-3 hours after the test is taken)
Travellers will be required to perform a Covid-19 self-test on the third and seventh day after their arrival

“I look forward to effective implementation of this travel scheme, adding to those we already have developed previously to facilitate movements of people and goods between Malaysia and Singapore,” Prime Minister Ismail Sabri said.
READ: 6 Things you must know about the Omicron variant in Malaysia

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Beauty
Nars gets louder with three new Orgasm releases
Feeling peachy?

24.05.2018
By Gwen Ong

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BURO Beauty Empties Giveaway Week 2: Win up to RM4,500 worth of beauty prizes

Last year, the beauty world went into an overdrive when Nars introduced two new products in the Orgasm collection – lipstick and liquid blush – with that same flattering glow it has come to be known for. The peachy-pink items were highly pigmented with a natural flush that really looks good on everyone.
Now get ready for another drop in the Nars Orgasm collection. This year, you can reach a higher big O height with three new products for the lips and cheeks.

Get your pout perfection on with the Afterglow Lip Balm. With a swipe of the gorgeous Orgasm shade, your lips are protected with a blend of antioxidant ingredients. Comes in a sheer yet radiant finish with a smooth comfort.

Dust on the Illuminating Loose Powder for a soft-lit look. The silky powder reflects light off the skin, so you’ll carry a natural glow. It blends effortlessly onto the skin to blur imperfections and give your face a sensational dimension.

Last but not least, find pleasure in the OG blush that will now be available in a limited edition, oversized compact. Its cult status as a shade that suits every skin tone should convince you enough that this is a ‘need’. The perfect peachy pink and golden shimmer lends cheeks a healthy flush.
See the campaign video below and let us know #whatmakesyoublush.

You can find your desired Nars Orgasm items from 1 June onwards at the stores in Suria KLCC, Pavilion KL, Mid Valley Megamall, Sunway Pyramid, Aeon Tebrau City and Parkson Gurney Plaza.

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Beauty
Kanebo Chrono Beauty: The new way to impart daily goodness to your skin
All day everyday

08.11.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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BURO Beauty Empties Giveaway Week 2: Win up to RM4,500 worth of beauty prizes

Did you know your daily rhythm is just as essential to ensure your skin is radiant in the long run, apart from your weekly skincare routine that usually involves exfoliation and a face mask? For Japanese beauty brand Kanebo, the daily rhythm is perhaps the most important part of one’s skincare regimen apart from monthly and yearly rhythms. Its new skincare lineup (aptly named Chrono Beauty) is all about ensuring your day and nighttime skincare routine is tailored to cope with environmental factors.

“In the afternoon, the T-zone gets oilier because your face is more active; but at night, water depletes from your face over the night. Hence why your skin feels dry when you wake up in the morning,” says Kanebo regional trainer Jaime Chan.

With botanical complexes as its key active ingredients, Kanebo’s Chrono Beauty skincare range is all about imparting hydration and radiance to your skin before you even need to worry about anti-ageing treatments. Here’s a look at its new game-players:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Kanebo Chrono Beauty” rid=”4601″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Kanebo’s cleansing options are aplenty-whether you love to go sans makeup or fully made-up, there’s something for everyone from this range. Try Kanebo Softening Cream Cleansing to gently remove your makeup as you massage it on your face. And if you prefer oil-based makeup removers, Kanebo Mellow Rich Oil Cleansing will be up your alley-it doesn’t leave an oily residue, despite its efficient manner of removing all traces of makeup. Cleanse your face with Kanebo Refreshing Creamy Wash right after by lathering it up into a foam for a refreshing (and squeaky clean) finish.

Kanebo The First Serum is pretty much the first product to be used right after cleansing. Its purpose is solely to ensure that the following beneficial stuff you’re going to apply on your face will be absorbed efficiently into the skin. “Patting on lotion and toner doesn’t necessarily mean that it will fully absorb into the skin, hence the need for The First Serum to ensure your skin is soft and prepped enough for subsequent treatments,” says Jaime. Its complex has a combination of loquat leaf extract, glycerin, watercress extract, along with a comforting tea flower scent.

Once your skin is raring to go, Kanebo’s Moisture Flow Lotion is your next go-to for a boost of moisturisation. With two options that offer different levels of richness according to skin preference, this lotion has a texture that isn’t too rich or watered down-it melts rapidly into the skin and moisturized finish right after.

“An emulsion is very important to balance out the water and oil composition in your skin,” says Jaime. Hence the next step in this routine-Kanebo Bouncing Emulsion. If you worry over your skin’s quick tendency to secrete sebum, this emulsion is what you need to rebalance the skin’s moisture and oil balance. Also available in two options, the Bouncing Emulsion has a lighter texture for combination skin, whereas the Bouncing Rich Emulsion has a richer, melting texture for dry skin.

The last step is to moisturise your skin, and Kanebo’s Fresh Day and Night Lipid Creams are tailored for daytime and evening respectively. The Fresh Day Cream is infused with Althaea root and golden chamomile extract along with an exclusive formulation that leaves a moisturising film on your skin for 10 hours. It has got SPF15 to thoroughly protect your skin from UV rays as well. If the Fresh Day Cream is made to gently energise your senses with its tea-flower and herbal scent, the Night Lipid Cream does the opposite by leaving a “night velvet bouquet” fragrance for you to unwind after a long day out. Its 12-hour long hydration boost allows your skin to moisturise and repair while you get some shut-eye at night-talk about a truly custom-made regimen for major skin pampering.

Kanebo’s Chrono Beauty range is now available at all Kanebo counters in departmental stores nationwide.

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Watches
Ceratanium: IWC’s new material that will change the watchmaking world
Case study

26.09.2017
By Buro247

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The Cartier Privé collection is about history and modernity

The first Aquatimer, introduced in 1967, kicked off an illustrious legacy of diver’s watches from Schaffhausen. This year, IWC celebrates the pioneering watch family with yet another spearheading discovery—Ceratanium. An alloy with the lightweight toughness of titanium and the scratch-resistant properties of ceramic, Ceratanium combines the best of both materials to open up a world of possibilities in watchmaking.

Its debut in the form of a never-before-seen Ceratanium case escorts the unveiling of a special 50th anniversary edition of the Aquatimer. The Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition “50 Years Aquatimer” (Ref. IW379403) is striking in its matte black presence by virtue of the revolutionary material. The dial echoes the dark theme by providing a black backdrop for luminescent elements on the hands and internal rotating bezel. Its large 49 mm diameter handsomely houses the double digit display of the digital perpetual calendar feature while allowing for a generous glimpse of the automatic movement via a see-through sapphire-glass back.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”iwc aquatimer ceratanium” rid=”5503″ order=”a_tstamp”}

Ahead, Lorenz Brunner who heads up materials development at IWC Schaffhausen explains Ceratinium.

What is Ceratanium?
It is a groundbreaking new material, based on a titanium alloy, that combines all the advantages of titanium and ceramic. It is as light and tough as titanium but as hard and scratch-resistant as ceramic. Other compelling features are its skin-friendliness, high resistance to corrosion and striking matte black colour.

What was the main reason for the development of the new material?
Our brief at the start of the development process was to create a black or very dark material suitable for making a completely black watch. The new material would not only have outstanding properties but also give us more freedom during manufacture than ceramic.

What particular challenges does ceramic pose?
During the sintering process, the material shrinks by around a third. The minuscule tolerances acceptable for mechanical watches make the job incredibly demanding. Apart from that, it isn’t possible to machine ceramic using conventional processes. For example, you can’t drill holes in it after sintering because it might split.

And is that not the case with Ceratanium?
Ceratanium is based on a titanium alloy produced specially for IWC. We make all the case components from this metal, milling, turning, drilling and polishing them until they’ve reached their final shape. Only then do the parts go into the oven. During the sintering process, a change in the structure takes place; the ceramic-like surface bonds directly with the material to become extremely hard, scratch-proof and the distinctive black colour.

How do you plan to use the material now?
With the “50 Years Aquatimer”, we’ve shown that we can make all the case components from the new material. Now we need to wait and see how watch lovers react to it. But I assume we’ll be using Ceratanium in the future for other models. It’s suitable for any application where we need lightness, ruggedness, corrosion-resistance, hardness and a striking black colour.

The special edition Aquatimer with a Ceratanium case has a limited run of just 50 pieces.

Related stories:
Two new members join the timelessly elegant IWC Portofino family
Classical redux: IWC relaunches the Portugieser Chronograph Classic

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Hair
3 Ways to restore your hair to its state of (crowning) glory

23.06.2019
By Wei Yeen Loh

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How does volumising shampoo actually work? Plus, expert tips for keeping your hair looking lush

Got fried tresses that are crispier than the chips you’re snacking on? If coloured, damaged hair is high up on your list of beauty dilemmas, you’re in luck—there is a way to “turn back time” on your locks, and while it isn’t the same as re-virginising your hair, this transformation is pretty much the best solution we’ve come across so far.
Hair cosmetic brand Schwarzkopf Professional’s bestselling BC Bonacure range has been relaunched, this time with Micellar Technology and a wealth of skincare-inspired ingredients to revive your hair to its former glory. The new BC Fibre Clinix range offers haircare products you can use at home and in the salon.

When your hair goes through chemical and mechanical influences, it affect the hair integrity in various ways, from a weakened inner hair structure to an outer hair sheath that’s prone to breakage. The BC Fibre Clinix range’s Triple Bonding and C21 technology is coined the most powerful repair technology yet from Schwarzkopf Pro, and is able to restore the hair fibre back to its virgin properties. The full regime works to create 3-dimensional bonds inside the hair fibre while resurfacing the hair cuticle completely. What results is an increased elasticity and resilience in your tresses—up to 10 times stronger than before.
Ahead, three steps to rejuvenate your locks:
Cleanse thoroughly
Start with a gentle yet effective cleansing shampoo such as the new BC Fibre Clinix Tribond Shampoo that’s made for all hair types. This also preps the hair structure for the personalised BC Fibre Clinix Treatment.
Treat accordingly
Choose from two BC Fibre Clinix treatments that are for fine and coarse hair respectively. This formula works on the inner hair bonds to improve resilience and strength, alongside sealing the outer hair structure for better manageability and shine.
Boost with BC Fibre Clinix Boosters
In case your hair needs an extra dose of TLC, head over to a salon for an indulgent treat. Opt for BC Fibre Clinix Booster range that’s mixed with specific BC Fibre Clinix Tribond Treatment to target specific hair needs.
Schwarzkopf Pro BC Fibre Clinix is available exclusively in select hair salons.

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Beauty
#FitnessFriday: Team tries TRX Suspension at Babel KLCC

08.11.2019
By Ronn Tan

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To work out or not to work out… that is the question. Ultimately, we did and a thorough one too. The Buro team decided to challenge ourselves at the newly opened Babel KLCC gym. How? With TRX Suspension, of course! Find out more about what this painful-sounding exercise is in the video above. Guided by Evon Tan, we sure did our best to pull through a macabre 45 minutes. Well, horrible for most of us but can you guess who had no issues with the programme?
RACHEL AU, editor
I’ve only ever tried TRX Suspension once and it sure wasn’t as tough as this session at Babel KLCC. A total body workout that requires some skill in coordination and balance, it left me aching in the right places for days—and that’s the butt, the glutes, the core, the shoulder blades… basically, almost the whole body. I dare say, it’s definitely effective. Evon had a chirpy personality that kept motivating us to hang on (yes, pun intended) longer. My only constructive criticism of the class was that the instructor could personally go over to help out those who needed assistance in positioning the body. Despite that, 10/10, I’d still go back! As a treat, Evon let us try out Babel KLCC’s R&R session too where we got to use foam rollers and a tennis ball to massage out the muscles to aid with recovery. Since I was in so much pain the next day, I wondered if I’d have been in more pain had we not done the class. That being said, the R&R definitely left my muscles feeling pretty good.
Rating: 4.5/5

rae.png
LOH WEI YEEN, beauty editor
I may have underestimated the TRX class before it started—I mean, how tough can working out with these suspended bands really be, right? Let’s just say that it was an eye-opening, butt-kicking 45-minute session that really changed my perspective on the efficacy (and sheer challenge) of this workout. Ten minutes into the class and I was already flailing for air/water/a break, basically. We started out with core exercises which were no mean feat as we had to engage our core all the time throughout elbow-to-hand planks, mountain climbers, and side knee tucks—and then came the leg and back exercises that really whooped our muscles into shape. Thankfully, we had a chance to stretch and loosen out said muscles during the R&R session right after (I may or may not have groaned loudly in relief when we were busting out the foam rollers). That said, the aching I felt the day after easily took the top spot on my list of workouts-to-try-if-you-want-to-be-shrivel-in-pain-for-a-week. Easily the most underrated but challenging class we’ve tried on #FitnessFriday so far.
Rating: 4.5/5

JOANNA PINTO, special projects editor
Confession: I quite fancy TRX workouts since we’re building strength using our own body weight sans any heavy barbells so when I heard that Babel KLCC’s TRX Suspension class was our next #FitnessFriday workout, I was pretty pumped. For a 45-minute class (which went by super quick), we really worked up a sweat starting with the very first series of planks that fired up not just our core (do we have abs yet?) but also our heart-rate in mere minutes. After all the ab-burning reps, we worked on our pectorals, biceps, triceps, glutes and legs; the killer for me was the harder-than-it-looks one-legged mid-air squats and I’m sure my colleagues would agree! I appreciated the R&R session after our TRX class too, since we spent a good few minutes in each stretch position using props like a foam roller and tennis ball to massage our sore joints and alleviate muscle tightness. PS: You know it’s a solid workout when everyone can’t stop talking about how sore they’re feeling for the next couple of days!
Rating: 5/5

STEPHANIE BOEY, fashion writer
If I could describe Babel’s TRX Suspension class in two words, it’d be… painfully effective. TBH, I was very intimidated at the start of the class because I was a complete beginner when it came to the equipment, but our instructor Evon gave a quick crash course before starting and reminders along the way throughout the session—very helpful for someone who is as uncoordinated as I am. However, figuring out how to work the equipment was the least of my problems. The class was very challenging, and had me working up a serious sweat. My abs have never done so many planks and worked so hard in one sitting. The R&R class that followed was a good wind down, allowing the body to cool down. I also picked up some tips on how to knead my muscles to lessen the soreness after a crazy workout. Alas, the TRX workout was so intense, I could not sneeze, cough nor laugh for a good three days without being reminded of the ab workout.
Rating: 4/5

RONN TAN, editorial assistant
So many firsts for me! My first #Fitness Friday, my first workout at Babel KLCC, my first workout with the team, and my first time trying TRX Suspension. Let’s just say I walked into the studio with the enthusiasm of a child with Pokemon but came out completely drained and unrecognisable. Oh yes, I’m using that word. Right off the bat when we began with the planks, I knew the next 45 minutes weren’t going to be enjoyable. Boy was I so on point! I suffered throughout regardless of which parts of my body were being tortured worked on. The strain on my pectorals, biceps, triceps, glutes, and legs were apparent of someone who doesn’t exercise (the most I do is dance). The next few days were oh-so-tough! The Weeknd might be a Starboy but I’m definitely Soreboy. The team at Babel KLCC prepared a R&R session for us to unwind and relax our muscles after TRX Suspension. I’m not sure if I did that wrongly or it just did not help me. Or maybe my body would have felt worse without. Either way, Evon was really encouraging and I might—might—consider going again for some good old hanging fun.
Rating: 4/5

CALLEIGH YAP, senior graphic designer
I could not feel most parts of my body for at least a week after the TRX Suspension class at Babel KLCC! Even though it’s not a cardio concentrated class, it still got my heart pumped real fast and I like how it targets your upper, middle and lower body. There are a few variations you can try during class (regression and progression) depending on your fitness level, so this is suitable for beginners or experts! After the intense TRX workout, we were given a 30-minute session of R&R (recovery and rejuvenation) using a foam roller and a tennis ball. Don’t be fooled by its name, it was quite a painful session especially on the glutes area! But it really helped in releasing most of the tense muscles I have on my body.
Rating: 4/5

For more information on Babel KLCC, visit this website.

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Features
#BuroBossGirl: Innai Group’s Izrin Ismail on growing the local fashion scene
Made to measure

21.03.2018
By Joan Kong

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Mention Innai Red and you’ll immediately think of the elegant and polished gowns and separates, and at the centre of it all, is its founder and managing director, Izrin Ismail. While Innai—founded by her mother—was born out of her love of batik, Innai Red is a bespoke fashion label that is driven by its design philosophy of “creating a new, contemporary femininity”. Izrin, along with her innate sense of style, truly reflects the aesthetic of her brand, and as the face of the labels, she stresses the importance of knowing your label inside out.

Acknowledging that she’s a people person—thanks to her bubbly and talkative personality, she spent a few years working as a fashion PR before diving into her family business to learn the ropes from her mother, Aishah Saleh, and took over its operations soon after. In 2012, after she saw that there’s a huge market for made-to-measure services, she took the plunge and launched Innai Red. The label—known for its feminine silhouettes coupled with intricate embellishment—revolves around Innai’s quiet elegance. After hiring designers Arene P.Khairudin and Juliani Jamal who are in charge of the creative aspect, the all-girls team never looked back ever since. Innai Red is now one of the go-to labels for different occasions such as Raya and weddings (they just recently launched their new Bridal collection called Modern Grace), and for the first time ever, a Chinese New Year collection was also introduced early this year. On our last episode of our #BuroBossGirl 2018 series, we talked to Izrin on her love for batik, the pros of working with your other half, and her proudest achievements of Innai Red thus far.

On how she started working at Innai:
“I never thought I’d land in the fashion industry, to begin with. I do a lot of talking, to be honest, so I thought one day I’ll become a TV host or a presenter—or even something to do with public relations. In 2008, after my studies, I worked elsewhere in the fashion line just to get an idea and understanding of the industry. I knew that there’ll be a point of time where I need to take the business over. In 2008 is where I full-fledged, took it over from my mum.”

On her love for batik:
“It’s pretty much like a painting, like when a painter paints a picturesque picture. How you should treasure a piece of batik is just like how you’d treasure a piece of painting that you hang on your wall—one that you value.”

On Innai Red’s beginnings:
“After I took over Innai I saw there was a very strong presence in ladies customising their clothes. Malaysians tend to customise our baju kurungs or dresses for different events so there’s a huge demand for getting your pieces made to measure. This year, we launched our Chinese New Year collection as well as we had a lot of enquiries for cheongsams for weddings and tea ceremonies previously. I just wanted to see the public’s response, and I have to say, it has been really great.”

On her hopes towards the local fashion industry:
“I think you need to find the unique essence of your product and make sure you stay focus and try to market as best as you can. I feel that what we have now is a saturation of the same thing, so it’s a bit diluted.”

On her proudest achievement:
“I guess my proudest achievement is to see how the company has grown, and how Innai Red has grown for the past seven years. Even the Queen of Selangor noticed us and we dressed her for a lot of occasions. For a very young brand, being strong locally is the best start. I just hope that in the long run, we’ll get to step out from our comfort zone, and see where we can fit in internationally.”

On the working dynamic between her and her creative designers, Arene and Juliani:
“When I started the brand, I wanted it to be an all-girls team. We do have two boys on the team—my husband, Marcus and a tailor. But apart from that, they’re all girls. It’s nice because we’re women dressing for women. So we understand our body and our customer’s bodies more, but not just knowing what looks good on them and what doesn’t. It’s more of that emotion and personality understanding. The working dynamic between Arene and Juliani has been great because they refer themselves as yin and yang as they balance each other well. They’re slightly different in terms of their design essence but they complement each other very well.”

On working with her husband, who is the CEO of Innai Group:
“Marcus joined Innai, I would say when we started Innai Red. And he has been such a great addition to the company, to be honest. He’s handling accounts, he’s the HR, he does payrolls, he does everything. He is very diligent and organised that sometimes when there’s something to blame, it’s always on me. I guess sometimes you just need that kind of person. Very rigid and systematic. He instils that in the brand.”

On being a working mum:
“I have to say that what motherhood and work have both been a beautiful journey. The essence is time. Apart from having a good help, my mum also helps to look after my son. So that helps a lot. I am very thankful that my working time is quite flexible. I start a bit late during the day but I work until slightly later than the rest because I know it’s crucial for me to bond with my son in the morning and prep him before he goes to school. We send him to school, and in the afternoon we fetch him from school. You just need to find the time.”

On her beach getaway essentials:
“My batik pieces, of course. Pareos are very versatile because you can wear it as a sarong and it also can also do it as a dress. Kaftans are great too because they give you that airy and flowy feel when the wind blows. Sunnies too of course. I’ll bring two or three every time for options.”

On the skill-set necessary for a boss girl:
“Always maintain a good interaction with your team members, be organised with your time and be very focused on what you do. Make sure you push your product, and most importantly, believe in your product. That’s how you can go far. In any industry you go into, it’s not just about the fun and the glamour of it. You need to build your label and your team. And you know, it’s making sure that it’s a team effort. Whatever you’re doing needs to speak on its own and you, as a boss girl, need to be the voice of your brand.”

Find out more about Innai and Innai Red on their Instagram or website. The boutique is located at C-0-10 & C-1-10, Plaza Damas, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Our 2018 instalment of #BuroBossGirl was shot on location at The Estates at Pangkor Laut Resort, with special thanks to Lexus Malaysia.

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