BIG in JAPAN

konichiwa y'all!

In short - Tokyo is f*ucking cool. Last time I was here was in Nov for a Emilio Pucci event with other Asian fashion press but we didn't really have much time to wear in our walking boots so to speak. Shibiya is youth culture paradise, as is trend central Harajuku, immortalised into the minds of American teens by Gwen Stefani - and for your information - they do have "the wicked style."

Kids here are stylin'! ITs a weird culture of non-conformist ideals and styles in one of the most conformist societies in the world. Since I don't speak Japanese, I am for once speechless and have been limited to "hai"s, "ei"s and "arigato"s which I repeat quite often, intermitted with bows of varying angles. They dont get me very far.

I'm in Tokyo with Maison Mode Magazine, that WE also do, to interview Ms Hanae Mori, a famous Japanese designer, this woman has been doing haute couture since the 50s, after once having a fitting in Chanel and meeting Madame Coco herself. Hanae Mori is truely a slice of 'West meets East' fashion history and has won awards from both the French and the Japanese government! I'm meeting her tomorrow - very exciting!

I've been staying at the Cerulean Tower Tokyo Hotel (fantastic staff), in Shibuya and move to the stunning Tokyo Peninsula in Ginza tomorrow, for a taste of ultimate luxury. If the HK Peninsula is the colonial colossus, then the Tokyo one is a true contempory mix of Japanese aesthetics imposed onto the Pen design identity. Cannot wait...afternoon tea anyone?

Keep in check for my next post, I should have by that time:

- met Hidetoshi Nakata the ex-footballer celebrity for a little chat on our summer issue inspired by his jetset lifestyle
- embarassed myself at Kareoke Japan style
- been to a Chemistry party at the Cancer Research Institue (my friend Ming works there)- who says I don't do testubes?
- scoured the wierd red light districts of Tokyo, of which I have an un-natural fascination.

There's plenty of opportunity for mischief, non? ;)

Tags: fashion, Tokyo, culture

Published on Friday, 27th of June at 12:30 am

Category: Culture

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Cutting Corners, how not to do it.

In the shadow of the US Sub Prime crisis and a looming worldwide recession, as many economies believe; corporations are finding more and more ways to cut down spending. Whether it’s hiring less, paying less, or restructuring, there are some pretty indecent ways of cutting corners when corporate is concerned.

An Editor friend of mine, who shall remain nameless, recently told me of a hilarious, totally true and frankly unbelievable strategy in a luxury lifestyle magazine that shall also remain nameless, when he worked there some years ago.

The central character of this story is a toilet roll. Despite the company charging in the tens of thousands of HK dollars per single AD, there was a brief period where it allocated each of its employee’s a little goody box at the start of every month. This wasn’t some gift box with a collection of candles, sweets and letters of thanks, instead it was an ‘individual allocated resources box’ with one toilet roll, a box of paper clips and other such rationed stationary supplies that we all take for granted. These supplies were taken out from general storage areas…and would not be replenished if used out within that month.

I don’t think such penny pinching has been seen since World World II!!!…could this be a sign of times to come should the de-stablising effects of a troubled US economy hit Hong Kong hard in the future? Was it a side effect of SARs and the Asian Financial Crisis? Who knows? Who cares?

All I’m saying is that no matter how posh your company seems, I suggest you start stealing a stash of toilet roll now, if not for fear, then for fun. It gives a new meaning to “saving your ass” from the next financial downturn.

Published on Monday, 23rd of June at 2:18 pm

Category: Design & Living

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Loving London Fashion

Having called London my home for 6 years, I must admit I am biased. It might not have the glitz of Paris, the street chic of New York, Tokyo’s restlessness, nor the sheer industrial power of Milan; but there is really no city like London.

My last visit there was in Feb for the Autumn/Winter 08 fashion week, where the UK’s brightest fashion talents showed back-to-back. My friends laughed at me for riding ‘The Fashion Bus’… yeah seriously that’s what it was called, but I had the last laugh when I told them that I had accidentally popped into Harvey Weinstein’s infamous BAFTAs afterparty at my lovely hotel. London knows how to throw a good party, but Weinstein knows how to throw a better one.

I’ve already kissed Vivienne Westwood’s ass in my interview but seriously I would have flown all the way just to see her incredible show – miniskirts and military galore! And Who was that stunning creature of androgyny who close the show in tiny pants and a big attitude? My date looked noncholant as I practically hyperventilated as Queen Vivienne did her strut around the circuit. I was left in awe, red in the face and almost dateless.

London is where you come to be wowed and shocked! My great stylist friend Stevie Westgarth worked on the amazing Spijker en Spijker show (hot blonde designer twins) that had the best catwalk soundtrack on top of their fab show (post-punk catwalks are very cool). We were also very impressed with TOPSHOP New Generation designers such as the up-and-coming Christopher Kane, youngster Ashley Isham, as well as more established acts John Rocha and Julien Macdonald.

Ethical fashion turned heads for the season, and although its legs are still young and shaky, like a fashion Bambi, it will surely find stronger footing next season with celebrity backing and growing ethical commerce in the UK.

The fashion headquarters, so to speak, lay on the grounds of the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, and on the more sunny days, there could not have been a better location. There were boys who looked like girls, girls who looked like boys.... and at night times I would play with old friends in new haunts.

London will always be a leader of revolutions; this was after all the birthplace of punk. Don’t let that stiff upper lip fool you.

Its designers have resilience, grit and that rather sexy don’t give a f*ck attitude.

So, until next time folks…

* For my full LFW report – check out WE Mag # 24, Spring 08- GlobalizAsian Issue out now!

www.londonfashionweek.com
www.westeastmag.com

Tags: london, fashion week

Published on Wednesday, 18th of June at 7:31 pm

Category: Fashion

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Many Pens and a Few Swords

During tight deadlines in that rush to go to print, editing can at times seem a thankless task, but then something comes along and makes you remember otherwise. A gathering of journalists usually means that the bar runs dry very quickly, but in a rare event of international journalistic sophistication at an Asian publishing awards dinner, I'm happy to report back some good news!

Our lovely WestEast Publishing won BEST COVER and BEST MAGAZINE DESIGN (joint win between the 3 issues of WestEast Mag in the picture) at the Society of Publishers Asia (SOPA) Awards '08! Other winners that came out big where South China Morning Post, Ming Pao, The Straits Times, Financial Times and International Herald Tribune. It made us all at WestEast very happy, especially since we also won the IFRA Asia bronze award for BEST SPECIAL ISSUE last month in Macau. (the pictures is of my features editor Ren with the first SOPA award)

Special guest of the gala awards dinner was noted HK journalist Ching Cheong, who was jailed and eventually released by the Chinese Government over charges of spying. He made a moving speech on press freedom and reminded us that we shouldn’t rely on sole agents to fight our causes for us.

All in all, the event at the Marriott was a great success, and a great opportunity for all the Asian press to get together for a chinwag over some food and wine. There was stiff competition between the newspaper press. I’m not sure if the swords were drawn, but there was definitely some pen-waving, especially by that one loud drunk guy at the FT table .

For all the complaining that journalists might to… you gotta LOVE this industry sometimes!

www.westeastmag.com

Tags: fashion, publishing, HK

Published on Monday, 16th of June at 7:29 pm

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About FACE

Are we entering an era of celebrity designers? And as with all celebrity cultures how has the attractiveness of the designer come to matter?

High fashion has gone from niche-market-luxe-living to a middle-class heavyweight industry… inducted into pop culture and celeb stardom. Just recently did Bally fly their gorgeous ex-model-cum celebrity design director Brian Atwood over to their event in HK, much to the delight of Asian editors and media, who worked themselves up into a bit of a frenzy.

If Marc Jacobs has taught us anything, it’s that one can really transform from emaciated Jarvis Cocker look-a-like to a toned and tanned stud in one single year - a physical transformation that has done major favours for his brand popularity. And now not only is he gracing the covers of magazines, his New York Fashion week show is so anticipated you’d think it was the second coming of Christ.

Soon we could be hungrily delving into fashion designers’ maybe less than fashionable love lives. Relishing in their drunken mishaps, double chins, secret love children and rumoured cocaine addictions. Of course there will be the 'accidentally' leaked sex tape (lets hope its not Donatella's!)

God, it’s like we got bored with the politicians.

Or if you’re Carla Bruni, you can vigourously do both ;)

Tags: fashion

Published on Thursday, 12th of June at 2:50 pm

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Fashion as a Social Lubricant?

How often have you wondered whether there was a point to fashion? Since I
edit a fashion magazine (WestEast...for those in the know) I get asked this
all the time, by my friends outside the industry, and I have a number of
smooth well-rehearsed answers at hand (personal expression, creativity,
aesthetics, manipulation of social structures...blah blah). But a more recent
acquisition of mine (or steal should I say, as I did indeed just that) is
that fashion is a "social lubricant." Indeed it might be THE social
lubricant of Hong Kong.

Why are nearly all big social events in Hong Kong somehow linked to a
fashion brand? Even bagging big international acts that normally wouldn¹t
shake a tail feather at Hong Kong remember Kanye West and Louis Vuitton¹s
epic party, and John Mayer and Coaches recent collaboration? If it's not
Diesels pulling the punches with yet another massive party, it's the likes
of Piaget (whose Heart to Heart Party was an absolute blast, mini Moets and
all) who provide the venue, the champagne (crucial) and the DJ for some
midnight fun.

Despite the initially stiffness, that can either last 5 minutes or the whole
night, depending on the quality of organisation, amount of alcohol consumed,
and the "fun factor" of the crowd; the events usually melt into fun filled
nights. Shy Hong Kongers and the trendy international crowd suddenly have a
venue bigger than a shoebox which lets be honest, is the size of most bars
here to dance, talk and flirt.

I supposed we should be thanking these fashion labels for the style and the
savvy that the creative industry can throw together and definitely for the
champagne, air-conditioning. Even for the escape from the monotony of LKF
every weekend.

And if they weren't doing it, then who would be?

Who knows, we may have Pocari Sweat Dance-Offs, Swire Hip Hop Battles and
Hong Kong Land Speed Dating to look forward too.

Maybe even a special Stanley Ho fun zone! - Oh sorry I forgot we already have that I think its called Macau.

Tags: parties

Published on Wednesday, 11th of June at 10:43 am

Category: Fashion

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