Celebrity Life

There’s no doubt Alex Lam inherited his musical talent from his parents, his father being Cantopop legend George Lam Chi-Cheung, and his mother, Sally Yeh. Still, the singer-songwriter and actor hasn’t let privilege get to his head — he’s not afraid to explore other paths, from a stint in Los Angeles to discover yoga and becoming a yoga teacher, to dipping his toes in fashion.

Lam met Hiro Yoshikawa, founder and designer of Washi Jeans, a Japanese denim brand, a couple years back and was intrigued by the designer’s backstory. Now based in Hong Kong, Yoshikawa is the 18^th generation of a revered sake maker in Okayama, Japan, and the first to leave the family business to pursue his own passion in denim-making. By chance, Yoshikawa had found an old document that charted out his family’s history, written on washi paper. Inspired by this, he developed and patented the Washi No. 6 paper yarn, which he utilizes in his first solo collection launching this month.

Lam, who has always had an eye for detail, quickly became an ambassador and muse for Yoshikawa, and took it upon himself to bring the recognition Yoshikawa deserves by helping him stage his upcoming solo debut.

We sit down with Alex Lam and Hiro Yoshikawa at Washi Jean's studio to talk about style and the upcoming debut of Yoshikawa's solo collection Life on Earth.

Can you describe your style? What are your wardrobe essentials?

AL: My style has always been inspired by musicians. I grew up watching some of my favourite bands like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and today, I'm inspired by singers like Drake. For me, my summer essentials include a sleeveless vest, a good multi-functional blazer and a pair of high-quality designer jeans.

Have you always been passionate about fashion and did you want to work in fashion?

AL: I have always cared about how I look and my outfits since I was a kid. I remember there was one time when the collar of my t-shirt wasn't right and I wouldn’t wear it out until my parents fixed it for me. Having friends who are in the fashion industry allows me to execute and experiment my ideas during workshops, like the ‘marshmallow’ colourway of the t-shirt I’m wearing right now. 

How did the both of you meet?

AL: I met Hiro-san thought some of our mutual friends.

HY: have been making jeans for other brands for the past 30 years and it has always been my dream to have my own denim brand. I have always hung out with people from the fashion industry, and meeting Alex from the music and acting world has made my life more fun and exciting.

Can you tell us a bit about your project with Hiro-san?

AL: I was hanging out with a group of producers and we often talk about fashion shows, designer brands’ videos, installation art and music. Once we found out Hiro-san wanted to launch his own denim brand this year, we decided to catch this opportunity and put our ideas together. We are organising a VIP launch event with a fashion show on June 11, 2021.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome with this project?

AL: I think the rules of the game changed after Covid started last year. We looked at online fashion shows last year, without the tradition styles, and we knew our team needed to do it in a cleverer way. The restriction for event gathering is 30 persons at the moment, so we were not able to invite too many friends and make the event as big as before. Plus the campaign and fashion show video shoot all in one day, that’s the biggest challenge in this project.

HY:  We have been staying in our studio almost every day is the past few months, meeting different parties like our PR team, models, videographers and producers.

What else are you up to this year that you can share with us?

AL: I have released a new song and I just finished a music video for another song. I have also been working on my YouTube channel and created a few series, but it’s been slightly slowed down because I was focusing in this project.

Has the pandemic affected the way you work or changed your priorities?

AL: Before Covid, I was busy working with clients, who often prepared everything. With changes and restrictions during this period, I am able to organise and create more content by myself.

What are you currently inspired by?

AL: There are many indie musicians and young kids out there who are doing their music in their unique styles. I admire them a lot as they can release songs as long as they think it sounds good. I used think good music requires the best studio and recording equipment, but turned out a lot of indie musicians are producing high quality songs just by working at home.

You have a YouTube channel, you're into fashion, music as well as classic cars. How did you get into each of those passions and how do you balance it all?

AL: Project by project. I’m now focusing more on quantity over quality and I'll keep learning from the progress and mistakes.

Do you have a motto you live by?

Stay healthy. As I was a yoga teacher, I still practice yoga for two to three hours each day. It’s a good way to reflect on myself and find peace.

The post This Summer, Asia Yachting Offers the Ultimate Way of Escape appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The regional dealer has showcased a five-strong range of Prestige models in Hong Kong in a spectacular shoot that highlights seven upcoming arrivals available for immediate delivery.

The post Prestige Yachts Making Waves In Asia appeared first on LUXUO.

Asia Yachting has sold the region’s first MCY 70 Skylounge in Hong Kong, having started the year by staging an online premiere of the Monte Carlo Yachts model.

The post MCY 70 Skylounge Sold in Hong Kong appeared first on LUXUO.

Asia Yachting has sold the region’s first MCY 70 Skylounge in Hong Kong, having started the year by staging an online premiere of the Monte Carlo Yachts model.

The post MCY 70 Skylounge Sold in Hong Kong appeared first on LUXUO.

In Hong Kong, regional dealer Asia Yachting hosted the online Asian Premiere of the MCY 70 Skylounge, Monte Carlo Yachts’ first Skylounge model.

The post Asia Yachting hosts Asian Premiere of MCY 70 Skylounge appeared first on LUXUO.

Based in Monfalcone, northern Italy but with the muscle of leading French Groupe Beneteau behind it, Monte Carlo Yachts has, in little more than a decade, become synonymous with the construction of timeless, luxurious and yet highly advanced motor yachts. With exterior and interiors designed by the Scorzè-based studio Nuvolari Lenard, the award-winning MCY 70 Skylounge, which is making its grand arrival in Hong Kong waters, typifies the blend of classic elegance, luxurious comfort and seaworthiness that’s become synonymous with the brand.

Available in this market through Asia Yachting , the MCY 70 Skylounge measures just over 21 metres from bow to stern, with a maximum beam of almost 5.5 metres, but an emphasis on space maximisation means that within those dimensions it features not only an airy enclosed flybridge lounge – the first of its kind on an Italian-designed yacht – and a main-deck saloon, but also a beautifully appointed owner’s cabin and a versatile lounge area in the bow that can even be transformed into a beach cabana.

As the yacht’s name suggests, a unique feature is its fully enclosed flybridge and helm station, which guarantees comfort and privacy at all times and in all weathers, yet wide windows flood the interior with natural light and offer a 360-degree view of the horizon. To the rear of the flybridge, a sliding door grants convenient access to an aft sunbathing area. Drawing on MCY’s strength for customisation, the stylish main-deck saloon can be configured to the owner’s requirements, with multiple seating possibilities as well as materials of the highest quality, including Italian leather and marble.

Making this the ideal home-from-home afloat, the lower deck is occupied by a bright and spacious owner’s cabin, as well as guest cabins, all of which are ensuite. Sleeping accommodation is available in a variety of layouts and finishes, and can also be equipped with advanced audio-visual systems, and to ensure maximum privacy the owner’s and guest cabins can be accessed by two separate stairways.

Powered by twin 1,300hp MAN diesels, the MCY 70 Skylounge can cruise at speeds up to 22kt and reach a 26kt maximum. Now in Hong Kong, it’s available for viewing by appointment with Asia Yachting .

Register here

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Buying your own yacht is just the beginning of the luxury experience afloat. Hong Kong-based Asia Yachting is there to assist at every step of the way, from finding the right boat to crewing it -- and even planing voyages to faraway destinations.

While luxury motor-yachting is at the pinnacle of lifestyle pursuits, an owner’s enjoyment is enhanced enormously with the knowledge that a boat is being kept at its best, for use wherever and whenever the urge dictates.

With 13 years’ experience as a dealer of some of the world’s most sought-after brands of new and second-hand craft, Hong Kong-based Asia Yachting offers an exclusive portfolio of uncompromisingly high-quality management services for clients. “We consider that our job is not to just sell a boat to a client but also to provide the service that goes with it, to make boating a luxury experience,” says founder and CEO of Hong Kong-based Asia Yachting, Olivier Besson.

The premium services offered bring a comprehensive range of care for the yacht and passengers, so that Asia Yachting clients can sit back and enjoy the best from their boat. The owner may select any or all of the following carefully custom- tailored services.

Peace of mind from a broad-reaching yachting insurance policy is essential. Experience with clients’ needs and constant monitoring of what’s available in the market informs Asia Yachting of the best possible coverage and value. In-house insurance specialists’ research is led by client criteria, and then more than one possibility is presented, discussed and paperwork formalities completed.

Permanent and temporary marina berths, or moorings, can be acquired within a reasonable period of time for a buyer. The Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter is a popular spot in Hong Kong, and Asia Yachting guarantees a placing for a client in Hong Kong, Macau or in Southeast Asia. Temporary international moorings are also undertaken, with Besson’s team regularly sourcing spots in St Tropez and Monte Carlo, among other glamorous overseas locations.

What would luxury yachting be without a reliable crew? Asia Yachting will gladly suggest a crew configuration based on an owner’s usage, nationality and yachting experience. Potential crew members are all carefully vetted and, if suitable for the client, trained appropriately and offered direct to the owner or to be managed by Asia Yachting on their behalf. Either way, this is followed by ongoing crew performance monitoring to the industry standard, which incorporates the owner’s feedback.

Cleaning services can sometimes overlap with crewing tasks; typically the nature of crewing duties depends on size of a yacht. “If it’s larger than 65 feet [about 20 metres in length], we recommend a full-time crew; below a 65-footer, we’ll usually offer cleaning teams to work according to the boat’s usage,” explains Besson, “and we also do this for speedboats.”

Maintenance for yachts is a must. Daily minor maintenance is all in a day’s work when a crewing team is employed. If that’s not the case, an annual contract is sensible. For important annual systems monitoring that might include engines, gyroscope, drivetrain and generator, Asia Yachting can provide packages for annual checks and servicing.

Services from Asia Yachting also include short-term or even one-off client needs. Repair services source the most technically able partner to get the job done professionally. For client cruises crossing one or more international water boundaries, help with planning and obtaining necessary passenger, crew and boat regulation paperwork for visas, port clearance and quarantine regulations can all be handled, as can requests for anything from a small crew for a planned weekend getaway, or a larger team to include waiting staff and entertainers for a special occasion.

“I’ve arranged a live band for parties, classical musicians for a seated concert and Michelin-star chefs to cook on board,” says Besson. “We’re always happy to try to find whatever our clients need.”

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A Hong Kong dealer’s brief for a tailored MCY 86 resulted in a lavish interpretation by Italian designer Dan Lenard. By Andrew Dembina.

The post Monte Carlo Yachts Creates Special-Edition MCY 86 for Hong Kong appeared first on LUXUO.

France’s Prestige is a world leader in 40-60ft motor yachts, bolstered by the fast-selling new 420, but as Mike Derrett reports, the X70 will usher in a new direction.

The post Prestige Savours Premium Position: Shipyard Profile by Yacht Style appeared first on LUXUO.

Fountaine Pajot, Leopard and Bali are all benefiting from the growing demand for sailing catamarans around Asia.

The post Sailing Catamarans 2020: Yacht Style Special Part 2 appeared first on LUXUO.

Italian builder Monte Carlo Yachts is completing its first MCY 76 Skylounge, which follows the MCY 70 Skylounge that debuted in February.

The post Monte Carlo Yachts Prepares to Launch MCY 76 Skylounge appeared first on LUXUO.

The first Prestige 420 in Asia is showcased cruising around Phuket, Phang Nga Bay and Krabi in a new video shoot by Asia Yachting.

The post Prestige 420 Yacht Shines in Thailand Video Shoot after Asia Debut appeared first on LUXUO.