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.

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Filmgoers have long been captivated by thrilling car chases and spectacular stunts on screen, some of which often become scene stealers.With franchises like Fast & Furious and Transformers going on to make millions at the box office, it’s safe to say Hollywood has produced its fair share of memorable cars over the years. Let’s look back at some of the most iconic cars in film — which are held in high regard by cinema- and auto-lovers alike.

Most iconic cars in famous Hollywood movies

Aston Martin DB5 in James Bond films

[caption id="attachment_214480" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Sean Connery during the filming of Goldfinger. (Image: David Dekkers/Facebook)[/caption]

We begin with the one that still gets pulses racing for Bond fans. The car was driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger in 1964, and became instantly famous for its gadgets such as a smoke screen, oil-slick sprayer and machine guns. The original DB5, which was also featured in Thunderball in 1965, sold for US$4.6 million in 2010. Aston Martin announced in 2020 that it will manufacture 25 limited edition DB5s, each with a price tag of US$3.5 million. Most of the cars were already sold even before they rolled out of the assembly line.

Audi R8 in Iron Man

[caption id="attachment_214221" align="aligncenter" width="607"] Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. (Image: IMDb)[/caption]

Tony Stark aka Iron Man drives around in an Audi R8 in the first Iron Man film, which released in 2008. The car reflected the insouciance and intelligence of the character played to perfection by Robert Downey Jr. Perhaps this is why fans of both the superhero and the car get to see Stark use other variants of the R8 in subsequent films. What's more, Downey Jr. even took his association with the Audi into the real world by unveiling the Audi E-Tron GT in November 2018.

Chevrolet Camaro in Bumblebee & Transformers film series

[caption id="attachment_214223" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The Chevrolet Camaro was the automobile version of the character Bumblebee in the Transformers series, and is now one of the most iconic cars in film. (Image: IMDb)[/caption]

How can we have a list about iconic cars in film without mentioning the yellow Camaro that was the four-wheeled avatar of Bumblebee? Among the many machines that have been part of the Transformers film series, the Chevrolet Camaro remains inscribed in the hearts of franchise fans and car lovers for both its stunning looks and the central role of Bumblebee. The car has appeared with a different facelift in each of the subsequent films of the series, and all have been received well.

1970 Dodge Charger in The Fast & Furious movie series

[caption id="attachment_214225" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] A modified Dodge Charger that appeared in the film The Fast and The Furious. (Image: IMDb)[/caption]

In 2001, Vin Diesel drove a 1970 Dodge Charger in The Fast and the Furious and got everyone hooked on the franchise with the high-octane thrill of this first film. Though cars — beautiful, powerful and fast — are at the heart of the long-running film series, the Dodge Charger's popularity among fans of the franchise made the makers modify the machine and bring it back in 2015 for Furious 7.

1968 Ford Mustang GT390 Fastback in Bullitt

[caption id="attachment_214222" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Steve McQueen in one of the scenes from the film Bullitt. (Image: IMDb)[/caption]

The 1968 film is considered by cinema pundits as featuring one of the finest car chase sequences in film history. And the four-wheeler that played a defining role in that was the Ford Mustang GT390 Fastback — a dark green, two-door four-wheeler with a 390 cubic inch V8 engine. The thrill was made even more exciting with Steve McQueen as the man behind the wheels in the film. Fun fact: There were two identical Mustangs used for the chase scene and only one has survived, which was sold for US$3.4 million at an auction in the United States in January 2020.

1968 Austin Mk I Mini Cooper S in The Italian Job

[caption id="attachment_214219" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] A still from The Italian Job showing Mini Coopers racing down Turin. (Image: IMDb)[/caption]

Mini Coopers were famous even before the release of The Italian Job in 1969, but the film took the car's popularity to greater heights. The iconic climax sequence shows the protagonists fleeing with gold in the trunks of three Minis in red, white and blue, which navigate everything from stairs to boulevards and tunnels as authorities mount a massive chase in the picturesque city of Turin. The 2003 remake, too, was a thrill to watch with the new Mini Coopers running down the streets of Los Angeles.

1969 Ford Mustang in John Wick

[caption id="attachment_214218" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] A still from the film John Wick. (Image: IMDb)[/caption]

Besides the killing of his dog, it is the theft of his 1969 Mustang that forces John Wick to come out of retirement and go on a revenge spree that transcends three magnificent action-packed films. The Mustang appears in the first film, released in 2014. Classic Recreations, a workshop based in Oklahoma, US, entered into a partnership with Ford in 2020 to make replica models of the muscle car. The car has a Ford 32-valve 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine.

1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 in Gone In 60 Seconds

[caption id="attachment_214217" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Nicholas Cage in Gone In 60 Seconds. (Image: IMDb)[/caption]

The Shelby Mustang GT500 was the ultimate prize that Nicholas Cage's character coveted in the 2000 heist flick Gone in 60 Seconds. Dubbed as “Eleanor” in the film, it is considered as one of the most iconic cars to have raced on screen. Its 1967 original had a 428 cubic inch (7.0 litre) V8 engine producing 355 hp that went 0-100 km per hour in 6.5 seconds. A similar car can be custom-built at the Los Angeles-based Fusion Motor Company.

Subaru WRX in Baby Driver

[caption id="attachment_214216" align="aligncenter" width="966"] A chase sequence from the film. (Image: IMDb)[/caption]

This is the car that Ansel Elgort uses for quick getaways in the 2017 film Baby Driver. The modified 2006 Subaru WRX performed beautifully, in tune with the soundtrack during a particular chase scene, and in the process pocketed its own share of a fan following. Some of the cars used during the filming were sold on eBay. The car is an all-wheel drive with a 2.5 litres H-4 engine.

1981 DeLorean DMC-12 in Back To The Future film series

[caption id="attachment_214224" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The DeLorean DMC-12 was depicted as a time machine in the film series. (Image: IMDb)[/caption]

There aren't as many cars that have attracted as much attention as the iconic futuristic four-wheeler with gull-wing doors in the Back to the Future film series. The V-6 engine was originally replaced with a V-8 from the Porsche 928, and the car was basically a time machine in the films. Unfortunately, its cinematic success failed to contribute to sales and the company was wound up before the end of the 1980s. But reports last year from CNET and The Manual revealed that the car might make a comeback in 2021.

Porsche 911 Carrera 4S in Bad Boys For Life

The car is the highlight of a chase sequence from Bad Boys For Life, the third instalment of the Bad Boys film series which was released in 2020. Will Smith drives the sleek machine as he gleefully speeds down the roads and beach in Miami while “navigator” Martin Lawrence is only too eager (hilariously) to get out. A Porsche 911 Carrera 4S comes with a 6-cylinder 420hp rear engine that delivers a top speed of 305 km per hour. Its acceleration is 0-100 km in four seconds.

(Main and featured image: IMDB)

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