Celebrity Life
Jewellery Trends: Bold, Geometric Designs
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 18th 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.
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Alex Lam -
Alex Lam with Hiro Yoshikawa at his studio -
A pair of Washi Jeans on display
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 Jewellery Trends: Bold, Geometric Designs appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
A Young Designer is Creating Whimsical Jewellery Pieces Inspired by Lego Blocks
Who says luxury fashion has no sense of humour?
Not jewellery designer Nadine Ghosn, in any case, who for several years has been making offbeat creations, reinterpreting motifs and objects from popular culture without a hint of self-consciousness. The latest in line is a jewellery series of rings set with precious gemstones inspired by the long-time kids' favourite, Lego.
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Nadine Ghosn's Building Blocks jewellery collection draws inspiration from Lego. (Image: Nadine Ghosn)[/caption]
From a necklace in the form of earphones, to earrings featuring mini can openers or protractors — not to mention a hamburger ring — Nadine Ghosn makes jewellery that is as refined and sophisticated as it is original, constantly surprising fans and collectors. Now, the designer has added a childhood throwback to her collections with the "Building Blocks" line, inspired by the art of assembling bricks, more precisely, Lego.
While this is in no way, shape or form a collaboration — although it could always become one — the collection is inescapably inspired by the famous brightly coloured building blocks. The designs are striking — sometimes boldly colourful, sometimes more understated — and each of the rings unquestionably evokes the top of a Lego brick. There's one key difference, however — these ones evidently can't be assembled and reassembled in near-infinite combinations.
The project took time to come about, since cutting the stones into these geometric shapes proved a meticulous process. "Although the collection concept was clear to me from the onset, it took two years to materialise, from digesting the components and perfecting the concepts to working closely and carefully with craftsmen refining the precious materials used," explains Nadine Ghosn on her Instagram account.
She adds: "Revisiting with childhood familiarity the first blocks that taught us how to rebuild. Bigger. Brighter. Better."
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The Bon Bon Block ring is one of the designs in Ghosn's lego jewellery collection. (Image: Nadine Ghosn)[/caption]
Rubies, diamonds, topaz and sapphires are just some of the exceptional gemstones used in these original creations. And, rest assured that the prices have nothing in common with the classic kids' toy, ranging from US$4,480 to $23,380 (HK$34,729 to $181,243) for the first pieces unveiled on the designer's website here.
(Main and featured image: Nadine Ghosn)
The post A Young Designer is Creating Whimsical Jewellery Pieces Inspired by Lego Blocks appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
A Young Designer is Creating Whimsical Jewellery Pieces Inspired by Lego Blocks
Who says luxury fashion has no sense of humour?
Not jewellery designer Nadine Ghosn, in any case, who for several years has been making offbeat creations, reinterpreting motifs and objects from popular culture without a hint of self-consciousness. The latest in line is a jewellery series of rings set with precious gemstones inspired by the long-time kids' favourite, Lego.
[caption id="attachment_212779" align="alignnone" width="996"] Nadine Ghosn's Building Blocks jewellery collection draws inspiration from Lego. (Image: Nadine Ghosn)[/caption]
From a necklace in the form of earphones, to earrings featuring mini can openers or protractors — not to mention a hamburger ring — Nadine Ghosn makes jewellery that is as refined and sophisticated as it is original, constantly surprising fans and collectors. Now, the designer has added a childhood throwback to her collections with the "Building Blocks" line, inspired by the art of assembling bricks, more precisely, Lego.
While this is in no way, shape or form a collaboration — although it could always become one — the collection is inescapably inspired by the famous brightly coloured building blocks. The designs are striking — sometimes boldly colourful, sometimes more understated — and each of the rings unquestionably evokes the top of a Lego brick. There's one key difference, however — these ones evidently can't be assembled and reassembled in near-infinite combinations.
The project took time to come about, since cutting the stones into these geometric shapes proved a meticulous process. "Although the collection concept was clear to me from the onset, it took two years to materialise, from digesting the components and perfecting the concepts to working closely and carefully with craftsmen refining the precious materials used," explains Nadine Ghosn on her Instagram account.
She adds: "Revisiting with childhood familiarity the first blocks that taught us how to rebuild. Bigger. Brighter. Better."
[caption id="attachment_212776" align="alignnone" width="960"] The Bon Bon Block ring is one of the designs in Ghosn's lego jewellery collection. (Image: Nadine Ghosn)[/caption]
Rubies, diamonds, topaz and sapphires are just some of the exceptional gemstones used in these original creations. And, rest assured that the prices have nothing in common with the classic kids' toy, ranging from US$4,480 to $23,380 (HK$34,729 to $181,243) for the first pieces unveiled on the designer's website here.
(Main and featured image: Nadine Ghosn)
The post A Young Designer is Creating Whimsical Jewellery Pieces Inspired by Lego Blocks appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
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Van Cleef & Arpel’s L’École School of Jewellery Opens First International Campus in K11
L'École, School of Jewellery Arts, has announced that it is opening a permanent campus in Hong Kong this Autumn. The Paris-based institution was first set up in 2012, and is the only school of its kind that offers hands-on courses in the art of jewellery design that cuts across age groups and backgrounds.
The school has conducted successful travelling editions in the past, landing in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Dubai and New York since 2013. Now, after frequent engagements with the student community abroad, L'École has decided to open its first overseas outpost in Hong Kong. The campus will be located at K11 Musea, the new luxury experiential retail, art and cultural destination in Tsim Sha Tsui.
“L'École, School of Jewellery Arts, and K11 Musea share the values of transmission and the commitment to promoting the public education of art, and it therefore felt natural and relevant to have this be our home in Asia. This expansion is perfectly aligned with Hong Kong’s development as a leading arts and culture hub in Asia too. With our ideal location in the city, we look forward to welcoming many more students from all over Asia Pacific,” says Élise Gonnet-Pon, Managing Director of L'École Asia Pacific, School of Jewellery Arts.
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The Asia Pacific campus, once complete, comprises two levels of intimate classrooms, workshops, exhibition spaces and a specialised library with over 600 titles on jewellery art and design. The school will also introduce 17 different course topics under three main themes of Savoir Faire, Art History of Jewellery and the Universe of Gemstones, to start with. Each of these courses will stretch from two to four hours and the number of students admitted per course is capped at 12 to enhance interaction in class.
The international faculty will include experts, passionate jewellers, designers, jewellery historians, gemologists and more. The school will also launch a one-year full-time programme offering modules such as Workshops for Young People, Evening Conversations, and for the first time in Hong Kong curated jewellery exhibitions featuring private collections as well as works by noteworthy contemporary artists.
For more details and registration information, visit hk.lecolevancleefarpels.com.
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The partnership between Chopard and Guo Pei
Chopard’s first-ever high jewellery collaboration with designer Guo Pei shows why haute couture and haute joaillerie are a perfect pairing.
The post The partnership between Chopard and Guo Pei appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.