Celebrity Life

Thanks to the assistance of EFG Bank, young Hong Kong athletes are making their mark on the global stage. Matthew Scott finds out how golfer Tiffany Chan and tennis player Eudice Chong are taking on the world's best.

Tiffany Chan

That Tiffany Chan is able to spend her life – week in, week out – testing herself against the very best golfers on the planet is testament both to the Hong Kong athlete’s natural ability and to her fierce desire to keep on improving.

It should be noted here that what the 27-year-old has already achieved in the game has broken new ground, from representing the SAR at the 2016 Olympics while still an amateur, to becoming the first-ever female player from the city to qualify to play on the world’s leading circuit for women professionals, the LPGA Tour.

[caption id="attachment_211465" align="aligncenter" width="752"] efg bank Tiffany Chan.
Dress Chloe
Boots Roger Vivier[/caption]

Chan is now into her third year on Tour, ranked 243rd in the world and setting her sights towards the top 50. Sponsors such as EFG Bank have helped, and are helping inspire a new generation of the city’s athletic hopefuls to see that – as has been the case with Chan – life as a professional can be possible, if you put in the work and have positive people around you.

In a sit-down with Prestige magazine, Chan turned her attention to her sporting journey so far, to what she sees on the horizon, and to the times when she’d just like to be like “an ordinary girl.”

It’s been a tough year for everyone. How have things been for you?

It’s been abnormal for the whole world, but it was definitely not easy to adjust, because as athletes we try to set goals for ourselves every day, to improve every day. When the sport was shut down I was still trying to improve, but as we weren’t playing there was no way to test how much I’d improved out on the course. I was working out hard, even when I was in quarantine, but the start date kept getting pushed back. And the more the starting date was pushed back, the more I’d wonder, “Then why am I working out now?” But I knew it was still important to be in the best shape I could be, because that’s just what you have to do as an athlete.

It’s now your third year on the LPGA Tour. Did it take time to feel as if you belong with the best players in the world?

I am feeling better. The Tour was stopped, which was a shame, and I’d also hoped to play at the Olympics, which were postponed too, but I’ve felt good about my game. I know what I have to do to be better, so the time off was good for me to prepare. So it was good and bad. Being on the LPGA Tour didn’t feel natural until this year, or at least I didn’t really feel like I belonged there. It wasn’t until this year that I did. It was just about playing better and feeling like you can actually compete with them all. That makes you more confident.

It’s all mental – it’s a gradual thing and nothing comes in just one day. You have to adjust to the atmosphere. When you feel that you’ve adjusted, the results come – and when the results come you become more natural and play your own game.

And you’re back travelling, almost constantly. How have you adapted to that lifestyle?

Travelling 10 months of the year takes getting used to. The hardest part isn’t the flying, it’s the waiting for your luggage, your golf clubs, your suitcase, your hand-carry and your backpack – all alone. You’re on your own and sometimes the hotels aren’t great. It can be glamorous, but for that you have to be up at the top. When you’re not, sometimes it can be tough. But I’m not sad about this lifestyle – I enjoy it. It isn’t easy sometimes, but of course I like it! The playing is great.

The thing I’m most proud of so far is playing in the Olympics [Brazil 2016], before I was a professional. That and being able to keep my LPGA card for three years in a row – I’m pretty proud of that. The pandemic means we already have our card for next season, so that’s four years on Tour and I’m excited. It’s given me the freedom to play as I like and not worry about missing the cut or not getting my playing card for next season.

[caption id="attachment_211466" align="aligncenter" width="750"] efg bank Tiffany Chan.
Coat, blouse and trousers Mulberry
Shoes Roger Vivier[/caption]

Have there been specific people or other golfers who’ve helped you adjust?

I’m quite lucky because I’ve been hanging out with a lot of the Korean players. My roommate is Jenny Shin, who’s been on Tour for 10 years. I’ve also met [former world number-ones] Inbee Park and So-yeon Ryu, as well as Daniel Kang. We all live in the same area, we practise together and we’ve become friends. As a rookie, I’m lucky that they helped me become more familiar with the scene.

What about support along your journey in general?

The people around me are really supportive, which gives me true happiness. You do get some unwanted voices but that’s part of being an athlete. You know, in Hong Kong people think you should always study, be a doctor or a lawyer, and being an athlete hasn’t been seen as a really good thing. But that’s changed since I was coming up through school. I got a full scholarship [to the University of Southern California], so that shows there’s a way. Everything was paid for, and people want to know you because you’re on the golf team. It’s different from Hong Kong, but that’s changing a little bit, and it should.

How much has the support of EFG Bank helped you?

Without their help I’d never have been able to travel since I was 14, to meet a lot of people and improve my game. All I achieved from 14 to 19 was with the support of EFG Bank – and even before I achieved anything they still wanted to help me to make golf my career. That’s pretty special. EFG Bank helped me become what I am today. I golf with clients and we talk while we play. It’s all very natural and easy, and actually we have a lot of fun. I studied communications [at college], so I understand this side of things.

How tough is it, given the fact that you have to virtually give 100 percent of your life to the sport?

It can be tough when people around my age are having fun, having boyfriends, going out and travelling. I travel, of course, but it’s not really “travel” – I go to the golf course, my hotel room, the airport and that’s it. I want to have fun, but I know I can’t. I want to enjoy what my friends do, but I know I can’t. So during the lockdown period I tried to be a normal girl and do what a normal girl can do. As a golfer you do need some down time to get away from it. It’s important to find some kind of balance.

[caption id="attachment_211467" align="aligncenter" width="771"] Tiffany Chan.[/caption]

So how are you facing your future in the game and what are your goals?

I just try to improve by 1 percent every day. It doesn’t necessarily have to be your golf game – it could be your mental approach, or your warm-up routine before you play. If you try to do 1 percent better each day you’ll get there. I try to set my goals very high. I want to be top-50. But getting there depends on the little things you do every day. Golf requires so much, physically and mentally, that you have to do everything you can to get better.

Eudice Chong

When Eudice Chong last year assumed the mantle of Hong Kong’s top female tennis player it was a reward for years of hard work – both on and off the court. The 24-year-old’s story serves as an inspiration to aspiring sports stars in this city, as Chong managed – quite incredibly – to find the means by which she could combine her college studies in the United States with her ambitions as an athlete.

After graduating from Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 2018, Chong is now a full-time professional and she’ll resume her travels to tournaments around the world just as soon as the global pandemic permits. The enforced break experienced over the past six months by sportspeople across the world has given the rising Hong Kong star – currently ranked 383th in the world and with five ITF Circuit singles titles and 10 doubles titles on her resume – a chance to build on her fitness and to plan for the future.

[caption id="attachment_211470" align="aligncenter" width="752"] efg bank Eudice Chong.
Coat Loewe
Dress Ports 1961
Shoes Loewe[/caption]

It also gave Prestige magazine the opportunity to catch up with Chong and to hear how support from her hometown – including the sponsorship she enjoys from EFG Bank – has given her confidence in her own natural ability.

Can we start by talking a little about what this year has been like – you were locked down in the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

I was there for six weeks. A closed camp. It was beneficial, because everywhere else was closed so we could keep training, but mentally, being stuck in the same place for six weeks wasn’t easy. We were all kind of going a little crazy. But it was nice to get training going. Physically I’m improved, as that’s all I’ve been doing. But I really feel ready to play now!

Exactly how tough has it been not being able to play much this year?

It’s hard because we can’t travel and we can’t play. My off season is usually about three or four weeks around December, and I might take three weeks during the year to build myself up again. But now it’s been three months, so it’s been a very big change as an athlete. We’re used to always being active. We’ve been resetting our goals, sorting out what ranking or performance goals we can set once we get back out there again. So it’s been positive in that way, like a refocusing and a time to step away and think about everything.

I’ve really been working on my fitness and improving that aspect of my game – getting fitter than I was before. It’s not about being physically stronger than other people, but being able to keep the pace up for longer. It’s easy to reach a level but then just as easy to drop off, so it’s important for me to maintain the highest level I can.

How are you finding life on the professional tennis tour?

I mostly travel with my coach. I had a teammate [Zhang Ling] I travelled with, but she just stopped playing. So I’m not sure how I’ll face that. We used to play some doubles together, which was nice. It can be tough sometimes, just my coach and me. It can get kind of lonesome. But it’s still nice. I try to stay connected with people while I’m away.

[caption id="attachment_211469" align="aligncenter" width="763"] efg bank Eudice Chong.
Cardigan and trousers Ralph Lauren
Blouse Tod's
Shoes Ferragamo[/caption]

Have you been happy with your form?

It’s been good. I’ve had some pretty good results over the past two years. It sucks, because I was doing well and I had to stop, to have a pause. But as I said, I’ve used this time to get stronger and to figure out the things that I need to improve. So I hope that when I come back I can hit the ground running. I’ve worked on my explosiveness and strength, on keeping my core strong, so when I get to the ball I have the strength to counter punch.

How would you describe the attention you receive from fans and the general Hong Kong community?

The culture in Hong Kong is more focused on business and education. When I was younger it was always education comes first and when I tell people I’m an athlete they’re like, “That’s your profession? What work do you do?” It can be tough sometimes to get people to understand that. But I came up with the best of both worlds. I went to school, finished my college degree and then I turned professional. So I understand both sides of it. I think that helped me understand different perspectives, as other athletes might not have gone through that education.

How important is the support you receive from the EFG Bank?

It means I can travel with a physio sometimes, which really helps a lot with recovery and to be ready for the next day. Just to know that I have someone like EFG Bank supporting me has really given me confidence.

How did you first get into the game?

My parents loved playing tennis recreationally. But actually I didn’t really love it that much at first. I really loved swimming but swimming was very lonely in a way. The first time I really became interested in tennis was when I joined a group lesson with other kids of my age. I started really enjoying it then, as it was so much more fun.

[caption id="attachment_211468" align="aligncenter" width="712"] Eudice Chong.[/caption]

How does the game suit your personality?

I don’t really know! I wouldn’t say I’m a very competitive person. So it’s surprising when people hear that and say, “How can you compete and not be competitive?” But I think that for me, I like the aspect of knowing that the hard work I put in during practice can translate into success in matches. I’m more focussed on the progress you can make, the improvement you can see when you work hard at something. I really think that’s something sport can teach you.

What personal traits do you see as important in terms of your branding and the way you’re seen by the public?
I think humility is a big thing. Humility, but also staying confident, having the self-belief that you’re right up there at the top. Understand that not everything is about you, that there’s a bigger picture that you have to look out for. Positivity is something I’ve been working on. My demeanour on court and understanding that other people can see how I react and I’m not just playing for myself. Just having a good attitude. I’m not the only person out there on court, there are other people, opponents, the audience and the little things that you do can make a difference in other people’s lives.

Who are your heroes in the game?

There are people I’ve definitely looked to for inspiration, for instance, Martina Hingis and Li Na. Li Na has always been kind of goofy on court with her speeches and I love that aspect of her. With Hingis, the way she plays is just phenomenal. She picks the ball up so early and that’s something I try to do.

How important has the support of your parents been along your journey so far?

They’re very supportive and they have always been. They’ve helped me understand the importance of just maintaining balance in life. They’ve helped me see positives and negatives, to spend time with regular kids and live a normal life, to stay grounded.

Nurturing Talent

EFG Bank's Albert Chiu talks about supporting young athletes.

[caption id="attachment_211471" align="aligncenter" width="553"] Albert Chiu is executive chairman, Asia Pacific, of EFG Bank.[/caption]

In his role as executive chairman, Asia Pacific, of EFG Bank, Albert Chiu has helped his company serve Hong Kong’s financial needs as well as reaching out into the sporting community through funding programmes that support the city’s rising stars. He talks about EFG Bank’s activities with young athletes and what these aim to achieve.

Tell us how EFG Bank came to support aspiring sportsmen and women, such as Tiffany and Eudice.

We’re a very young Swiss bank, and established our first Asian operations, in Hong Kong, in 2000. As Hong Kong is our regional headquarters, we thought about how we could give back to the community. The Hong Kong Golf Association told us they had a talented bunch of young people who lacked the funding for better coaching and training, or to play overseas. That’s how the EFG HKGA Elite Young Golfer Programme came about.

Just as we’re are a young bank, these are young, home-grown talents. By 2014 we started to look out for talented young sports people — there are many of them, but their training has been neglected. So we thought this was the right thing to do, to support them with the EFG Young Athletes Foundation, which includes golf and tennis and other sports.

What impact has this support had?

We’ve achieved two main goals. First is the monetary support, which they need to compete at the top level. The funding helps pay for coaching and training. The second thing is awareness. People need to know that there are very talented young athletes in Hong Kong, who are hard at work in their sports. Also, it’s important for these young stars to know that people care. So these three things are priceless.

How does EFG Bank identify the athletes it supports?

Every year we have a process to select our scholars from all the city’s sports associations. From a very young age, the quality of the candidates is amazing. I think people would be surprised just how much talent there is in Hong Kong and how important it is that we all support them.

What are your impressions of Tiffany and Eudice?

We’ve known Tiffany for a long time now, and even at an early age it was easy to see her commitment and how positive she was. We’re very proud to be supporting her and proud of her achievements in the sport. Eudice has similar qualities. She’s very hard working, committed and always positive.

Can you tell us about your own brushes with sporting fame?
Well, I’m a huge fan of soccer. I played when I was young, but I was also a FIFA referee from 1990 to 2005. I did the First Division here and also the Hong Kong internationals. I refereed when Real Madrid came to Hong Kong in 2003 with David Beckham, Raul, Luis Figo. Everybody I knew wanted me to get Beckham’s autograph. I was lucky enough to get one. Refereeing is an interesting experience. You can be on the pitch and you make one mistake and 80,000 fans will swear at you. If you enjoy that moment you know you can be a referee!

Art direction Sepfry Ng
Photography Alison Kwan
Styling Cheryl Yam
Make-up Jess Chong at Glory Beauty
Locations Hong Kong Golf and Tennis Academy (Tiffany) and La Vetta, Hong Kong (Eudice)

The post Golfer Tiffany Chan and Tennis Player Eudice Chong Share About Taking on the World’s Best appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Posted in athlete, EFG Bank, golf, People, sport, sports personality, Tennis

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Startup Life: Abhishek Poddar on Slow Fashion and His E-Commerce Site Mr Square

by PrestigeOnline Hong Kong October 22, 2020

Growing up in a family of fabric merchants, Abhishek ‘Abhi’ Poddar was constantly surrounded by various textiles and weaving machines as a kid.

His childhood years saw him learning about the technical aspects of fibres, yarns and fabrics, as well as the manufacturing processes involved.

While he has always held an interest in the world of textiles, it was only after completing his degree (in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan) that he joined the family business, Siyaram Silk Mills. When he returned to his motherland in Mumbai, he launched a new vertical for decorative home textiles from the ground up, expanding the company’s portfolio that mainly revolved around men’s formalwear fabrics.

Since getting married to Vihari Sheth (now Poddar) and moving to Singapore in 2017 to expand the home furnishing business in this part of the world, he has some time to also think of new projects, and one of which is the new Mr. Square, a fashion e-commerce site that caters largely to men.

Name: Abhishek Poddar
Profession: Managing Director of Mr. Square
Industry: Fashion, fabrics and home textiles
Company size: Two, plus designing and sourcing operations in Paris, Milan and Hong Kong
Startup since: 2020

Why did you decide on this platform?

I believe in slow fashion. I have seen first-hand how the economics of fast fashion creates disparities across the supply chain, and the textile industry has one of the largest carbon footprints on the planet. My family has been involved in the menswear business for over 40 years, so the menswear space is a natural fit for me.

The idea behind Mr. Square is to create a men-focused, slow-fashion shopping experience, offering a variety of dressing styles and occasions for varying age groups. The aim is to provide clothing that are trendy, built to last, relevant for a more than a season, and fairly priced for their quality.

Is there anything new in the pipeline that you can share?

We are living in unprecedented times, and everyone is getting used to multi-tasking and working from home. Casual clothing is now the norm. I am working on a line of live-in tees, which will be launched in a few months. This line is called Mr. Square Essentials, and will consist of basic t-shirts and shorts, made with specialty fabrics that get softer and more comfortable with every wash. I truly believe every man needs a few of these in his closet. My wife wears them and swears by them, too!

What is a normal work day like for you?

At the moment, no day is typical! Being a startup, there are different challenges that come up every day. Work usually involves Zoom calls with designers, factories, tech guys, followed by a whole bunch of ‘self-study’ to prepare for the next round of teleconferences. Our business is very tactile — it is very difficult to perceive the true weight, feel, texture, colour, brightness, and sheen of a fabric over the screen. We’ve been spending a lot on couriers these days! Apart from that, I do like to walk around and discover various stores, checking out the new collections on offer.

As a child, what did you aspire to be?

I wanted to be a fighter pilot! But I didn’t have 20/20 vision, and we don’t have conscription in India, so that notion was discarded once I hit my teens. I’ve always loved machines, and knew that I would be involved with technical processes as an adult. Even now, reading and learning about technical innovations excites me, and gives me a glimpse into our future way of life.

How hands-on are you?

I am extremely hands-on. Having said that, I love to delegate. It’s quite a paradox actually. You could say that I’m hands-on at efficient delegation!

What do you do when you’re not at work?

I am a very engaged parent of two very naughty and energetic kids. I usually workout in the morning, and spend most evenings with my kids, swimming, or cycling, and sometimes getting them to do homework. Music plays a very important role in my life, and helps me set my mood. I love discovering new music, new artists, and mixing music on my home DJ setup. Being a committed father, it’s not very practical to go around chasing club gigs like the younger days. In fact, with the clubs closed due to Covid-19, I have a podcast which you’re welcome to listen to!

What has been your biggest hurdle and how did you overcome it?

Needless to say, Covid-19 has been the single biggest challenge for us all. The fact that we cannot travel to meet designers and physically look at and experience product is a particularly difficult. The restrictions on social gatherings and events have also forced me to rethink all the grand plans I had in place to launch the store. Nevertheless, Covid-19 has been a great equaliser for us all, allowing smaller, innovative companies to be heard and seen on social media. I’m doing my best to adapt to these challenges. Only time will tell which strategies work, and which don’t. All of us have to be responsive and innovative in these unprecedented times.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?

I believe there is no point looking back and wondering what things would be like if done differently. Time stops for nobody, and we all have to do the best we can, based on the judgements we can make. The main thing is to own your decisions, whether right or wrong, and act accordingly on the outcomes.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start up?

If you believe in your product, don’t be afraid to give it a try and don’t be afraid to fail. Calculate your risk and take a moderate risk. I’m sure you will learn many things along the way. Don’t be greedy for instant success — Rome wasn’t built in a day. Be lean, be nimble, and be adaptable.

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing what you do now?

I’d be living in Mumbai, with my kids spoilt rotten with excess house help, while being stuck in home quarantine! I am very glad I decided to move to Singapore, and very thankful for the quality of life my family has in this city.

Which markets will be important for you? Why?

Southeast Asia is one of the most populated corners of the world, if you don’t consider India and China. It is, therefore, a vast consumer base for all types of goods and services. It is also, demographically speaking, a very young population, which looks to the West, but is very confident in their rooted Asian values and culture. I believe the Southeast Asian market has tremendous consumer potential. Of course there are challenges, and a lot of fragmentation due to different cultures, but the underlying values across various geographies are quite consistent and can be appealed to.

How do you define success? Do you consider yourself successful?

Success, to me, has several factors. Financial success is very important, but along with that, is emotional, mental and physical health. Family and values play an important part here, and these aspects can further enhance financial success. Mr. Square is a passion project for me. I did not start this with the aim of making this a multi-million dollar business. The fact that I am able to afford time for this business, without stress, while having secured an overseas income with a successful business which can provide my family a decent lifestyle, already measures success for me.

What’s next for Mr Square?

I want to expand our product offering slowly, to encompass men’s various lifestyle needs. I will bring to market a few new products steadily, and test the market’s response before diving deeper. I plan to have a few pop-ups at different locations, in order to give Mr. Square some visibility, and enable buyers to touch, feel, and experience the products before they buy.

This story first appeared on Prestige Singapore

(All images: Abhishek Poddar)

The post Startup Life: Abhishek Poddar on Slow Fashion and His E-Commerce Site Mr Square appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Posted in Abhishek Poddar, Fashion, Interviews, menswear, Mr Square, People, slow fashion, Style, Sustainability

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Marisa Yiu of Design Trust on its latest initiative “Critically Homemade”

by Florence Tsai October 19, 2020

Design Trust, a grant funding and community platform established by the Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design, has launched a micro-initiative conceptualised by Co-Founder and Executive Director of Design Trust Marisa Yiu.

Born to inspire collaboration within the design community in Hong Kong and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic, the initiative strives to offer solutions to pressing social and environmental needs through creative means and critical making.

To support the community, Design Trust has been providing flexible and responsive funding for creative projects and research initiatives that positively impact Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area region and internationally since 2014. Through this micro-initiative, Design Trust hopes to encourage giving back to the community in ways that allow for connection amongst the global crisis.

Critically Homemade was born out of a survey within the Design Trust community and collaborators beyond the registered charity. The initiative invited Design Trust grantees, fellows, advisors, Design Trust Futures Studio (DTFS) mentors and mentees, as well as its extended local and international community, to create and prototype an object (maximum size 20 x 20 x 20cm) at home that responds to and offers solutions to current societal and environmental challenges. Designers were allotted three weeks each to create their object and were encouraged to collaborate and design for a wide-ranging audience.

“The desire to make things with our hands is universal and a significant human expression,”explains Yiu. “While some handicrafts are means of survival, making objects with our hands serves as a creative release. Restricted by the necessary social distancing during an unprecedented pandemic, many designers have expressed a need to connect, collaborate and create. It’s been months of questioning, thinking, and understanding our city, and the role our NGO can, in a small way, activate positivity to go beyond the current situation, add some levity and yet, be creative under constraints for our collective wellbeing. As a perpetual optimist, I believe design can enact positive change. This organic platform has accelerated these recent weeks, during the third wave lockdown, and showcases the humbling power of the community to come together to support each other.”

[caption id="attachment_211325" align="alignnone" width="980"] COVID-19 Sculpture Series by Kacey Wong[/caption]

Representing a diverse cross-section of Hong Kong’s design community, “DESIGN TRUST: Critically Homemade” involves established designers to young creatives: DTFS mentor Michael Young, Seed grantees and mentees Florian Wegenast & Christine Lew, as well as friends of Design Trust such as UUendy Lau and prominent artists Peter Yuill and feng shui designer Thierry Chow to design veterans such as Alan Chan, Douglas Young, anothermountainman (Stanley Wong) and sustainability design advocate Johanna Ho.

[caption id="attachment_211326" align="alignnone" width="1004"] Tactile Family by Aron Tsang in collaboration with Hera Lui, NAPP Studio[/caption]

After a successful exhibition and opening at Soho House, “Design Trust: Critically Homemade” will grow into a wider community exhibition and fundraising programme. Following the exhibition, a vetting procedure will determine which prototypes are developed into final products and selected to take part in a series of micro-community fundraiser programmes. These final objects will be part of a community fundraising programme of designer items and one-of-a-kind experiences.

All proceeds will go towards the ongoing funding of Design Trust seed grants in relation to the COVID-19 challenges and provide immediate support to social and design programmes that will benefit the wider community.

The post Marisa Yiu of Design Trust on its latest initiative “Critically Homemade” appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Posted in Design, Design Trust, Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design, Marisa Yiu, NGO, People