Celebrity Life

With less than a couple of weeks to go until the most wonderful time of the year, it's time for the annual Prestige Christmas Giveaway. From December 13th to 24th, we’re offering Prestige Online readers the chance to win amazing prizes each and every day on Instagram, as we count down the 12 days of Christmas.

Whether you’re stuck on your gift list, sick of shopping, or just in need of a treat, here's just a little something from us to you, to thank you for being our loyal readers.

Christmas Giveaway Day 2: Tea Château x Vivienne Tam Graffiti Dragon Collection

One might be in fashion and the other might be a maker of tea capsules, but the two have a lot more in common than you'd think. Vivienne Tam is known all over the world as a fashion designer with a distinct knack for combining elements of the East and West in her designs. Tea Château, similarly embodies an East meets West philosophy to create its one-of-a-kind tea capsule machine, adapting the Western coffee capsule machine concept to work with Chinese teas and herbal tea blends.

For Tam, it was a natural collaboration. "I like tea very much because tea culture is known as the quintessence of Chinese traditional drinking culture," says the designer. "It's a combination of life and philosophy. When I first heard the brand concept of Tea Château, I was amazed by the western capsules made of Chinese tea or herbal tea. This perfectly combines East and West's elements, which also matches VT's East Meets West's concept."

The Design

When designing the Tea Château x Vivienne Tam Graffiti Dragon collection, Tam laboured long and hard over the symbols that could represent both Chinese and Western cultures best. She settled on the dragon, and to capture traditional tea-drinking culture in a more contemporary manner, she decided on graffiti, seen as the most popular art form in modern Western culture.

The final design utilises modern graphics of dragons and clouds on the tea capsule machine and tea capsules, while the co-branding letters of TC and VT are emblazoned on the box like a wax seal stamp.

The Four Tea Flavours

Hugely passionate about tea herself, Tam says fashion and tea both inspire her and are huge parts of her daily life. "Together with Tea Château, we're transforming the traditional culture of tea drinking into a trendy and fashionable attitude," she says. "A shot of herbal tea in a snap is just perfect to boost our energy in the quick fashion world."

Tam's favourite is Glow Your Skin, a bestseller amongst women for its function and taste. "It smells elegant and comfortable," says Tam. "Especially with the smell of Ginseng Oolong and Osmanthus."

Glow Your Skin contains effective herbs that can nourish the body and brighten the complexion. Freeze Your Age is another functional tea offered in this range, with ginseng, chrysanthemum and rose to boost immunity, strengthen the spleen, soothe the mind and improve vitality.

Two other traditional teas round out the offering – a Premium Dahongpao imbued with the mellow aroma of cinnamon, and Premium Pu'er, a complex multilayered tea with a full-bodied flavour.

The Tea Château Experience

The machine is so simple to operate there really isn't much to it – simply place a capsule into the machine, push a Botton and your perfect cuppa awaits you. The machine comes with 15 bar pressure to ensure a perfectly brewed cup with optimal water pressure and temperature. There are also seven water levels to choose from, allowing you to adjust the strength and concentration of your tea. What's more, the machine is compatible with other capsule drinks, making the machine a truly versatile addition to the home.

How to Enter

At Prestige, we're giving away one set of Tea Château x Vivienne Tam Graffiti Dragon Collection, which comes with the stylish Tea Capsule Machine along with four tea types: the Premium Dahongpao, Premium Pu'er, and two functional teas Glow Your Skin and Freeze Your Age. To enter, head to our Instagram page @PrestigeHK and follow the instructions.

Terms & Conditions:

By entering this Prestige giveaway, you will be bound by these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you satisfy all eligibility requirements.
This giveaway is open to Hong Kong residents only and entrants must be over the age of eighteen (18).
Entrants must follow our Instagram page and set their profile to public in order for their entry to be valid.
The giveaway prize is live for five (5) days only.
Entries will be accepted within the five (5) days of posting the feature. Thereafter the giveaway for that prize will close and the winner will be announced.
Winners will be contacted and asked to provide their full name and contact details via Instagram within 48 hours.
Winners will be instructed on how to claim their prize by email.
Winners must respond to redeem the prize within seven (7) days of the prize announcement, otherwise the prize will be forfeited.
Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash, credit and are non-transferrable to third parties.
Prestige reserves the right to cancel, re-draw or otherwise modify this giveaway at any time with immediate effect and without giving prior notice.
Photos are for reference only.

The post Tea Château Partners with Vivienne Tam to Brew the Perfect Cuppa (A Christmas Giveaway) appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Among the misty mountains, towering over the forever chaotic and dynamic streets of Hong Kong, lies Ngong Ping – a spiritual haven that was chosen by Vivienne Tam to showcase her Spring 2022 collection.

Following a year-long hiatus, the godmother of Hong Kong fashion came back with a roar and presented an array of fresh perspectives that marked the beginning of the new VT era. The collection titled City Camouflaged aimed to play with the ideas of tranquillity and the co-existence between humans and nature.

A Debut Partnership with Ngong Ping 360

Vivienne Tam’s collaboration with Ngong Ping 360 was a match made in heaven. The show, set in the scenery of Ngong Ping village and Wisdom Path, reflected the culmination of the designer’s spiritual journey. The collection epitomised the importance of mindfulness with its largely leisure-oriented focus and heavy symbolism, as represented by the wooden pillars of the Wisdom Path in the background.

A Love Letter to Hong Kong

Tam devised several new prints for the collection, each one reflecting a motif saturated with cultural significance. The two-piece suit, for example, consisting of a crop top and wide pants, was covered in red checks – a prominent homage to plastic woven checkered bags that have been used in Hong Kong households and markets for decades. Another complex print that defined the entire collection included references to Ngong Ping 360 itself, like the silhouettes of the Buddha, blooming flowers, and clouds.

“Gender is a construct – tear it apart!”

Vivienne Tam gave the guests a peek into the genderless future, and what a bright one it was. The inclusion of fluid pieces into the collection was a deliberate choice, according to Tam. The designer enlisted one of Hong Kong’s pioneer nonbinary models – Timmy Ng – to convey the message of fluidity. Expert craftsmanship – as could be seen through meticulous detail work on denim and athleisure essentials – allowed the pieces to be worn by people regardless of their gender identities.

Ft. Wheelchair Fencing Queen

In 2021, words like ‘diversity and ‘inclusion’ mean very little unless they have actions backing them. Vivienne Tam’s collaboration with Alison Yu – a seven-time Paralympic gold medal wheelchair fencer – proves that universality and acceptance are at the brand's core. The collection’s slogan, ‘Love Your Style’ stemmed directly from the idea of embracing oneself and unlocking the power of individuality.

Hiking for the Gen Z

The breathtaking views of Hong Kong, its clambering hiking paths, majestic trees, and formidable mountains served as an inspiration for City Camouflaged. The athleisure component of the collection was designed to become the perfect attire for hiking. After noticing Hong Kongers wearing mainly solid and neutral colours when conquering the wilderness, Tam was adamant to challenge the convention by cloaking her windbreaker jackets and leggings in vibrant prints

The post 5 Things You Should Know About Vivienne Tam’s Latest Hong Kong Show appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Back in Hong Kong for the past few months, designer Vivienne Tam talks to Jing Zhang about home, health, wellness and how fashion will fit into the new normal.

"I haven’t spent such an extended period of time in Hong Kong for years,” says Vivienne Tam. “Since I came back, every weekend I’ve been hiking in Tai Po, Sai Kung, all around the mountains, or hanging out in Sai Ying Pun and Kennedy Town.”

Tam, who founded her brand 25 years ago and is one of this city’s most prolific fashion names, has reconnected with her Hong Kong home in the past few months. Despite the pandemic, the protests and the crushing pressure of both on retail, she’s discovered more inner peace with a change in lifestyle, and during long walks along the waterfront.

[caption id="attachment_210338" align="alignnone" width="2250"] Vivienne Tam (third from left) is one of this city’s most prolific fashion names.[/caption]

“Hong Kong is so beautiful, especially at night around the harbour,” she says, “I’m not just talking about the skyline, but also the city’s small neighbourhoods, like all the graffiti in Western District, and at night when young people go roller skating and the older ones are dancing.”

Tam graduated from the Polytechnic University’s first-ever fashion design course, but it was her first trip to the US in the early 1980s that set her on a path to becoming one of the world’s most recognisable Asian names in fashion. Moving to the US and starting her brand in New York was a game-changer that would see her East-West hybrid style flourish as she became a pioneer of China-chic aesthetics.

The years passed and she was a regular on the New York Fashion Week circuit, as well as doing special shows in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. Celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Jessica Alba lined up to be dressed by her. As an emblem of feminine, Asian-infused style, she was emboldened by partnerships with Mandarin Oriental, Disneyland, Hewlett Packard and, most recently, the Forbidden City in Beijing. There’s also an upcoming collaboration with Aimer, China’s biggest lingerie brand, on a collection called Red that will launch in December.

Today, fashion is in the midst of a reckoning. And Tam is in full embrace of what the industry must turn towards – not only to survive, but also to thrive. “We’re at a time when we have to be more conscious … We as designers all ask ourselves ‘why?’ It has to be meaningful. I want to make clothes that give joy and positive energy to people besides making them feel comfortable and beautiful. In society, we all feel that much more connected with nature – and fashion needs to follow more of this kind of message.”

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She’s started using recycled and offcut fabrics now from her own previous collections, and she’s making pretty designer masks that match her ready-to-wear – a modern adaptation for fashion in the time of Covid. As Tam has had the time to ponder and introspect, she’s steely and adamant that “design can be a vehicle to bring a positive message”. Amid the turmoil, there’s something quite cathartic and serene about the current spirit, she postulates: “People are reconnecting to nature more, the sky seems somehow more beautiful and blue.”

Tam easily gets carried away each time we talk about all the places she’s been visiting and rediscovering: “All these little old villages, with the little shops, temples, and little islands and coves like Wong Shek, accessible by a little boat from Sai Kung …You can feel like you’re outside Hong Kong … and still, the new energy of urban neighbourhoods makes me really appreciate this city.”

Born in Guangzhou, Tam moved to Hong Kong at the age of three and remembers being creative with her own style early on. She was hand-crocheting her hairbands, decorating her stationary boxes and adding little embroideries on to accessories. In primary school, she and her mother would design and create outfits together, buying fabrics from Sham Shui Po, Fa Yuen Street and the like, then stitching them with a sewing machine at home.

“I loved that feeling with my mother,” she recalls, of making those special outfits for celebrations like Chinese New Year. The family didn’t have money, but these unique bespoke pieces would come to mean the world. In that sense, fashion has always held a deep, emotional significance for Tam. It was never just about fabrics, factories, silhouettes and sex appeal.

This year marks the brand’s 25th anniversary, a significant milestone, but Tam says it’s also a turning and changing point. “People’s habits and concerns have changed and we all have to change. It depends on how you want to survive.”

After the death last year of her partner, designer Scott Crolla; the reconnection to nature and to her Hong Kong home, as well as the importance of physical and mental health, are not without significance. “I’ve had time to really think about what I want to do … I want to start a new line based on wellness that will include outfits for hiking, yoga, tai chi – athleisure and the wellness lifestyle.”

Launching next spring or autumn, Tam’s new line will use more sustainable fabrics and be more green, and she hopes to expand into clean cosmetics and skincare. “This is a really important time to do this,” she says. Tam also completed a collection to celebrate the 600-year anniversary of Beijing’s Forbidden City – a cumulation of inspiration trips, delving into history and further exploration of Chinese beauty. The big celebrations (including her fashion show) in Beijing this year were cancelled because of the virus.

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As the main fashion designer chosen to interpret the famed historical site into her creations, it goes to show how Tam’s modern take on Chinese aesthetics has proved powerful enough to ensure 25 years in a fickle industry. The consistent use of high-tech fabrics with traditional embroidery or motifs are defining elements of Vivienne Tam’s style – an enduring New-Old, East-West hybridism.

For the forthcoming autumn/winter season, there are plenty of Chinese influences, culminating in a padded, hooded, hero coat in a painterly print of blue and beige. Tam used a mood board that included old paintings, images of stories and legends, decorative prints and patterns – on the clothes this is manifested in mix material fabrications, laces and chinoiserie prints.

A curving pattern of yellows, oranges and mustards are morphed from designs in ceilings of the Forbidden City. This long-time pursuit of China chic (she also famously published a book of the name in 2000) has landed her a place in the fashion annals. And whether it’s incorporating vintage Hong Kong icons, red taxis and the famous neon lights of the city, or the ancient Silk Road, cave art and Ming vases, Tam gives contemporary twists to more classic Chinese motifs and designs.

It’s a precarious time politically, too, right now: Between Hong Kong, China and the US “there’s so much tension”. But, she says, there’s also “a real exploration of how to be more positive and creative in this time. I’m hiking every weekend. I’ve become healthier and more focused, even though like everyone else in the world I have my worries.”

Some of that positivity can be attributed to that fact that Tam is in the middle of the Deepak Chopra 21-day Abundance Meditation. It’s giving her “so much power and awareness, and making [her] listen to [her] heart more … it’s really been quite helpful”.

It’s ever more important to foster mental and physical fortitude, to come out better on the other side. And new ideas – and new ways of looking at things – might be just what we all need, Tam argues. Her advice to young designers now focuses much on having a clear and positive purpose. Although it’s impossible for a do-over, we can all reassess and reprioritise. Much of fashion is going through the same thing, not just Tam. Reset. Adapt. And Grow. And for this designer, she’s actively choosing to look at the silver linings.

The post Vivienne Tam’s Homing Instincts appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

For Vivienne Tam, founder of her internationally celebrated eponymous brand, true luxury in life stems from a freedom of transformation and integrity of self. Discover why ‘Asian at Heart, International in Spirit’ is not simply a concept, but an embodiment of all that she is.

[caption id="attachment_169411" align="alignnone" width="1152"] Old world glamour meets contemporary Chinese cuisine at Silk Road Chinese Restaurant, World Dream of Dream Cruises | Dress Vivienne Tam[/caption]

Your brand is synonymous with elevated luxury. What do you want your pieces to say and how do you want women to feel when they wear them? 

In the very beginning of my career, I was dressing myself, but now we are going through a wonderful time of growth and transformation for women. It is very different to when I started; women are more powerful. Now, I want it to be more about them rather than myself; it’s about being inclusive. There are so many different types of women, and I love being able to think about how they feel, especially now, when the passage of time is different. It needs to be relevant; it’s not just about feeling good. I want to empower them and to leave them feeling that they have learned something about the world, about different cultures.

What feeds your passion and drives you forward?

I feel I was born with a mission to bring Chinese culture to the world; I am a bridge between two cultures. Every collection is about sharing this mission and this passion. Chinese culture is so rich, it always made me wonder why everybody was only looking to the West, so for me, it’s about bridging these two ideas. It’s communicating with the world about who I am, and having a platform to do that – it’s such a great vehicle. Being a lifestyle designer allows you to share the beauty of the world. When I was young, it was very simple, I just wanted to dress myself. But then you go deeper and deeper, and it’s not just about that anymore. It’s a connection between people, it’s unifying the world. I am always learning.

What do you consider as the cornerstone of exceptional design?

You cannot compromise your integrity. Even though people might say I ought not do so much with a Chinese filter, I cannot compromise, because that is who I am.

So, you feel that being cross-cultural is simply an intrinsic part of you?

Yes. A lot of the time, people are commenting on what I do, but I think you need to be truly who you are. You have to stay true to yourself, and I am definitely a bridge between two cultures.

In your experience, what do you consider as the finer things in life?

They are immaterial. A freedom to be who you want to be, and become what you want to be. It’s about the journey – the freedom to transform.

[caption id="attachment_169407" align="alignnone" width="3456"] Guests off The Place receive priority booking at the Chef's Table at Seafood Grill by Mark Best, World Dream of Dream Cruises | Dress Vivienne Tam[/caption]

A freedom that you often find on your travels. Tell us about that.

When you travel, you can learn so much about other people, and other cultures. When you’re in a new place, it’s that sense of freedom. I love travelling – there are no boundaries. Travelling is that literal journey, where you can transform yourself. It brings me so much joy; all your senses are liberated. Meeting people, speaking to them, appreciating the arts and crafts of new places – it means so much to me. I always find it so inspiring to think about how I can interpret what I see when I come back. I need to travel more! It gives me so much energy.

And when you’re observing and absorbing this energy from new cultures, do you feel like you’re filtering that through an Asian lens for your customers?

I feel like it’s a very global lens, but, yes, with an Asian element.  I grew up in Hong Kong, and now I live in New York and Hong Kong.  It gives me a very unique perspective; it’s very hard to describe it – I don’t use words; I use my designs to express it! When two things come together, it brings so much joy and happiness; it brings a balance.

It seems Dream Cruises’ ‘Asian at Heart, International in Spirit’ concept really means something to you.

This totally speaks to me. This is me. It’s who I am; it’s not even a concept. There’s no trying to be anything else, it’s fundamental. I am the embodiment of ‘Asian at Heart, International in Spirit’.

Photographer Pierre Dal Corso 

Art Director Harriet Gregory 

Stylist Tasha Ling 

Hair and Makeup Wendy Lee 

The post Living the Dream: Vivienne Tam appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.