Celebrity Life

Swedish luxury hand-crafted bed artisans with six generations of heritage bring to you their magnum opus: the Grand Vividus.

The post Object of Desire: Hastens’ Grand Vididus Mattress appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Swedish luxury hand-crafted bed artisans with six generations of heritage bring to you their magnum opus: the Grand Vividus.

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In an attempt to offer a little zen, along with a way to tackle the coronavirus-caused drop in tourism, a group of traditional Japanese inns in Arima have started a virtual reality project featuring recorded footage of their hot spring baths online. Japan's ancient hot spring town of Arima in Kobe went under a state of emergency this month which, according to reports, resulted in 90 percent of the resorts closing temporarily. These virtual relaxation tours are aimed at would-be tourists to showcase their resorts, while bringing this Japanese therapeutic experience into their homes.

"Japanʼs hot springs can help heal people in quarantine around the world, as well as increase the efficacy of the quarantine," the group said in a press release. "This way, we may, even if only slightly, help reduce infections and suffering from the new coronavirus."

The group has uploaded videos to the YouTube channel Arima Hot Springs which features the top hot spring resorts in the area. To date, this includes Arima Sansoh Goshobessho, Takayamasou Hanano, Taketoritei Maruyama, Tocen Goshoboh, and Motoyu Ryuusenkaku.

If you fancy giving the virtual hot spring experience a go, all you'll need is a nice, hot bath and a 4K resolution VR headset. So here it is, Japan's unique but incredibly relaxing answer to get through these stressful times.

The post These Japanese Hot Spring Resorts Offer Moments of Zen Through Virtual Reality appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The thrill of Formula 1 is beyond the adrenaline that comes from watching extreme supercars zip before you. The experience would be incomplete without the smell of burning rubber, wet asphalt, the thrill of the race, the cheering of the crowd, and champagne celebrations. Now the world’s most expensive sport is bottling that entire sensory experience in its debut perfume collection made by fragrance producers Symrise, Firmenich and Givaudan in collaboration with UK-based Designer Parfums, which was launched at the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2019 last December.

As F1 sits at th ecutting edge of design, engineering and technology, the idea was to introduce a world’s first by bringing out a bottle marking a design revolution in the conservative perfume sector. So internationally- renowned Welsh industrial designer Ross Lovegrove – who is inspired by nature and its evolutionary process and a major advocate of generative design and progressive technologies – was called in to create three high-tech, futuristic 3D-printed metal exoskeletons that wrap around a suspended glass flacon containing the fragrance.

Loving the challenge

A project that he worked on a daily basis for the best part of two years, the result is Fluid Symmetry, Agile Embrace and Compact Suspension – each in a limited and numbered edition of 20. Previously used for aircraft or spaceship parts or the high-end medical and dental industries rather than for commercial end products, 3D printing in metal has now been used for the first time in the universe of perfume. A showcase of what’s possible in 3D printing today and how beautiful it can be, the three variants are like nothing seen before as the technology to make them simply didn’t exist until now, and they can’t be manufactured by any other method.

[caption id="attachment_202714" align="alignnone" width="1600"] It is the first time ever 3D printing in metal has been used in the universe of perfumery – by Lovegrove, in the creation of sculptural exoskeletons that wrap around the perfume flacons. (Image: Formula 1)[/caption]

“I’m very picky so I only make any kind of design if I feel it’s a challenge and I have the chance to make a different level of contribution to a particular sector. I could feel that there was something interesting here. I’m trying to marry technology and form in a really new way. As an industrial designer, you have to make a commitment to use the tools that are available to you in the time in which you live. You wouldn’t make a Formula 1 car in old materials and processes. I’m interested in things that can only be made today. If you look at my work, you couldn’t make it in the past. I’m a designer who’s always brought in to talk about what can be done with new technologies,” Lovegrove states.

“So to apply it in this case in a sort of haute couture diffusion-like principle, I have an opportunity to explore these principles at a very high level with the high-value pieces in metal. When I was at SpaceX, they have 3D printing machines that mix biological, biomorphic form with base principles of engineering. And when these two co-join, you get an aesthetic that is on one hand, incredibly emotional, but on the other hand, full of total scientific discipline,” he elaborates.

A complex and time-consuming process, each exoskeleton requires from 15 to 35 hours to print in metal. They are produced in Germany by Materialise, a provider of additive manufacturing software solutions and sophisticated 3D printing services in industries ranging from healthcare, automotive and aerospace to art, design and consumer products. Rather than a predictable appearance, Lovegrove opted for an aesthetic that’s at once state of the art and sophisticated, with designs connecting back to the high-performance F1 car and driver.

[caption id="attachment_202715" align="alignnone" width="1215"] Celebrated Welsh industrial designer Ross Lovegrove. (Image: Formula 1)[/caption]

Referencing the wishbone-shaped cockpit protection halo cage surrounding the driver that has been divided and mirrored, Fluid Symmetry in 3D-printed blasted titanium is influenced by the car’s aerodynamics to generate a new 21st-century technological-biological design. In gold-plated, 3D-printed titanium, the feminine Agile Embrace bottle features solid, flowing lines that hug the inner core, echoing how a F1 car structure envelopes and shields the driver with anatomic precision, while Compact Suspension in 3D-printed stainless steel has been imagined as a multi-layered space frame with a powerful geometric motif.

Inspiring passion

Ellie Norman, F1’s Director of Marketing and Communications, explains the decision to launch a perfume to broaden the brand’s appeal: “In Formula 1, our focus is how do we grow the fan base and continue to diversify what is already a very global fan base. Part of that needs to be through how we explore different passion points. Fragrance is something that is so emotive, and smell is the most powerful for memory recall, so it made sense for us in such a visceral sport that we should explore how we could partner with the best in the world to create a fragrance inspired by the world of F1. Part of what we are doing within the sport is expanding much more into an entertainment and media brand driven by lifestyle, so this plays perfectly into that aspect.”

[caption id="attachment_202718" align="alignnone" width="1229"] F1’s Director of Marketing and Communications Ellie Norman. (Image: Formula 1)[/caption]

Customers may choose from a collection of five unisex haute parfumerie scents embodying the energy and excitement of F1. “The challenge for a global brand when you’re creating a fragrance is it’s very hard to find one fragrance that works in every country, so we tried to match the territories in which F1 has a strong fan base against the territories that do well in perfumery,” notes Parag Vidyarthi, Designer Parfums’ Managing Director.

He adds: “With five, we had a good mix where at least one would work well in every territory: Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, and a global fragrance that would appeal everywhere but was more suited to Russia. Maybe someone doesn’t like all five fragrances, but everyone can find one or two that they would wear. We evaluated each fragrance for its own merit. It was almost a blind tasting. It was important for us to come up with the best products rather than work with a particular fragrance house or perfumer.”

One-of-a-kind

Inspired by the courage of risk takers, Fragrance I by Louise Turner mixes long-lasting citrus freshness with spicy black pepper and pink peppercorn layered across exclusive Akigalawood set against a sensual background of leather, Indonesian patchouli and Ambroxan. Evoking burnt rubber, smoke, rain-soaked asphalt, a sense of competition and pure emotion, the intense, woody and leathery Fragrance II by Fabrice Pellegrin combines mandarin and bergamot with a salty accord and notes of geranium, green apple and ambergris amplified with the Styrax Vulcain captive.

[caption id="attachment_202721" align="alignnone" width="1100"] Agile Embrace (Image: Formula 1)[/caption]

The only fragrance in the collection made by two perfumers – Emilie Coppermann and Alexandra Carlin, the aromatic and spicy Fragrance III is built around cinnamon, iris, tonka bean, vetiver and guaiac wood with metal pepper de Laire base. Capturing the sweet smell of victory with a podium finish, Fragrance V by Pierre Guerros is based on a champagne accord representing a spray of bubbles. It opens with sparkling mandarin, bergamot and lemon electrified by the zing of Timut pepper and lavender, and contrasted by the powerful Ambrostar captive.

Rich and audacious, Fragrance IV by Aliénor Massenet marries the heat of black pepper and cardamom with the coolness of juniper berries. At its heart, intoxicating narcissus is balanced by soft, mineral orris, which smoothly transitions to a masculine base fusing Madagascan vetiver, leather and sandalwood boosted with Tonkalactone. “F1 is an extremely masculine and luxurious sport, but it was missing perfume, so I was super happy to create one for them,” Massenet says.

[caption id="attachment_202723" align="alignnone" width="1240"] Fluid Symmetry (Image: Formula 1)[/caption]

He continues: “My first idea was that I needed to use ingredients that had a very high impact, with a lot of power and testosterone, but then I thought why not use narcissus. It’s a rare and expensive flower that nobody has played with before and could be very masculine, so I put a lot of spice like pepper, sage, cardamom and cinnamon. There are dry notes and a kind of sweet, fruity coconut from the Tonkalactone, a captive that gives the wow, the vroom – like when the drivers start their engines. It’s a very fearless fragrance. When I created this fragrance, I was very focused, just like how the drivers need to be extremely focused and scared of nothing. For me, this fragrance is that emotion put inside a bottle.”

Made to order, each of the three luxury variants is priced at HK$77,500 (US$10,000) inclusive of local tax, with additional finishes to be created this year. Vidyarthi points out that buyers will subsequently be able to create their own customised resin bottle designs within set parameters because the nature of 3D printing allows for the creation in an efficient way of a single exoskeleton or small series as needed.

This story first appeared on PrestigeOnline.com/sg.

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Completely coincidental to the events happening in the world today, it would seem that Vincent Fong has launched his material science company, Raze Technology, in a period when self-care, personal hygiene and domesticity are now quintessential means of survival. A pioneer in the metamaterials field, the Hong Kong CEO has created one of the first light activated sanitising sprays designed to kill 99.99% of bacteria, viruses, odours and mould for home use. Having just launched two months ago, 7,000 bottles of this reactive formula has already been sold. We speak to the man behind the self-sanitising agent on how he built his business and the way he is reshaping the household products industry.

Name: Vincent Fong

Profession: CEO

Industry: Material science

Start up since: 2018

Company size: 18

Tell us about your business. What do you do?

We are a material science company that has developed a long term disinfectant coating that can effectively decompose virus, bacteria odour, mould, and VOCs [volatile organic compounds] with light energy. We believe that material science can be the key that opens doors to solving our world’s most demanding problems. So we transformed our technology to a functional product that creates a better everyday life.

Since the virus outbreak, we have applied our technology to Hong Kong transportation. We’ve covered 4,200 buses, 18,000 taxis and 2,200 mini buses with our Raze coating and seen a huge reduction in germs --protecting the driver and passengers alike. We are very excited to use our technology to improve the lives of others. Global governments from UAE, China and Italy are also reaching out and in discussion of adopting Raze for their public transport.

Tell me about your best and worst day at work? 

After being an entrepreneur for over a decade, the “best or worst” is no longer meaningful since that can change very frequently --even on an hourly basis. But overall, I enjoy my work very much even when things are not moving smoothly. You have to remember that building a company is a process and that’s the part I enjoy most.

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

I enjoy reading anything from scientific journals to science fiction. I also try to stay active with boxing and taking my dog on hikes on the weekends.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently?

There are too many things to list; it ranges from recruiting, time management to investment. One thing in particular is that we only focused on our B2B service first. We then realised that we needed to build a consumer brand to develop trust and brand equity. Rather than pushing businesses to use our service, consumers would help us pull businesses to use our technology. We always wanted Raze to be associated with hygiene and wellness, we just didn’t realise a faster way until later.  But all these mistakes were critical in helping us grow to where we are now, so I would not have changed these missteps.

What is a normal work day like?

I reserve the morning for solo planning to review the list I write up at night, after that a short team meeting and breaking up to smaller unit meetings. Then I divide the day to work on operations, recruitment and partnerships. This structure allows me to dive in on the nitty [-gritty] details of the business while being able to constantly reflect on the bigger picture.

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

Don’t think that a brilliant idea will pop up in your soul searching journey. Just get started and go with the flow, then adjust and pivot, and more importantly consider people, people, people.

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

Probably working in someone else’s startup.

As a child, what did you aspire to be?

As a child, I aspired to be an astronaut – but as you can tell, that did not happen!

What has been your biggest hurdle?

Patience. I have major ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder] and want things to move at 100 miles, at all times, but that doesn’t work in deep technology. These innovations take anywhere from three months to 10 years to develop. Then there’s the process of building a team and getting everyone to work together. All of these things require a great deal of patience so it’s a skill I’m working on everyday.

How did you overcome it?

Be humble to appreciate science as science instead of a business. I overcame this by studying physics and chemistry from my CTOs [chief technology officers] and realising how little I know. This helped me understand that everyone comes from different backgrounds; what may be obvious to some, may not be to others.

Why is Hong Kong an important market for you?

Hong Kong is a global hub for both international businesses and China expansion. Proving the technology in Hong Kong opens many doors on a global scale. It’s also where I was born. So it’s cool to see the Raze stickers inside of taxis, protecting those I grew up with.

If you were to invest in another start up, which would it be?

Hard to pinpoint one specific one, but I am very involved in the food technology venture through The March Fund. They invest in early-late stage companies developing transformative biotechnologies, machine intelligence, and sustainable nutrition solutions for consumers and the agriculture-food supply chain.

What are your goals for 2020? And in the near future?

The economic landscape for 2020 will be very tough due to the Coronavirus global impact. From capital source to consumer purchasing power, many things will be substantially reduced. For Raze, we are fortunate enough to be classified as one of the preventative solutions, and we have grown to be the biggest public transportation preventative player and global government units have reached out to have Raze applied in their buses, taxis and trains. I believe 2020 will be a year of growth. My goals in the near future would be to grow Raze into improving home hygiene systems globally.

How hands-on are you?

I am very hands-on in certain areas that I thrive in such as marketing and sales, but very hands off when I am not the expert such as manufacturing and R&D [research and development].

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

Success is an evolving definition for me. Currently, I believe success is the ability to apply your network, knowledge and passion into solving global issues that can benefit the lives of others. I do not consider myself successful for every year I look back and realise how foolish I once was and would hope this trend continues.

The post Startup Life: Vincent Fong of Raze Technology on the First Self-Santising Disinfectant appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.