Family Matters
ong Kong Tatler has always been interested in family dynasties—and not just local ones. In this issue, Madeleine Ross profiles Brandon and Jenny Chau (p.186) and Brunello Cucinelli (p.200). Brandon is the grandson of Chau Sik-nin and son of Kai-bong, both business leaders and philanthropists, and in Kai-bong’s case a fashion legend with a legal mind. A barrister and an entrepreneur, Brandon is continuing their legacy. In the past five years, he has launched the Noblesse Group bedding business, taken the role of sartorial influencer a step further with the creation of Attire House and, with Jenny, set up the charitable foundation A-life Academy. But the most important role for the couple is that of being parents.
For fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli, business has always been a family affair, one rooted in heritage and a desire to give back to the community. Restoring the medieval town of Solomeo and making it his company’s headquarters has not only ensured that generations of local families work side by side, but also allows him to take a paternal interest in his employees as he builds his fashion empire.
Brunello’s story reminded me how much I love to travel. Like many of our readers, it isn’t just the pull of being pampered in a luxury hotel that sends me off to a new destination or back to a much loved one. Of course, I like the high-thread-count sheets, inroom massages and hot and cold running staff as much as the next person, but what really makes me want to go somewhere is the notion that I will experience it as a local. Those stories that aren’t about travel per se, but are about the itinerary and seeing a place through the eyes of different personalities. So whether the inspiration comes from reading about a chef ’s favourite places to eat or a tastemaker’s secret spots, something in the pages makes you want to experience their lives and hometowns. In LA Stories (p.240), we get the lowdown on Los Angeles from locals, while Scents and Sensibility (p.138) reveals Grasse through the eyes of master perfumer Jacques Cavallier-belletrud, the nose behind seven new scents being launched by Louis Vuitton this month.
We’re also making a few changes and additions this month with the move of our Faces social pages (p.252) to a new position after Life and the launch of the cool, partyfocused Upfront section (p.76). There’s also a new regular Homes feature this month (p.234) which in profiling an individual takes an intimate look inside their home to convey a sense of who they are and what inspires them. Finally, we take a look at the coming fashion season with fashion editor Justine Lee’s electric shoot, Light Me Up (p.104), and a wrap-up of the catwalks of London, New York, Paris and Milan, New Horizons (p.112). It’s the perfect cocktail as we head into autumn.