Editor’s Note

something we are celebrating because these 262 pages are the result of flashes of inspiration brought to life through the painstaking collaboration of eight editorial teams across Asia. You can imagine how many Whatsapp messages it took to get our shoot dates in order. We wanted to celebrate this new season in fashion through vibrant feature photography and the moving success stories of designers with roots in Asia who have made their mark globally.

Someone who is still making waves after presenting his first collection seven years ago is Christian Dior haute couture prodigy Huishan Zhang, who combines refined tailoring with influences from his Chinese heritage in creating sophisticated, very romantic yet wearable garments. We travel to his hometown in Qingdao, where he has set up an atelier, to meet the designer and discover his latest collection (Rising in the East, p.170).

We then flit across the region to meet eight of the best couture designers for womenswear in Asia, including our very own Barney Cheng. These trailblazers open the doors of their studios for an at-work shoot with the muses who inspire them (Dream Weavers, p.182).

Hong Kong-based fashion designer Saloni Lodha gives us an insider’s tour of one of her favourite cities, Mumbai, where she finds much inspiration for her boldly patterned creations (Magnetic Mumbai, p.226).

We also present the best of the fall/winter runway shows, from key looks to must-have accessories, in a hefty Style section that starts on page 60.

When it comes to professional inspiration, there’s no better example than our cover star, Cindy Chao. The Taiwan-born jeweller, who is celebrating 15 years in the business, shares her compelling story with watch and jewellery director Charlene Co. In Master of Her Fate (p.198), we shoot Cindy amidst the ornate interiors and gardens of historic Château du Champ de Bataille in Normandy with renowned photographer and film director Carter Smith behind the lens.

Elsewhere, we get an intriguing first look at American photographer Philip-lorca dicorcia’s coming exhibition at David Zwirner (Still Life, p.218); and we meet the team behind Louise, a new culinary hotspot led by chef Julien Royer (of two-michelin-starred Odette in Singapore) and restaurateur extraordinaire Yenn Wong, who reveal what’s on the menu (Geez, Louise, p.236).

Are you inspired yet?

EMILIE YABUT-RAZON Managing Editor