Seize the Day
Letter from the Editor 25 Contributors
Over the course of this year, there have been days that felt like forever, but the months seem to have passed faster than a bullet train. In the blink of an eye, we are now in September, almost at the end of a roller-coaster year. Throughout it all, there has been a collective embrace of nostalgia—many of us, myself included, wistfully look back to simpler days be it our childhood or a memorable holiday—a natural inclination as we seek comfort during this unsettling time.
When we speak to the influential individuals in our Tatler community, however, the conversation inevitably moves to that of the future and how to create a better tomorrow especially when conventional wisdom no longer applies. In our Legacy issue, we survey the way family businesses are addressing our new reality, from how Christopher Shaw devised virtual cinema platform KinoLounge by Shaw Theatres (page 42) to the inspiring and creative dynamic at Assouline, a boutique book publisher that is still thriving in the digital era (page 188).
While we often focus on passing-the-baton business stories in our pages, we thought now was a good chance to approach legacy from a different perspective. On our cover is power couple Parag and Ayesha Khanna—parag is a global intellectual specialising in international relations, while Ayesha is an AI entrepreneur—who have made Singapore their home. The Khannas are the picture of professionals at the pinnacle of their careers, but they are also parents who not only want the best for their kids, but for everyone’s children. The couple starts conversations which spark change that leads to a brighter future. “My aim is to make AI and technology accessible to all. Education must be democratised and technology should be a team sport. It is not ‘only my kids should be the best’ but rather ‘we can’t do it alone’. So, the more people there are, the better it is for all of us,” asserts Ayesha in our interview on page 172.
The question of what one leaves behind is a personal one, and we also look at colourful legacies like that of celebrated milliner Stephen Jones, who shares his history of hat-making in the house of Christian Dior (page 96), as well as the story of Singapore’s traditional dance veterans who are fighting to keep the art form alive (page 30). We conclude the issue with a continuation of our ode to Singapore, with a new column called Alphabet City—a series of 26 parts exploring the unique culture of the little red dot seen through the eyes of various illustrators. And if you are still hungry for something laced with a bit of nostalgia, why not help yourself to a bowl of chicken soup (page 200) to soothe your soul?