20 Letter from the Editor
When we came up with Tatler’s monthly magazine themes late last year, all of the editors in Asia agreed that November was the perfect time to have a “Best Of” issue—a chance to document the extraordinary people, places and stories ahead of the holiday season. Pre-pandemic, this meant shining the spotlight on ultra-curated travel and dining experiences, as well as outstanding art, fashion and jewellery to covet.
Then 2020 arrived and dealt us a hand no one could have expected: an unrelenting pandemic, an unprecedented economic downturn, and incessant political and social unrest across the globe. This year has adversely impacted all of us, but it has also helped us change, dare I say, in some cases for the better.
With social distancing and travel restrictions still in place, many of us have found a renewed appreciation for what’s right under our noses. There has been an outpouring of love and support for everything local, and this crisis has reaffirmed the importance of working together, or kampung spirit as it’s called here in Singapore.
Enriching the local scene is something our cover personality, entrepreneur Ashish Manchharam, is truly passionate about. The founder of 8M Real Estate not only invests in rejuvenating heritage buildings, but also in building the communities within these enclaves. “Our entire portfolio is focused on bringing new energy and life to these locations by curating lifestyle destinations within the city. We realised that by curating these clusters, we were also developing the community in these different areas,” he tells us in the cover story on page 154.
In addition to Manchharam, we’ve also featured other tastemakers who have dedicated their careers to weaving local history into their work while making it relevant to today’s audience (page 162). There’s chef Han Li Guang, who takes mod-sin cuisine to a whole new level; storyteller Kamini Ramachandran, who continues to elevate the oral narrative as an art form; designer Priscilla Shunmugam, who injects tradition into her modern fashion and furniture creations; and entrepreneur Edwin Low, whose craft-centric brand Supermama has nurtured design lovers in Singapore for over a decade.
Another positive aspect of 2020 is the immense resilience we see every day. This is evident in the gradual reopening of the arts sector like the launch of the Asia Society Triennial in New York led by Singaporean curator Tan Boon Hui (page 34), as well as the boundless creativity of local chefs and restaurateurs as they continue to overcome challenges and uncertainties (page 226).
While it seems peculiar to have a “Best Of” issue during the worst of times, let these pages serve as a reminder that with crisis comes opportunity. This year has given us the chance to champion our very own treasures and has brought much-needed attention to issues such as climate change so that we may tackle them together. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about living through a pandemic is that it’s worth noting these small victories— and if you’re so inclined to celebrate, I suggest flipping to page 234 for our recommended champagne to toast to.