When it comes to local jewellery brands, one of the most popular labels that quickly comes to mind is Curious Creatures. Founded by Larissa Tan, this homegrown brand features beautifully designed pieces ranging from elegant gemstone necklaces to minimalist rings.

The success of Tan’s brand has been a long time coming, it began as a side hustle in 2011. In the beginning, the brand was “a place for creative release and an exploration of ideas”. When she wasn’t at her retail job, Tan would create necklaces and post them on Etsy, hoping others would show interest in her pieces. Over time, she began receiving multiple orders from her loved ones and the community, and decided to take the leap, turning her side hustle into a full-time endeavour. But Curious Creatures isn’t Tan’s first foray into the industry—in fact, it is her third.

Prior to Curious Creatures, she had two shops on Etsy that sold handmade jewellery, including one that sold acrylic-cut brooches. However, her two ventures had to shut down due to work commitments. “I did not have the capacity to put in enough time and effort to grow the brands and their product offerings,” she explains.

That said, she didn’t let her failed ventures stop her from trying again. “When I dream about something, I don’t just sit on it. I work hard to make it happen,” she says. While it was disheartening, these experiences taught her not to give up and that she would need to persevere to see results. Instead of dwelling on the past, she continued working to improve on her latest venture, Curious Creatures. Learning that she would need to put time and effort into a venture to see results, she decided to go all this time around.

During her time on Etsy, she began experiencing increasing competition due to a surge of businesses joining the platform. Thus, she moved away from the e-commerce company and set up her own domain. However, it was not as easy as it sounds. This meant having to drive traffic to her domain organically. The following years saw her participating in various local art markets while building a social media following.

Tan was able to turn her dream of opening a boutique store into reality, opening a studio and shop at Kreta Ayer in 2017. This year, she opened the label’s flagship shore at Ion Orchard.

With the jewellery industry constantly evolving, Tan continues to dream of new accessories to add to its ever-growing collection. While it’s challenging to predict what the future will look like, Tan sees the growing trend for “sustainable and ethically sourced jewellery, personalisation and technology integrated jewellery” and hopes to satisfy these consumer demands.

With Tan at the helm, Curious Creatures looks set for continued growth thanks to its beautiful jewellery collections.

Read story here.

Tatler Asia has partnered with David Beckham, president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF, and Inter Miami CF to bring a star-studded football line-up to Asia’s World City for a special exhibition XFEST match on Sunday, February 4, 2024—and tickets are on sale now. Not only will this game be a part of his team’s first-ever global tour, but it is also a part of our inaugural Tatler XFEST.

The team, captained by Lionel Messi and including star players such as Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, will play against a specially invited Hong Kong Team.

“Hong Kong has such a great sports scene,” says Beckham. “In partnership with Tatler, we are pleased to be able to bring the team to this fantastic city as part of Inter Miami CF’s debut game in Asia.”

Michel Lamunière, CEO and chairman of Tatler Asia, is similarly excited: “We are delighted to collaborate with David and Inter Miami CF to bring this remarkable match to Hong Kong.”

Tickets for the unmissable football event in Hong Kong in 2024 go on sale on December 15 and there is a range of ticket prices for both the match itself as well as an open training session on February 3 at Hong Kong stadium. Tickets for both exciting days can only be purchased through the official ticket seller, Klook.

Read full story here.

Design community’s global provider of professional colour standards Pantone has announced its 2024 Colour of the Year—13-1023 Peach Fuzz. Described as a velvety, gentle peach with an all-embracing spirit that enriches mind, body and soul, the shade nestles between pink and orange. It embodies Pantone’s approach to redefining softness. The naming itself is a clever decision that brings to mind the feel and taste of its namesake fruit as we hear it.

“Pantone 13-1023 Peach Fuzz brings belonging, inspires recalibration, and an opportunity for nurturing, conjuring up an air of calm, offering us a space to be, feel, and heal and to flourish from whether spending me with others or taking the time to enjoy a moment by ourselves,” says Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director at Pantone Colour Institute. “Drawing comfort from Pantone 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, we can find peace from within, impacting our wellbeing. An idea as much as a feeling, it awakens our senses to the comforting presence of tactility and cocooned warmth.”

A contemporary take on a vintage vibe, the colour brings a quiet sophistication to its digital applications. Peach Fuzz also marks the 25th anniversary of Pantone’s Colour of the Year programme. Debuted in 1999 with Pantone 15-4020 Cerulean Blue, it aims to capture the global zeitgeist and express consumer mood and has since become a cultural touchstone.

Another Pantone Colour of the Year tradition is brand partnerships. Among the 2024 edition’s official partners are home decor brand Ruggable and surface pattern company Spoonflower. The former has created a Peach Fuzz capsule collection comprising three indoor rugs, a bath mat and a doormat while the latter has collaborated with three artists for three exciting patterns. Starting in January 2024, Peach Fuzz will be immediately available in Spoonflower’s print-on-demand service for wallpaper, fabric and home decor.

Read full story here.

A sports bar, a private restaurant and a library are not things that typically come to mind when picturing a luxury watch boutique—unless you are Richard Mille, that is. This October, the Swiss watch manufacturer unveiled its new sprawling 700‑square‑metre St Martin flagship boutique that is not so much a point of sale as a warm invitation into its universe.

Located within Singapore’s bustling Orchard Road district, Richard Mille St Martin boasts 11 bespoke spaces that seamlessly blend hospitality, innovation and storytelling—the first concept of its kind for the brand. It is the manufacturer’s largest store in the world to date and took the brand’s in‑house architecture team three years of meticulous craftsmanship to bring to life—but the result is certainly worth the wait.

“The architectural organisation of St Martin creates a feeling of astonishment at not having guessed [that] such a space could exist behind this door. Discovering it makes you wonder what the next surprise will be. Our intention was to play with visitors’ expectations,” shares Alexandre Mille, Richard Mille’s brand director and the son of its eponymous co‑founder.

St Martin is a testament to the brand’s commitment to horological expertise and immersive experiences—very much in line with how luxury watch brands are investing in crafting holistic experiences for its clients that extend beyond buying and selling timepieces. Much like that of a traditional boutique, its facade is sleek and modern, not giving away anything about the surprises that await within.

Stepping inside, visitors are welcomed by an enchanting entryway with wooden arches and walls covered in greenery as well as a water feature. Through the glass doors lies the first room of St Martin, which still looks like a typical boutique—albeit with only five watches on display. Nonetheless, one is drawn by the exceptional timepieces and cannot help but venture further into the airy, open‑plan spaces of St Martin, anticipating the exploration of the Richard Mille universe through the interconnected realms presented.

One of the most breathtaking areas of St Martin has to be the indoor‑outdoor lounge space inspired by the gardens and courtyards of traditional Moroccan riads. The furniture and environment embrace more colour here, and it is designed to be the perfect place to enjoy the late afternoon breeze.

All the diverse spaces of St Martin come together to create a holistic experience for anyone who walks through its doors, watch enthusiast or not. It is a place that has been designed to successfully offer what the modern luxury client enjoys: special and exclusive experiences.

The design of St Martin is a collaborative masterpiece that involved nearly 30 specialists who contributed their expertise, from pursuing innovative solutions to having a hand in a piece of furniture and creating a specific atmosphere or evoking a certain emotion. The meticulous sourcing process involved the selection of 250 materials, including leather, wood, metal, stone and glass. Each artisan involved surpassed their limits to meet the rigorous requirements for the creation of this unique space in Singapore.

Read full story here.