One of the hardest tasks that we have to take over from our house-assistants during Idul Fitri holiday is cooking. While it’s easy to obtain all the ingredients from the supermarkets in the city, it’s not that easy to think of a new menu everyday. Not to mention that it may take some time to master a new recipe and present it successfully to our families.

Luckily for us, we can now learn many new Indonesian and international recipes from Kokiku.tv.  The Youtube and web-based cooking program offers innovative recipes from all over the archipelago, as well as abroad, which are simple to create and delicious.

And learning those recipes is not difficult either. On their Youtube channel, their chefs will guide in every step. All you have to do is to click on their channel on your tablet, put it on a stand on your kitchen table and start cooking with the chefs from Kokiku.tv.

From the look of the website and Youtube channel, you may think that the program is created by a big company.

But in fact, a petite young girl is behind the whole creative concept.

In 2012, Nadia Hudyana, video producer for a publishing company in Jakarta, felt that she had come to a dead-end at work.

“I don’t think I’m can work for other people,” she said.

So, Nadia and her boyfriend started to think about starting a business together.

Nadia has a bachelor’s degree in film and video production from the Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia. And her boyfriend loves cooking very much. So after conceptualizing the idea for about six months, they launched Kokiku.tv in early 2013.

“We were thinking that maybe we could sell the show to TV stations,” she said.

For their first sessions, they did everything themselves. Nadia shot the film and her boyfriend cooked.

“I shot it by using an old DLSR camera that I had,” said Nadia, who is also an alumnus of Jakarta International School (JIS). “We’re a start-up company. So our budget was very low.”

Nadia edited and uploaded the video to Youtube herself.

The first recipe that they uploaded was Spaghetti Marinara.

“It’s something delicious and simple that we could think of at that moment,” she told The Peak.

Their first show got a lot of positive response on the internet and Nadia felt encouraged to develop the program more seriously. She resigned from her work to dedicate more time and effort to Kokiku.tv.

But like all start-up companies, Kokiku.tv struggled a lot to get recognized.

“It was hard to build the brand and get people to trust us,” said Nadia.

Luckily for them, a chance encounter with Ben Subiakto, CEO of women and lifestyle website, Fimela.com (now Kapanlagi.com), turned things around for them.

Ben offered to feature their programs on his website. Nadia agreed. And that’s how Kokiku.tv got more known among Indonesian netizens.

“Networking is the key,” said Nadia, on her advice for start-up companies.

Attending social events helps to expand your business network, she said.

“Lose that employee’s mentality,” said Nadia. “Start looking for people that are smarter than you and learn from them.”

Social media also helps to bridge people and ideas.

“Join communities on social media that are relevant to your business,” she said. “It may also help to widen your horizon.”

The 27-year-old also encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to implement their ideas as soon as possible.

“Do your research, but don’t overthink,” she said. “Sometimes, when you overthink an idea, you’d become too afraid to even start.”

Today, more than 53,000 people subscribe to Kokiku.tv channel on Youtube. And their website is visited by 3,000 to 5,000 people per day. Their programs are also aired on NET TV daily.

The program also made some of their chefs very famous.

Chef Yuda Bustara, for example, got a lot of new fans from the shows.

“I’ve made a lot of new friends from the show,” said Yuda.

On the show Yuda also met pastry chef, Putri Miranti, with whom he now collaborates for their private chef enterprise, Tree Food Concept.

“We’re planning to launch a special [Youtube] channel for Yuda and Putri soon,” said Nadia.

Nadia says the company has also signed a contract with Indonesian chef, Farah Queen. Soon, the beautiful chef will be cooking for Kokiku.tv.

But you don’t have to be a celebrity to be cooking on Kokiku.tv.

“We’re always looking for new talents,” said Nadia. “His or her cooking has to be great. And he or she has to perform well on TV.”

“Being active on social media also helps,” said the founder.

Interested? You can drop them an email at kokiku.tv@gmail.com.

Although Kokiku.tv is quite famous in Indonesia right now, they still have many plans to grow the program bigger.

“We aim to be a multi-channel [food] network in Asia.”

It is quite a high target, but Nadia confided that they already have a set of strategies to achieve it.

“But it’s still a secret,” said Nadia, with a smile.

The Peak

The post Kokiku TV Finds the Recipe for Success appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. Being healthy is definitely a new fad these days. And it’s all for good reason. In today’s fast-paced, modern lifestyle, more and more people realize that their body is the most important gadget of all and deserves the utmost attention and maintenance.

And so Sour Sally, a pioneer of frozen yoghurt retail in Indonesia, has decided to re-brand itself.

“Anyone, who is in the food and beverage business, should continuously innovate,” said Ie Donny Pramono, founder and chief executive of Sour Sally. “We have to stay relevant with our customers.”

Sour Sally was first established in Senayan City, Jakarta, in 2008. In those early days, snaking long queues were often seen at their outlet which offers premium yoghurts imported from the US with various sauces and toppings to enhance their flavors.

Their outlets, dominated with pink, were usually small, yet cozy with a cute little girl logo in pleated mini dress and black-and-white stockings.

Due to their creativity and innovations, Sour Sally has expanded their business to 22 outlets Bandung, Semarang, Solo, Surabaya, Bali, Jambi and Singapore within only seven years.

“After seven years in operation, we believe that it is now time for us to upgrade ourselves,” said the Indonesian entrepreneur.

The chief executive has been discussing and planning their re-branding strategies with their team since September 2014.

After careful considerations, they then decided to change their logo, the look of their stores and their uniforms this year. New flavors will also be added to the menu.

“As you can see, snaking long queues have returned to our outlets now,” said Donny, with a big smile.

Donny invested about Rp 250 million to Rp 300 million$18,000-$22,519) to upgrade the interior of each store.

“We start with our outlets in Central Park [Jakarta] and Tunjungan Plaza [Surabaya] first,” said Donny.

Gone is the little girl logo. In her stead is a simple handwritten logo which reads “Sour Sally, Hand-mate Frozen Yoghurt.”

With the word “hand-mate” Donny hopes to introduce their customers to their “to-go” concept.

“The rental costs are steeply increasing these days, so we encourage our customers to buy our yoghurts to-go,” said Donny.

To encourage this concept, Donny provides paper bibs for customers that order their froyo-cones to keep customers clean. The plastic cups and bags are now made of biodegradable materials.

“We try to be more environmentally friendly,” said the CEO.

The pink hues that used to dominate their outlets, are also gone now, replaced with the fresh lime-green tone of the brand’s new   logo, interior and staff uniform.

“Our target market used to be females between 13 and 20 years,” said the founder. “But now, we’re targeting foodies, fashionistas and music lovers of all ages.”

The new Sour Sally also offers new positive values along with their products, which are rich, beautiful and healthy.

“I believe those [values] are what our target customers are really after these days,” said Donny.

Two new froyo flavors,  Black Sakura and White Skim, are also available at their upgraded outlets.

The White Skim froyo is made of a combination of yoghurt and Greenfields Hi-Calcium skim milk.

The Black Sakura is made of sakura floral flavorings and activated carbon, all imported from Japan.

Dr. Karin Wiradarma, general practitioner and editor at Klikdokter.com, adores the new Black Sakura froyo.

“It’s not too sweet or sour,” said the general practitioner. “And it has all the benefits of activated carbon, which has been proven to eliminate toxins from the body and aid digestion.”

According to the general practitioner, activated carbon has generally been proven to eliminate 40 percent of toxins in the body, reduce gassy stomach symptoms and help to cure diarrhea.

“Yoghurt itself is very good for the body,” said Karin.

According to the general practitioner, yoghurt contains probiotics that improves digestion, as well B2 and B12 vitamins that turn carbohydrates into energy.

“Yoghurt really helps those that are dieting,” the general practitioner said.

Yoghurt also contains potassium and magnesium, which strengthens bones and teeth, as well as the heart muscles.

According to a recent study, consuming yoghurt two or three portions per day has also been proven to lower blood pressure significantly.

“I like eating a lot,” said Indonesian singer, Alena Wu. “But I also have to watch my figure. So, the way I do it is by consuming yoghurt each day. One of my favorites is Sour Sally’s, because their yoghurts taste good and are packed with healthy benefits.”

Like Dr. Karin Wiradarma, the singer also loves Sour Sally’s Black Sakura froyo.

In their newly upgraded outlets, Sour Sally’s yoghurts are presented in two packages — Riché and Lykone.

If you choose Riché, your yoghurt will be presented in a clear plastic cup, together with your choice of one sauce, three kinds of fruits and one serving of crunchies.

For Lykone, yoghurt is served in a bright-colored cone with two choices of toppings, which can either be a sauce, crunchies or fruits.

Until August 31, Sour Sally presents a hand-fie competition, in which customers are encouraged to take pictures of their hands while holding Sour Sally’s yoghurts.

“The most creative will get a chance to win a trip to Singapore and watch the upcoming F1 Grand Prix Night Race,” said Donny.

The next Sour Sally outlets to be upgraded soon are those in Senayan City, Grand Indonesia, Emporium Pluit and Gandaria City malls in Jakarta , as well as Paris van Java mall in Bandung.

“We hope to complete the renovations in those outlets by July 10, before the Lebaran holiday starts,” said Donny.

All 22 Sour Sally’s outlets will bear a new face by December this year.

For more information go to www.yoursoursally.com

The post A Sweet Fix for Healthy Foodies at Sour Sally’s appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. Recently, New York once again topped the Fashion Capital Rankings by the Global Language Monitor, surpassing the more conservative fashion capitals of Paris, Milan and London.

And it’s all for good reason. Some of the biggest fashion houses are located in New York City. Many of the world’s top designers, such as Alexander Wang, Carolina Herrera and Donna Karan live and work in the city whose fashion events influence global fashion trends.

“The first time I visited New York was in January last year,” said Elidawati, founder and director of Bezaya Group, holding company of Elzatta Hijab.

“And I saw for myself the magnitude of New York’s fashion industry. It’s truly huge and dynamic.”

During that brief visit, Elidawati met with representatives of the Nusantara Foundation, a non-profit organization which encourages interfaith understanding and friendship between Muslims and people of other beliefs in the United States.

“They invited us to present our collection on their cultural night,” said Elidawati. “It’s a big honor for us.”

The cultural night, which was held in the Nusantara Foundation’s headquarters in New York, was a success. About 300 people — consisting of Indonesians and Americans of various beliefs — attended the event.

During the event, Elzatta Hijab launched their premium collection “Shades of Archipelago.”

The fall/winter 2015 collection consisted of 24 hijab looks for women. The collection, also recently showcased in Jakarta, was a departure from the usual Elzatta’s casual looks.

“We’ve been around for four years now,” said Ina Binandari, Elzatta’s general manager for corporate communications and brand strategy.

“And the competition is really fierce. We have to continuously re-invent ourselves to stay up ahead in the market.”

Elzatta was set up by Elidawati in Jakarta in early 2012 with the concept of simple daily hijabs for women. Within just four years, the company already operates 72 stores all over Indonesia.

“There’s a huge potential for Muslim fashion in Indonesia’s market,” said Ina. “And many fashion brands, local and international, are starting to realize that and launch their own Muslim fashion lines.”

Elzatta’s new premium collection still maintains its simple, clean-cut look. Yet, the collection feels more classy.

“It’s the new Elzatta,” said Ina. “It’s simple, modern and trendy.”

While Elzatta’s previous items are mainly made of jersey, this new premium collection is made of silk chiffon, Shantung silk and taffeta.

“These woven materials allow us to create more elegant structured looks,” she said.

These materials are very light, which allow Elzatta’s in-house designers to create chic layered looks combining many different colors and patterns.

As seen in the fashion show in Jakarta, Elzatta combined an off-white long skirt, beige tunic blouse and cropped mullet top of lime green color. The result was a fresh look that flattered the model’s complexion.

Elzatta also combined contrasting patterns in one harmonious look.

In the fashion show, a model looked adorable in a burgundy tunic, paired with slim-fit pants of bronze. To cover her head, the model wore a checkered green hijab.

“The rule of thumb is those colors shouldn’t be a sore to the eyes when combined together,” said Ina. “And you shouldn’t mix more than three colors [in one outfit].”

The shiny look of some of these materials creates a rather glamorous impression on the outfits.

“You can easily wear [our new collection] daily or while attending formal events,” said Ina.

For head-coverings, Elzatta featured their new hijabs made of poly-spun fabric.

“[Poly-spun] is polyester with cotton feel,” said Ina. “The material is lightweight and breathable. It doesn’t wrinkle easily. And it stays put.”

In the fashion show, these new hijabs were arranged according to the currently trendy, Turkey-style in which the scarves are simply draped around the head and neatly spun around the neck.

“This style really flatters those that have chubby faces and low foreheads,” said Ina.

As seen in the show, the apex of the hijab is rather tall, creating an illusion of a higher forehead. And in this style, the hijab can also be arranged to taper the cheeks and create a thinner illusion on the face.

Some of Elzatta’s hijabs adopt Indonesian’s traditional patterns, including the Kawung (palm-fronds) pattern in batiks and geometric designs in Songkets.

“You may wear a hijab in a totally different color from your outfit, as long as the colors look nice together,” said Ina. “The hijab [with contrasting color] will highlight your look.”

You may also wear a hijab with a totally different pattern from the rest of your outfit, as long as the hijab and the outfit have a similar color.

According to the Ina, those who have pale complexions should stay away from hijabs in pastel colors as they may cause them look even more pale. Those who have darker complexions shouldn’t wear hijabs in dusty colors.

“Dusty colors will cause their complexions to look dull,” said Ina.

Bright-colored hijabs, on the other hand, will help to light up the complexions of those with darker skin tone.

This new collection will be available in Elzatta’s stores in Indonesia from October 2015.

Their prices start from Rp 400,000 ($30) per piece.

Elzatta plans to open 40 more stores in Indonesia by the end of this year.

Although the fashion show in New York was a success, Elzatta doesn’t have any plans yet to open a store in the city.

“It would take a very huge investment to open a store in New York,” said Elidawati. “But we’ve had some serious discussions with a partner to open up a store in London, hopefully, soon.”

For more informatio visit www.elzatta.com

The post Hijab High Fashion From New York to Jakarta appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. “Don’t forget to send me postcards.”

Not so long ago we often heard those words from our friends and families whenever we would go traveling. At that time, sending postcards to our loved ones was a gesture which showed we remembered them during our travels and would like to share with them the wonderful moments we were experiencing in new cities.

And yet today, those words are rarely, if ever, heard again.

In this digital era, sharing pics, sounds and even videos across the world would take only seconds on the internet. Only a few still find it necessary to go hunting for beautiful postcards, scribble sweet nothings on the back, drop by the post office and send them to loved ones at home.

But the romanticism of sending postcards is not quite lost with graphic designer and technopreneur, Punyo Sakharet.

“Every time I go traveling, I’ll be sending postcards to all my friends,” said Sakharet.

“[The postcard rack] gives you like the whole idea of what you can expect to discover [at the destination],” he said.

Sakharet, who was born in the Philippines, graduated from the London College of Printing in London with a degree in graphic and media design. He then worked in various digital agencies in London, Dubai, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

A couple of years ago, Sakharet came up with the idea of creating his own “digital postcard rack.”

With his former work colleague, Ruth Naderer, he developed a social media platform that allows users to create their own digital postcards from their travels and share them to their friends and families by email, as well as on their other social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest.

The social media platform “Postcard & Tag” was recently launched in the Mega Kuningan, Jakarta.

“There’s no better way to share insights into a destination than through imagery,” said the technopreneur.

“Our aim is to establish a vibrant and visual travel community completely dedicated to uncovering the most up-to-date and unique finds, whether it’s a trendy new hotel, up-and-coming restaurant, or a largely unexplored cultural experience,” Sakharet continued.

Sakharet and Naderer chose Indonesia for the global launch of their platform as they consider Indonesia the world’s social media capital.

“Indonesia has one of the largest populations in the world,” said Ruth Naderer. “And it’s also the social media capital of the world with the second largest Facebook users and the fourth largest Twitter users.”

According to the co-founder, there are currently more than 300 million mobile devices in Indonesia, and most of them are used to access the Internet.

“The archipelago has more than 17,000 islands to travel to,” said Naderer. “And Indonesia has a target of 20 million visitors by 2019. We want to share with the rest of the world how much beauty and diversity [Indonesia] has to offer.”

After entering personal details to create an account with postcardandtag.com users are asked about their favourite holiday destinations, favourite cuisines, as well as hobbies and interests.

After completing the profile, it is easy to start uploading photos and begin creating postcards.

“Our postcards are unique,” said the technopreneur. “Each one is made of a photo, description, budget and maps.”

By uploading digital postcards to the website, users can notify their social circles of their destinations, as well as share interesting details.

Visitors to the website can also gain information of the new places they are planning to visit by searching cities or countries on the website.

The visitors can then browse all the pictures available of the city or country, click on each of them and gain insight from other travelers.

“Postcard & Tag is your awesome social travel directory,” said Sakharet. “It’s a place to discover, plan and share online your travel experiences.”

Currently, there are more than 750 registered users on the website and most of them are Indonesians.

“We now have 13,000 postcards covering all the top cities in the world,” said Sakharet. “And we already have 1,500 postcards on Indonesia alone and [the collection] is still growing.”

The more postcards you upload to the website, the more followers to be gained and the more “stamps” to be collected.

Particularly active users, who often upload photographs of their city, can be appointed “locals.”

“Locals are those who love their cities,” said Sakharet. “Locals are here to guide you with their insider’s knowledge of their cities.”

Postcard & Tag is currently working with the local Ministry of Tourism in supporting the Wonderful Indonesia campaign.

“If someone uploads a postcard [of a destination in Indonesia] and tags it ‘WonderfulIndonesia,’ it will be featured on the homepage of the website,” said the technopreneur.

The Peak

The post ‘Wish You Were Here’ Gets a 21st-Century Makeover appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. The tall, dark barista bows solemnly over the cerulean cup. His demeanor is like that of a scientist examining an interesting new life form under a microscope. Once in a while, his left hand pours some more coffee into the cup, while with his right hand he slowly stirs the concoction with a slender spoon. After a few minutes, the young barista presents his work to the audience: a cute teddy bear etched on thick latte foam to the delight of his fans.

Barista and self-proclaimed “coffee stylist” Muhammad Aga is something of a celebrity in Jakarta’s gourmet coffee scene.  He won the 2012 Indonesia Latte Art Throw Down competition (apparently there’s such a thing), took seventh place in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations  Barista Championships in 2013, and finished second in the 2014 Indonesia Barista Competition.

Recently, the 24-year-old set up his own cafe, Coffeesmith, in Duren Tiga, South Jakarta, where he also tutors would-be baristas in the art of making a fancy cup of coffee, and where The Peak sat with him to talk about how he got started in the business and his dreams for the future.

Q: How did you decide to become a barista?

A: I started working part-time as a barista in 2008. At the time I just wanted to earn more money to pay for my studies. But then I got more and more interested in the art of coffee-making. I played around with the machines and made latte arts. I also learned from the coffee experts who I met at workshops and seminars. They were very generous in sharing their skills. They also encouraged me to take part in barista competitions in Indonesia and abroad. And it got me thinking. I can make money, make friends and win many competitions because of (my skills and knowledge in) coffee. So I decide that this was the field for me.

Do you still remember the first latte art that you made? What was it? And who did you make it for?

It was for a beautiful woman who often came to the cafe where I worked. She always came alone. I chatted with her sometimes. And I found out that she liked puppies. So I learned how to draw a cute puppy on latte foam. It took me a month. But finally I did it and presented it to her along with my phone number.

Wow. Was she impressed?

[Laugh] She was. But we didn’t go out together.

Is making latte art difficult?

It may look easy and simple, but actually it’s quite complicated. It’s a combination between pouring and etching techniques on the foam. Your hands have to be very quick and steady. And you need to have high creativity to combine basic forms to create many different pictures. 

Does latte art improve the taste of the coffee?

Yes, at least visually. The more beautiful and intricate the drawing is, the more likely you are to perceive that it’s a great cup of coffee.

But for baristas, I would suggest they create simple pictures that only take one or two minutes. The more intricate the picture is, the longer it will take to create it.  And by then, the coffee won’t taste as good.

What’s the best cup of coffee that you drank recently?

Malabar coffee from Pangalengan in West Java. The coffee was graded 87.5 points at the recent Indonesia Coffee Auction in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. Until now, the grades of the world’s best coffees are around 90 plus.

What makes Malabar coffee so special?

Its acidity, bitterness and sweetness levels are very well balanced.

How do you like your coffee?

I like it black. So it can either be espresso, americano, long black or manual brew. Black coffee is very manly, I think. And I drink it without sugar. I believe sugar ruins the authentic coffee flavor.

Baristas are quite a trendy these days. Do you think the prospect for the profession will be good in the future?

The prospects are great. As we can see, there are more and more coffee shops in the big cities these days. And these coffee shops need highly qualified baristas to run them. But I’d say, don’t become a barista because it’s trendy now. Be a barista because of your passion. Without passion, it’s just like any other profession. You’ll be doing it just for the money. And both you and your customers won’t be happy. 

What makes a good barista?

They should have good attitude. They should know how to make friends with their customers and make them feel comfortable.  And they should always upgrade their skills. One of the most effective ways for baristas to improve their skills is by taking part in competitions.

You recently co-starred in the movie ‘Filosofi Kopi,’ about a pair of friends who start up a cafe. Did you get any great new experience when filming it?

It was very exciting. It was a brand-new experience for me. And I’m so happy to be able to influence public figures, such as (actors) Rio (Dewanto) and Julie (Estelle) to understand and love coffee more. I also got so much positive feedback about the movie. Many people said that they started drinking coffee because of the movie. And those who already drink coffee said they learned to enjoy it more because of the movie

Now that you have your own cafe and a movie credit to your name, do you have any more dreams you want to accomplish?

I just have three dreams in my life, which are to have my own coffee shop, to participate in the World Barista Championships (WBC), and to help coffee farmers in Indonesia. I’ve achieved the first and will probably participate in the WBC next year. As for the coffee farmers, I’d like to conduct special workshops to make them understand coffee culture in the cities these days, so that they feel encouraged to produce better coffee.

The Peak

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The French know how to celebrate life. For centuries, they have truly studied life’s simple enjoyments, such as food and drinks, and turned them into art.

Thus, the term ‘French art de vivre’ was coined as a recognition of the subtle yet significant ways in which the French infuse beauty and finesse into everyday’s life.

One of the most important landmarks for the French art de vivre is the Chateau de Versailles.

The palace, which is located on the outskirts of Paris, was originally built in the mid-17th century by King Louis XIII as a hunting lodge. His son, Louis XIV, loving the peace and quiet of the suburbs, had it expanded into a grand palace and established as the seat of his government.

As a patron of French arts, Louis XIV often gathered the best talents in art, music, gastronomy and literature in the royal palace to entertain his friends and families, thus making it a center of the French art de vivre in the 18th century.

Tricentenary celebrations

The palace is a lot quieter now. As an important historical site, it is still visited by people from many different countries and backgrounds. Its grand halls and chambers stand eerily silent as if they were mere mementos of a bygone era.

And yet, on May 20, the 333-year-old castle came to life as 300 VIP guests, including celebrities and dignitaries, gathered on its grounds to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the oldest of the great cognac houses, Martell.

“This has been an exceptional opportunity for us to gather guests from so many countries at the iconic Palace of Versailles to celebrate the Martell’s house’s 300 years of history,” said Phillippe Guettat, CEO and chairman of Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët, a subsidiary of the French wines and spirits group, Pernod Ricard.

“Versailles is clearly the embodiment of the French art de vivre,” the CEO continued. “It was the heart of the period of enlightenment for France in the 18th century.”

Upon arrival at Versailles, the guests were taken on a tour around the royal palace. Murmurs of awe and admiration were heard, as the guests admired the rococo portraits and sculptures that adorn every wall and ceiling in the palace.

The house of Martell has been a patron of the Chateau de Versailles since 2007, supporting vital restorations of its architecture and interiors.

At the end of the tour, the guests were taken to the garden of Versailles, in which they were served cocktails and juices. At around 7:30 .p.m, Martell presented a grand surprise that linked the past and the present.

As the guests were enjoying the beautiful landscapes of the garden of Versailles, eight jets of the Patrouille de France suddenly thundered out of the clear summer sky above. At 600 kilometers per hour, these jets hiked and delved above Versailles, painting the clear skies with the red, white and blue smokes that came out from their tails.

The aerial show marked the onset of the year-long celebration of Martell’s 300th anniversary.

“The ambition was to showcase heritage and innovations,” said Guettat. “So, we want to start the celebrations at this magnificent Palace of Versailles. But at the same time, we also wanted to surprise with the modern technology of the airplanes, as well as the skills of their service pilots, guiding their planes very, very closely to each other.”

History of Martell

Heritage and innovations have always been at the heart of the house of Martell.

The 300 years of heritage of producing premium cognac was established by Jean Martell, a young merchant from Jersey, who first arrived at the Aquitaine coast of France in 1715.

The Anglo-Norman quickly learned of the flourishing “firewater’ business in the region of Charente and started his business in this exciting new field.

“He set up his business when he was only 21,” said Guettat. “It was pretty advanced at that time.”

The young merchant settled in the small town of Cognac, at the heart of Charente, in which he set up relationships with winegrowers and bought their best eaux-de-vie.

Martell then distilled and aged these eaux-de-vie in oak barrels in his cellars. The resulting cognac was then placed in wooden casks and shipped to England.

In 1721, according to the records, Martell was already exporting more than 200,000 liters of cognac to the United Kingdom. And soon afterwards, the ingenious man expanded his business and shipped his cognac to countries in Northern Europe, America and Asia.

After his passing in 1753, Martell’s second wife, Rachel Lallemand, continued the business and passed it later on to their offspring.

Today, in its ninth generation, Martell’s cognac business continues to flourish. Now managed by Pernod Ricard, the premium cognac maintains its strong position in 130 countries around the world.

“Pernod Ricard is also a family company with long-time vision,” said Charles-Armand de Belenet, global marketing director of Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët. “We know how to protect the assets and pass them on to the next generations.”

The founder’s eighth generation, Antoine Firino Martell, was also present in the Tricentenaire celebration at Versailles.

Global ambassador 

Just a little while before the gala dinner at the royal palace, Martell introduced their new global ambassador, Diane Kruger.

“Diane is very much rooted in the French culture and French art de vivre,” said Guettat. “In fact, she came, when she was very young, to France.”

The German actress had always wanted to be a ballerina. An injury, however, ended her ballet career when she was just 16. She then moved to Paris to start modelling.

Kruger then studied acting at Cours Florent, one of the most prestigious private drama schools in France, and landed small parts in French movies before entering Hollywood.

Kruger’s roles as Helen of Sparta in Troy (2004) and Bridget von Hammersmark in Inglourious Basterds (2009) catapulted her to international fame.

“In fact, we believe that being an international house of cognac, in which so many of our products being exported, to have an international actress and star as our ambassador would be the best recognition,” said Guettat.

Kruger was beaming in her sparkling golden dress that evening.

“It’s not often that you get to attend such a spectacular event at such an iconic location,” said the actress. “The Palace of Versailles, considered by many to be the birthplace of art de vivre, provided a spectacular setting to celebrate 300 years of Martell.”

The artist confessed that the first time that she visited Versailles was when she was 15 years old.

“I first came here as a tourist,” she said. “I stood outside in the line for hours with my mom.”

As the global ambassador of Martell, Kruger will also be spearheading the Martell France 300 Project, which aims to identify 300 French talents in art, entertainment, fashion, gastronomy and mixology all over the world, who are considered to epitomize French art de vivre in the 21st century.

“I think this initiative in recognizing emerging French talents is a perfect way for Martell Cognac to celebrate their 300th anniversary this year,” said Kruger. “And I’m delighted to be part of it.”

The complete Martell France 300 list will be announced this month.

Gala dinner

The wonderful evening at the Chateau de Versailles culminated with the gala dinner.

For the dinner, Paul Pairet, chef-owner of the French modern eatery, Mr. & Mrs. Bund, and the avant-garde experimental restaurant, Ultraviolet, in Shanghai, presented an innovative menu that described Jean Martell’s early journey in France.

The seven-course menu was a feast that featured the best of French soils. Each course was packaged as a surprise to the guests.

The first course, ‘DIY Lobster Roll’, for example, was placed within a woven rattan box on the white-clad tables in front of the guests. Each attempt of the guests to peep into the box, or open it before it was time, was discouraged by the waitstaff.

At the ring of the bell, the waitstaff lifted the box to reveal a tin of lobster, toasts, hollowed at the center, and a cream paste, with which the guests could make their own lobster roll.

Each course also came with an audio-visual show, portrayed on the four walls of the dining hall, which literally transported the guests to the early days of Jean Martell in France.

Premium French wines and Martell cognacs were lavished upon the guests during the gala dinner.

At the end of the dinner, the French chef and his entire kitchen staff ran in a rally among the guests, who broke into rapturous applause for their tremendous efforts.

After dinner, the guests were again escorted to lawns of Versailles to enjoy the crisp night air as thousands of fireworks burst out illuminating the dark skies.

The DJ started playing. And most of the guests lingered at the royal palace to dance the night away.

“This is just the start of the celebrations,” said Guettat. “In the coming months, Martell will also be marking the Tricentenaire anniversary by hosting local events in major markets worldwide.”

The house of Martell is planning to throw similarly stunning parties in 30 cities of 10 different countries, including United States, China and Russia, until the beginning of 2016.

And the French art de vivre will continue to roll out across the globe.

The Peak was a guest of Martell.

The post Martell, France’s Oldest Cognac House, Celebrates 300th Anniversary appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Sundari Soekotjo, right, and her daughter Intan. (JG Photo/Sylviana Hamdani)

Jakarta. “Buah jatuh tak jauh dari pohonnya” (The fruit doesn’t fall far from its tree). That old adage was often used when we describe children’s deeds and characters that mimic those of their parents.

The adage would perfectly describe the connection between Indonesian young singer and entrepreneur, Puteri Intan Permatasari (Intan), and her mother, the famous Keroncong legend, Sundari Soekotjo.

As they stood side by side onstage at the Galeri Indonesia Kaya in Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, Central Jakarta, recently, both their complexions and physiques appeared to resemble each other.

With their sweet, melodious voices, the mother and daughter carried The Beatles’ Yesterday, which had been re-arranged in Keroncong melody. Both of them looked gorgeous in embroidered kebayas and batik pareos.

“For me, mom is a living legend,” Intan said after the show. “She always puts everything into her music.”

Sundari

The 50-year-old is indeed a legend of Indonesia’s folk music style Keroncong. Through her melodious voice and elegant stage performances, Sundari has brought Keroncong to nationwide fame.

In the 1980s and 1990s, she was often seen and heard on TV and radio stations singing Keroncong classics, such as Bengawan Solo (River Bengawan Solo, 1940), Jembatan Merah (Red Bridge, 1943) and Selendang Sutera (Silk Scarf, 1946).

Her beautiful, melodious voice and elegant appearance, in Javanese-styled kebayas, sanggul (Javanese hairbuns) and kain (batik pareo), seemed to mesmerize the audience and carried all their worries away.

So far, Sundari has produced 14 Keroncong albums and won numerous awards for her dedication in the Indonesian folk music, including the prestigious Satyalencana Kebudayaan medal for cultural dedication from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2010.

Sundari’s life-long infatuation with Keroncong was derived from her father, Raden Soekotjo Ronodihardjo.

Soekotjo, who served in the Indonesian Air Force, unwound when he came home at night by listening to Keroncong songs on the radio. Sundari, who was just a little girl at that time, loved to accompany him.

Soon, she began remembering the lyrics and tunes of the songs that her father often listened to. She often sang along when these songs were played on the radio.

Seeing her talents, her father was ecstatic. Soekotjo then enrolled young Sundari in various singing competitions.

“I’ve taken part in various singing competitions since I was 10 years old,” Sundari said with a beaming smile.

In 1983, when Sundari just turned 18, she became the winner of the national competition Bintang Radio Televisi (Rising Star of Radios and Televisions).

In addition to performing on TV, the radio and live, Sundari also pursued higher education at the music faculty at the Institute for Teaching and Educational Studies (IKIP). She then taught music at SMAN 38 in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta.

In 1990, Sundari got married to a pilot and then bore their only child, Intan. Despite her tight schedule as a wife, mother and teacher, Sundari’s singing career continued.

In 2002, the singer released her debut album Ingkar Janji (Broken Promises). The album, which became a best-seller, earned her the Keroncong Award by Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) in the same year.

Sundari has produced over a dozen other albums since then. But, unfortunately, the music trend in Indonesia has shifted.

Today’s young people prefer the more upbeat pop and rock music and have started to forsake the slow and mellow Keroncong tunes. Seeing this trend, TV and radio stations rarely include Keroncong music among their programs. This, of course, leads to the Indonesian folk music being increasingly forgotten by today’s young people.

“It’s a sad, sad situation,” Sundari said. “Actually, there are still a lot of Keroncong fans but they cannot enjoy the music on TV or the radio anymore these days.”

“And there are also some young people that are interested to learn Keroncong, but they don’t know where to go to learn Keroncong,” she said.

That’s why in 2014, Sundari set up YAKIN (Indonesia Keroncong Foundation, and acronym for “sure” in Indonesian) with her daughter Intan and some of her friends.

“It’s called YAKIN, because I’m sure that Keroncong would never vanish,” said Sundari.

With her daughter, Intan, who is also her biggest fan, Sundari approached young singers and musicians in Jakarta and encouraged them to learn all about Keroncong. Those interested would get free tutorials at Sundari’s house.

Sundari, who was initially a “purist” in the Keroncong genre, later also encouraged artists to combine Keroncong with Pop, Soul, Ballads and other music genres.

“I used to be an idealist and refused any collaboration,” she said. “But then I realize that I shouldn’t be like that. If I persist with my idealism, the young will resist Keroncong.”

The first item on YAKIN’s agenda was to present the Keroncong Week, also at Galeri Indonesia Kaya, in February 2015.

During the event, Sundari’s daughter Intan performed, accompanied by the Alun Nada orchestra, which consists of Intan’s musician-friends who are interested in Keroncong.

“Actually, I didn’t want her to become a Keroncong singer like me,” said Sundari. “It takes a lot of consistency, dedication and hard work to be a Keroncong singer.”

“But I’m now grateful that she follows in my footsteps,” said the Keroncong legend.

Intan

Intan started performing Keroncong at around the same age as her mother did. The young girl was just 9 years old when Sundari threw a gala concert to celebrate 25th anniversary of her career in 2000.

“I insisted on singing a duet with her on stage,” the 23-year-old said. “Mom initially refused. But her manager thought it was a good idea. So, I got up on stage and sang with her.”

The song that they sang together onstage was the patriotic song, Rangkaian Melati (A String of Jasmine).

Since then, Intan is convinced of her calling as a Keroncong singer.

“My mom said that I should be consistent with my life choice and always try to be the best that I can be,” said Intan.

To improve her vocal quality, Intan studied under Indonesian award-winning singer Zwesty Wirabuana and Jazz singer Rika Roslan.

The results were superb.

“Intan’s voice is high-pitched, with slurs that are uniquely hers,” said Rika Roslan, one of Intan’s tutors.

Although Intan has decided to perpetuate her mom’s legacy in Keroncong from her early years, Sundari urged her to continue her study.

“My mom always says that women must be able to survive on their own,” said the only child. “A good voice is a talent. But I also need to have a good education and a career to be able to survive.”

Sundari was perhaps reflecting on her own life when she gave this advice to her daughter.

Sundari’s marriage with the pilot ended in 2004. And she never re-married even if there were rumors of her having a special relationship with a minister.

Following her divorce, Sundari continued her education. She took a master’s degree in human resources management at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta and then a doctorate at Jakarta State University (UNJ).

Sundari is now a lecturer at the Nusantara Business Institute (IBN) and UNJ.

Her daughter Intan studied at the London School of Public Relations in Jakarta.

After finishing her study in 2013, Intan managed her mom’s family business in foreign currency exchange.

“I actually wanted to do a master’s degree,” Intan said. “But as my mom says I can continue my study anytime I want to but it’s now time for me to take care of family business.”

Intan loves listening to her mom’s Keroncong music when she is working at the office.

“When I listen to her singing on my iPod, I feel so calm and relaxed,” said Intan. “Her voice is so soothing.”

Sundari and Intan

Sundari and Intan are planning to produce a Keroncong album together by the end of 2015.

“My friends and I are writing new songs for the album,” Intan said. “We want the album to have a contemporary feel so that today’s young people would feel a connection to it.”

Sundari herself dreams of conducting a solo Keroncong concert in a relaxed setting.

“All the concerts that I’ve conducted so far have always been so stiff with round-table dinner seating and formal attire,” said Sundari. “I want my next concert to have a more relaxed setting, in which young people can attend in jeans and sneakers and sit on the floor while enjoying the Keroncong.”

There is not yet a fixed plan of when Sundari will hold the concert.

“Just pray for my health,” she said with a smile. “Hopefully, I can hold such a concert soon and introduce a new style of Keroncong to the younger generation.”

For more information, check out Yayasan Keroncong Indonesia’s Twitter account: @yayasanKI

The post Sundari and Intan Soekotjo on Keroncong and Kebayas appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

The thump-thumping of the electronic house music gets louder as the night gets later. And Jakarta’s beautiful people continue to flock to Escalier, the multi-brand boutique at Potato Head Garage in South Jakarta, which carries dozens of hip fashion labels from around the world.

One of the best-selling brands here is Kitsune, which is both a fashion and record label established by French DJ Gildas Loaëc and Japanese architect Masaya Kuroki.

Loaëc is in town on this particular night for the launch of Kitsune’s new collection, “Parisien Tour,” as well as to meet fans of the brand and spin some tunes on the turntable.

In between sets, the French DJ spared some time for The Peak to talk about his fashion label, his latest collection, and his future projects.

Q: Congratulations on the launch of your new collection in Jakarta. Is this your first time to the city?

A: Thanks. I’ve come a few times already to DJ in Jakarta, and Bali too.

What do you think of Jakarta’s fashion scene?

It’s very interesting. It’s like you’re looking outside [to the international world], but you also keep some things local and original. Sparkle is very important here. There’s always a bling [in the clothing].

How did you start Kitsune?

My partner and I started simply when we visited Japan together [in 2002]. And we were thinking, it would be great to make something with the things we love, you know, like clothing and music, something that can be fun for us to do every day. It’s very egoistic. We wanted to do things we love. Our brand is really like our lifestyle. We love music. We love clothing. We love cafes. We now have our own Cafe Kitsune [in Paris and Tokyo].

Why did you pick a fox as your logo?

We wanted to have a little animal emblem that’s cute and easy to recognize in the markets. And from the Japanese perspective, the fox is like an animal that is strong, has many different faces and lives a long time, which I hope is us.

How do you and your partner divide the work?

Both my partner and I are creative directors of the brand. We get to see where we go together and make nice things together. I’m more into seeing the bigger picture. And he’s into more details. But there’s a good balance between the two of us.

What’s the brand’s signature style?

We’re making a clothing line that’s very basic and simple that we’d like to wear ourselves. I like to say it’s a bit chic and, at the same time, classic and sporty with a Parisian feel to it.

How would you describe that ‘Parisien feel’ in your clothing line?

Something elegant with smart little details, which make [the clothes] nice.

How does your style fit in the Indonesian market?

It’s very universal. Our items are basic and very easy to wear, so definitely, I do believe that it fits in the Indonesian market.

How are your collections doing so far in Indonesia?

We’ve been distributed through Escalier in Jakarta for three years now. We’re also present at the Escalier in Bali. And so far, we’re doing good.

Why did you choose Escalier to carry your collections in Indonesia?

We have a great relationship with the team of Escalier and Potato Head. Working with them feels very natural.

What are your best-selling items?

Oxford shirts and T-shirts, because of the weather [in Indonesia]. And also, the dresses.

What sells better here: the men’s or the women’s collections?

So far, we have a bigger recognition of the brand on the men’s side. But it’s also developing on the women’s too.

If you had to describe your clothing line as a musical genre, what would it be?

Certainly pop. It’s really something for everybody to wear every day. We don’t make clothes that are complicated.

Tell us about your latest collection, the ‘Parisien Tour.’

It’s a capsule collection, inspired by the Parisian lifestyle. We have a lot of sweatshirts, T-shirts, tote bags, iPhone cases, caps, keyrings and brooches that reflect the lifestyle.

Who is your main target market?

Happy people around the globe. It may suit younger people and also grown-ups.

Where do you get your inspiration?

A lot of times we get our inspirations from the movies. But also we get a chance to travel a lot, so we do see what’s happening on the streets in New York, Tokyo, Paris and Jakarta. We like picking up little things in every different city that we get a chance to visit.

Have you picked any inspirations from Jakarta yet?

Well, we do take some pictures [of the city]. Jakarta is, like, very green. Jakarta has so much vegetation, so many [more] trees when compared to Paris. Paris is beautiful, but [when] compared to Jakarta, it feels very old.

What are your plans for Kitsune?

I think we’re trying to keep making things we love, make them better and maybe opening more stores.

Do you plan to open your own store in Jakarta some day?

Oh la la, we’d love to. But I think it’s a bit early now. But why not? [Laughs.]

The post Gildas Loaëc : Pushing Fashion’s ‘Smart Little Details’ With Kitsune appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Zalora Indonesia revealed its latest line of Muslim wear at Potato Head Garage. (The Peak Photo/Sylviana Hamdani)

According to 2013 data from the Indonesia E-Commerce Association , or idEA, e-commerce transactions in Indonesia that year stood at around $ 8 million.

Some 74 million Indonesians, or 30 percent of the population, use the Internet regularly. But currently, only 7 percent of the country’s Internet users make online transactions — the rest are unfamiliar with e-commerce or don’t trust it yet.

That, however, is expected to change.

“We believe that in the next five-to 10 years, e-commerce in Indonesia will grow 50-100 times,” said, Fredrik Thomassen, chief executive of Zalora Indonesia, an online fashion retailer based in Singapore which operates across Southeast Asia.

Its Indonesian unit, Zalora.co.id, was launched in March 2012 and only continues to grow, said Thomassen

“Zalora is growing incredibly well in Indonesia, much faster than what we could have hoped for,” he said. 

“We see that the market has passed the inflection point and there is a wave of growth coming in. 

“A lot more people are going online. Indonesia’s [gross domestic product] is growing. People are getting richer and then they start to buy online.”

The CEO claimed the site is currently ranked number one in Indonesia’s online fashion market.

Muslim wear

Zalora Indonesia has more than 800 brands, of which 750 are local. One of the leading categories is Muslim wear, which “has grown at least [five fold] since last year,” said Thomassen.

Anthony Fung, the retailer’s managing director of buying, added: “More than 15 percent of our revenue comes from Muslim wear,” of which Zalora offers more than 100 brands by local designers.

“We’re very focused as a local company, bringing local brands and local designers online,” Fung said.

“There is a huge demand for Muslim wear in Indonesia,” said Fung. “So, we will continue to work with local designers to provide a wide variety of clothing items and accessories.

“It’s all about being the fashion destination for Muslim wear in Indonesia.”

The online retailer recently announced its collaboration with three leading designers or Islamic fashion: Jenahara Nasution, Restu Anggraini and Ria Miranda.

“These designers offer the whole spectrum of elegance, edginess, a good [combination of] colors and versatility,” Thomassen explained.

The three designers created a Spring/Summer 2015 collection exclusively for Zalora Indonesia.

For Jenahara and Ria Miranda, this is their second collaboration with Zalora Indonesia; their first was to mark Idul Fitri last year.

“Sales were very good last year,” Ria said. “It’s because Zalora had great promotional strategies and their website is really easy to access.”

This year,  “[Zalora and I] conducted more in-depth research before creating the collection,” the 29-year-old said. “We went through their customer profiles to find out what shoppers really want.”

The result was showcased in a fashion show at high-end eatery Potato Head Garage, South Jakarta.

Ria’s collection consisted of loose-fitted tops, A-line skirts and flowy outerwear in soft pastel colors.

“The collection is pretty basic and much simpler than my usual designs, so every item can be easily mixed and matched,” Ria said. “I hope these clothes can cater to a wider market segment.”

In the same fashion show, Jenahara presented her collection, “Natural.”

“Bold colors are my signature [style],” she said. “But in this collection, I also use a lot of earth tones, such as khaki, dark brown, black and white.”

(The Peak Photo/Sylviana Hamdani)

The line consists of simple, clean-cut items, including mullet tops, and streamlined skirts and dresses that can also be easily mixed and matched.

“The clothes can be worn by both Muslim and non-Muslim [women],” Jenahara added.

For Restu, the project is her first collaboration with an online retailer.

“I’m so happy to be able to work with Zalora Indonesia,” Restu said. “They’re one of the main [online] stores in Indonesia and have a huge customer base.”

Her collection, “Minimalist,” consists of 50 Muslim work wear for women.

“Work attire for Muslim women is quite different: it is more loose-fitted and is meant to hide any curves,” Restu said.

“Minimalist” is made of shirts with puffed sleeves, tailored pants, A-line skirts and jackets made of cotton, rayon and jersey. The latter are adorned with elbow-high slits that allow more movement for the wearer.

Restu is optimistic that e-commerce will help boost Indonesia’s fashion industry.

“I believe e-commerce offers huge potentials for [Indonesian] fashion designers,” she said. “These days, the traffic jams in large cities are so bad that people prefer to buy their clothes online.”

All three collections are readily available at Zalora.co.id and are priced between Rp 299,000 and Rp 699,000 ($23-$54).

The retailer plans to expand its collection of Muslim wear five fold by the end of this year, while targeting a 25-fold increase by June 2016. 

“Twenty-five times [growth] in two years is very exciting,” Thomassen said.

The post Zalora Joins the Islamic Fashion Boom appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Italian shoe designer Edgardo Osorio was in Jakarta to greet fans and attend the launch of his latest collection. (JG Photo/Sylviana Hamdani)

Dozens of smartphones and cameras erupted in a series of blinding flashes as shoe designer Edgardo Osorio walked into the On Pedder boutique in Plaza Indonesia, Central Jakarta.

The designer rewarded his fans, a group of well-heeled ladies that had been waiting patiently in the boutique, with his big, bright smile, a series of congenial handshakes and selfies.

Some might argue that it is Osorio’s boyish looks that really captured the attention of his female fans. Or it might be the childlike enthusiasm, with which the designer seemed to respond to every question, which won their hearts.

But it is actually his genius in fashion that has catapulted his name to international stardom.

The designer, born in Cartagena, Colombia, was raised in Miami and London. He studied at the London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins, before assisting a series of world-renowned fashion designers, including Salvatorre Ferragamo and Roberto Cavalli.

But Osorio’s true passions have always been shoes. So after 10 years in the fashion industry, he launched his own shoe label, Aquazzura, which means “blue waters” in Italian.

After only three years, Osorio’s shoes have been distributed in 45 countries around the world. And his sexy, strappy stilettos have graced the feet of top actresses and supermodels, including Emma Watson, Karolina Kurkova and Kate Bosworth, as they glided on Hollywood red carpets.

Osorio came to Jakarta to launch his spring/summer 2015 collection in Plaza Indonesia’s On Pedder outlet. His fans created a long, winding queue within the boutique as they waited patiently to purchase a new pair of Aquazurra shoes and get Osorio’s signature on the soles.

The Jakarta Globe managed to pry the designer away from his fans for a brief chat about his passion, inspirations and future plans.

Q: Congratulations on the launch of your spring/summer 2015 collection in Jakarta. Is this your first visit to the capital?

A: It actually is. And it’s such a pleasure to be here. I came so many times to Bali and fell in love with the people. I found Indonesian people to be very warm and kind. And I was much looking forward to come to Jakarta.

Now that you’re here, what do you think of the city?

It’s amazing. I didn’t imagine it to be so big [and] so cosmopolitan. You have so many beautiful shopping malls and beautiful restaurants.

What do you think of the Jakarta fashion scene?

You have very strong local fashion scene. Women in Jakarta, they really love fashion. Look at those different styles and colors [that they wear]. It’s really interesting. I like that.

Let’s talk about your spring/summer 2015 collection. It seems to be dominated by a lot of vibrant colors.

It’s called the ‘Pop Jungle’ collection. It’s much inspired by pop [artists] Andy Warhol and [Roy] Lichtenstein, so [there is] a lot of pop colors in the collection. I was also listening to Pharrell [Williams] when I was designing [this collection]. So I wanted happy colors [and] happy shoes with a lot tassels and fringes. I find the idea of mixing boho and pop very fun and interesting.

It seems that a lot of your shoes are strappy and lace-up. Would you call it your signature style?

Some of our signature [shoes] are strappy and lace-up shoes. But we’re also known for our second-skin [shoes], like the Sexy Thing, which fits like a glove. It was one of my most iconic shoes. It was the one that editors, models and ‘it’ girls wear to the fashion weeks. They call it the ‘Fashion Week’s Shoes,’ because it’s high-heeled [and] can wear for 12 hours straight and they’re still comfortable.

What’s the secret to the comfort of the shoes?

So, when you’re wearing high heels, all the weight of your body is normally in the front. What we did was we studied the structure of the foot with this technician and came up with a way of constructing the shoes, so that the pitch, the inclination, fits the foot better and the weight of the body is evenly distributed between the front, the arch and the back.

We also use very soft materials, like very soft suede and calf [skin], and add an extra padded memory-foam on the soles.

(Photo courtesy of On Pedder)

How did you become a shoe designer?

Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve always been sketching shoes. It’s always come to me naturally. I don’t know why. When I sketch, shoes come out.

And now, how do you usually get inspiration for your designs?

Usually [from] women and traveling. I love to travel and see women all over the world. But a lot of times, especially now, I look at my clients on Instagram. I look at where my clients are, what they’re doing, what they’re wearing and do mood-boards with all the hashtags.

Who are the women that buy your shoes?

They’re very active women. They love fashion, they enjoy life, and they want to look beautiful.

In the previous collection, you worked with American socialite Olivia Palermo. What was it like?

It’s not only fun, but it’s also wonderful as a male designer to work with a woman and see a woman’s point of view. In the case of Olivia, she is constantly photographed, so she knows exactly what works and what doesn’t. I love working with women that have a great [sense of] style like her.

So, are you planning another collaboration with a different female celebrity?

We’re launching a new collaboration, which is top secret for now. But it will be launched in October.

What can we look forward to in the next collection?

It would be a lot of firsts. My first platforms, my first chunky heels [and] my first flat boots [with] lots of fringes. It would be very bohemian chic, with a touch of rock ‘n’ roll.

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