Your feet just got the ultimate in opulent covering: crocodile skin sneakers that are lierally dipped in 24 k gold. Yes, you heard that right. US brand- Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL) recently introduced these limited edition sneakers which are the first in the world to use crocodile skin, and with a price tag of $20,000, also have the distinction of being the world’s most expensive sneakers. Focusing majorly on sportswear, the company is known for its revolutionary range of footwear and accessories, created for both men and women. The outcome of a two-year long process, each pair of these would be made to order, crafted especially for each wearer. The process involves a 100 percent advance paymentyou’re your choice of customizations, with a 12-week waiting period. That’s 3 months—just to put things in perspective. You can shop for these golden sneakers at Dubai’s Level Shoe District and they’ll soon be retailing on the brand’s webpage too— APLrunning.com.
A tribute to love from the stables of Hermès, this limited edition Brides de Gala Love scarf parches the signature equestrian motif with a series of blue and orange hearts, and it comes fetchingly in matching exclusive heart shaped orange box. Designed by artist Hugo Grygkar, who holds an immemorial association with the brand, the scarf is slotted for a February release—yes, the Valentine month. If you just can’t wait till February, catch a sneak peek of the scarf at the Hermès boutique in the mall of Emirates.
Riccardo Tisci will be launching Givenchy childrenswear in fall next year and the collection andwill include items for babies and children from one month old up to age 12, with prices ranging from $85.60 to $321. Ever year Tisci would be presenting two collections, says the brand, and they would comprise around 60 pieces for girls, 40 for boys and 30 for babies, with a label reading “Givenchy Paris” framed by black stars. Special children’s items including teddy bears, and a ‘couture collection’ for little girls would be added highlights of the childrenswear range. The couture collection, in particular would feature iconic Givenchy couture dresses in smaller sizes. Tisci has previously designed bespoke pieces for Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s daughter North and Beyonce and Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy, including custom T-shirts and couture gowns. He’s obviously the best choice for this!
These holidays, treat yourself to a fully functioning crystal embedded merry-go-round. Yes, you heard right, this bedazzling joyride is the world’s first and is being erected at Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s premium shopping destination. Drawing its inspiration from Swarovski Crystal World in Austria, the ride is emblazoned with 3,000,000 pieces of sparkling crystals with touches of gold and blue. And it isn’t going to cost a bomb either—it’s the holiday spirit after all. The merry go round which is placed at the Pavilion mall up till 1st of January, only needs riders to pay RM10 as a fee for a ride. Further, 10 per cent of its proceeds will be donated to charity. We bet you’re already planning to spend a glittery shimmery Christmas in Kuala Lumpur!
Sonam Wangchuk, 50 year old Ladakhi engineer and teacher, is the only Indian laureates to win the Rolex Awards for Enterprise this year. The awards that took place on Nov 15 in LA, support exceptional, passionate individuals committed to improving life on the planet, and have just completed 40 years of existence. Wangchuk’s winning project is the creation of an artificial glacier or ‘Ice-Stupa’ as he calls it, which has been solving the problem of lack of water for agriculture in the desert landscapes of the western Himalayas. Named after Buddhist monuments, these conical ice mounds behave like mini artificial glaciers, slowly releasing water in the growing season. Sonam intends to build up to 20 such ice stupas, each 30 metres high and capable of supplying millions of litres of water. The long-term aim is to build an alternative university and engage youth in the environment. This project is among the 5 winners this year at the Rolex Awards for Enterprise.
It just keeps getting better and better for Potterheads, for the magic never ends. A handwritten and illustrated copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling is all set to be auctioned off at Sotheby’s in London, with estimates ranging between £300,000 to £500,000. The book isn’t just a reader’s wonder, it’s a delight to behold too. Bound in brown Moroccan leather and adorned with seven rhodochrosites, the book features sterling silver ornaments centred around a skull and you can feast your eyes on this latest Rowling marvel from December 9th to 13th at the Sotheby’s London centre. To be auctioned on the last day as a part of the English Literature, History, Children’s Books, and Illustrations sale, this original manuscript was presented by Rowling to British publisher Barry Cunningham almost a decade ago. It is one of the only seven created by the author, and bears a personal dedication. A true treasure for fans of Harry Potter’s creator.
All those who love the supple feel of leather goods by Hidesign, you can now delve into the history of the brand and the processes employed by it at a special exhibit being held at Delhi’s Select City Walk Mall. You’ll find out how the historic East India (E.I) leather is the secret of Hidesign. The rare East India leather tanned with vegetable dyes was discovered by the East India Company in the early 1800s. Primarily crafted in Tamil Nadu, this unique leather was re-discovered in the 1970s by Dilip Kapur, Hidesign’s Founder and President, who made good use of this knowledge that had been the force behind luxury bags and footwear in the past. The rest, of course, is history, and Hidesign has held onto innovative, ecological methods of tanning for over 38 years. The method produces strong, luminous, hide that has a unique natural grain and is known for a beautiful blonde sheen that glows through any colour that is hand rubbed onto it. Besides the unique sheen and shade, this is the only sustainable and ecological process of tanning leather anywhere in the world. The pieces from East India collection by Hidesign are all exclusively handcrafted and strictly limited edition. The line for women includes 12 bags and seven wallets, while for men the brand has four bags and three wallets. Available at all Hidesign stores and on Hidesign.com, this one’s a must-have for the closet.
Gucci has introduced their latest line of bags and leather accessories featuring regional embroideries and decorations inspired by the local arts and crafts of different countries. So, for a Gucci bag purchased in China, you’d find sacred hearts and roses adorning it, and in America, slogans ‘Blind for Love’ meticulously embroidered. The Indian offerings, of course include the grand elephant and traditional floral motifs. What’s more, you can get any of these bags customised according to your preferences. The collection is available at all Gucci stores across the country, and also online at Gucci.com.
ONE HAND WONDER | Jen Qun Hong aka Queen, founder of Onehandmade, creates fabulous customized bikes with just one good hand
Onehandmade. That’s what you call a masterpiece customized bike that springs from pure passion and is moulded into reality with the help of just a single good hand. Meet Jen Qun Hong aka Queen, the Taipei-based creator of fabulous customized bikes that leave you gasping for more. For Queen, the ultimate dream was to be a bike racer, for which he trained in a bike shop and opened his own small studio too, learning the ins and outs of motorcycles. But the car accident that severed his right arm nerve plexus leaving the arm paralysed, shattered his dream to bits. Jut 22 at the time, Queen found it difficult even to eat with his left hand, so handling bikes was out of the question. But his girlfriend—now wife—supported his dream throughout, telling him that her hands would be “his right hand.” And so, undeterred, he slowly built upon his dream, finally opening a customizing studio in Taipei. The results are here for the world to see.
From entirely handmade aluminium body and fuel tank to bespoke seat, headlight assembly, exhaust system and tailsection, Queen does it all himself
From BMW R Nine T to the Triumph Thruxton, he works on all kinds and creates drool-worthy pieces. The Super Ten, The R Nine T Paranoia and the quirky Snickers Super 7 are excellent examples of his craft. From entirely handmade aluminium bodies and customized fuel tank to bespoke seat, headlight assembly, exhaust system and tailsection, Queen does it all himself. And no, he doesn’t make a design on paper first, but works straight from the designs churning in his mind— redoing and rebuilding the entire model until it is perfect.
He now finds it easier to move his right arm, even riding bikes with his son. What’s more, he flaunts his now-tattooed right arm with aplomb making it his USP— talk about passion and precision with panache! And that is why when you come to Queen, you get a masterpiece that isn’t just handmade. It’s One-hand made.
The Luxe Café: How did the label Onehandmade come into being? Please tell us about your life-altering accident, too. A1: The name “Onehandmade” was derived from my own situation. My right arm became paralyzed because of a car accident about ten years ago. The surgery and rehabilitation only helped a little, and I could only work by my left arm after the accident. So I changed my shop’s name to “Onehandmade”, which means working by a single hand, instead of emphasizing “handmade”.
Triumph Thruxton Super TenThe Beast Awakens
Are there specific kinds of motorcycles that are customised by Onehandmade? I do not focus on a single style in customizing bikes. Anything that is fun or interesting would attract me. What I care about most is the completion of my work. Every piece should be of a high quality as if it was made by the original factory, instead of looking like a kit vehicle.
What are clients looking for when they approach you for customisation? Normally, my clients are not sure what exactly they are looking for when they come to me. So I introduce some common styles to them. Some of the clients I have had were special. They simply wanted to possess a bike that I made and allow me to express whatever I wanted on their bikes.
“Every piece should be as if it was made by the original factory”
What changes do you usually make in your work? I usually start by deciding the main style of the bike. There is a general orientation in styling bikes, and it’s not easy to create a brand new style. I would add some special concepts or details based on the general thing, or even mix two or more different styles on the bike to make it more fun. What I care about the most is that the owners are happy to have this bike, and that I enjoyed every second of customizing this bike. It doesn’t matter what other people think or say. And I will never work on something I don’t like, even though it might be loved by the whole world. Another thing is that I never criticize others’ works on the Internet or in person. Their works might not flatter me, but they did work hard to complete the bikes that they like.
Conquering Adversity: Queen flaunts his tattooed hand with aplomb
What are the prices of these bikes? The price depends on the client’s budget. The pieces and the customized parts they pick also affect the price. The R Nine T Paranoia, for instance, went for $18750.
I will never work on something I don’t like, even though it might be loved by the whole world
Your love for candy bars helped customize a BMW R Nine T into the Snickers-inspired Super 7! Tell us more about that design. I actually came up with the SNICKERS plan a long time ago. I like SNICKERS a lot, and the brown color on the package of the chocolate bar also seemed fit for the surface of a bike. I decided to make it happen. The client left me to my own devices, and I have already tried the Cafe Racer style on this type of bike. I challenged myself by “Scrambler”, and the color of chocolate goes perfectly with it. That’s how Snickers Super 7 came into being.
Chocolate on Wheels: Queen’s love for candy bars inspired the Snickers Super 7Queen’s Quirks: The chocolate-coloured BMW R Nine T
Which are your favourite works of craftsmanship till date? I put in great effort in designing and customizing every bike. So I cherish every one of them.
I never criticize others’ works on the Internet or in person. They did work hard
Globally, where do most of your clients come from? Most of my clients are from Taiwan. And my works have been highly inquired about overseas. However, I don’t have many clients from abroad yet. This may also be the result of high taxes in Taiwan and the problems in delivering.
Mind Maps: Queen doesn’t make a design on paper first, but repeatedly rebuilds the model until it is perfect
Have you had an Indian client yet? Any plans for reaching out to the Indian motorbike aficionado? I don’t have any clients from India so far. The main reason might be the difficulties in delivering the bikes overseas. I don’t have specific plans for India or any other country yet. However, I would be really glad if anyone from abroad is interested in my work, or wants me to customize bikes for him.
Masterpiece Machine: The R Nine T Paranoia that Queen customized for $18750
What are your plans for expanding the label? Right now, I have a mass production plan of customized kits in progress. When I gain more recognition in the global market, I will start working on expanding my brand.
Destiny’s Child: Queen now finds it easier to use his right hand and loves to ride with his sonTaking on the world
Breitling’s electronic Chronospace Evo Night Mission appears with a sturdy and light black titanium case framing a blue dial with tone-on-tone counters, giving an original touch to this sterling instrument for professionals. The spirit of performance is immediately perceptible in the sheer power of black satin-brushed titanium, achieved by a high-resistance carbon-based treatment, combined with the original note struck by a deep blue dial. Like all Breitling ‘instrument panels’, the indications are distinguished by their optimal legibility, with large square numerals and hands accentuated by a luminescent coating. The unidirectional rotating bezel ensures an excellent grip thanks to its four rider tabs – a Breitling signature – serving to mark off times. The case is water-resistant to 100 m (330 ft) and equipped with protective reinforcements for its screw-lock crown. Beneath its exclusively analog displays, a notable exception in the Breitling Professional range, the Chronospace Evo Night Mission conceals the best of high-tech capabilities, with a SuperQuartz™ movement ten times more accurate than standard quartz. Chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), this Caliber 73 combines several functions that are useful to pilots and adventurers. The chronograph notably features a split-seconds function with an additional central hand serving to measure intermediate times, while the fast timezone adjustment system ensures uninterrupted precision of the minutes and seconds displays. The intrepid and sporty nature of this model is accentuated by a rubber strap embossed with the Breitling signature.
