Whether they want to admit it or not, everybody enjoys a good love story. This is why I am so pleased that two of  the most beautiful people I have ever met - Jessica Iskandar and Richard Kyle - found the time to be photographed and interviewed together for this month’s Cover Story. It’s an exclusive love story that I am happy and proud to present in Prestige.

Soon to be married, Jessica and Richard are understandably busy with wedding preparations, not to mention the demands on their time of  highly successful careers. But after participating with great enthusiasm in a sensational photo shoot, they happily sat down with us to talk about how they met, the development of  their romance and recent highlights in their lives, such as an enriching holiday in Australia. 

FIELD OF DREAMS With 2021 having started in earnest, it’s fair to say that the initial buzz of jubilation with the coming of a new year – especially following one as challenging as 2020 has faded away. Yet, there is an unmistakable sense of optimism, of hope, that persists. After focusing on survival for so long, we now dare to dream again. And that is exactly the story we hope to tell in this issue of Prestige.

By now, most of us are probably glad that 2020 is coming to a close. It has been, without doubt, one of the toughest years in living memory. However, it has also been a year that highlighted the best of us. For the past few episodes, Prestige Indonesia has brought you stories of heroes, of people who have gone out of their way to help those in need, people who create opportunities for those who have lost their livelihoods as well as those who thrive in adversity while at same time lifting up people around them.

There is perhaps a bit of irony in the way that the pandemic we’re currently in has become one of the greatest motivators for us to pay more attention to our health. As we continue to face social distancing mandates, lockdowns and the ever-present sense of uncertainty of a global crisis, we have been compelled to be more attentive to our physical fitness, our constitution and our psychological or mental wellbeing.

Preparing Prestige’s signature 40 Under 40 list has always presented a unique challenge. I guess it goes without saying that this year, it was even more challenging, especially when – in the middle of this September – Jakarta went into lockdown once again in what is popularly known as Large-Scale Social Restrictions 2.0.

In the immortal words of Coco Chanel, fashion changes, but style endures. So, once again, Prestige Indonesia presents its Fashion Issue, and once again, we look at what endures and what changes. Now, beyond the transition of spring/summer to fall/winter, we’re also seeing change being driven by both technology and our new, more homebound lifestyles.

This year has seen no shortage of  problems, the ongoing pandemic being at the forefront of  just about everybody’s minds. Thankfully, we have also been blessed to see so many people who – in the face of  a seemingly insurmountable challenge – choses to become part of  the solution. This issue of  Prestige is dedicated to and created in celebration of these people – these heroes, these figures who took action where others faltered.

For our cover story, we welcome back a long-time friend of  the magazine, the one and only Cathy Sharon, who shares with us stories about her philanthropic initiative project to provide medical supplies for hospitals and how it has reached far and wide beyond its initial scope. We also have stories chronicling the unique ways many individuals and groups have contributed in the fight against the pandemic, from Kevin Osmond and the Masker Untuk Indonesia movement that aims to encourage mask use to Suhaila Nordin and Aliza Salviandra Sutowo who have tapped into the power of  storytelling through BAGI for Bali. We hope that their stories inspire you as much as they have inspired me.

As the Prestige team and I were close to wrapping up this issue, news came out that Balwas set to open its doors – and its shores – to tourists in October. Perhaps, in a waour special Bali issue is particularly timely, as we bring you a close look at the island’contemporary culture and culinary scene in anticipation of  the island’s eventual firsteps towards recovery. 
This is also why we have opted for a special cover that is a marked departure from our  usual look. I think I can speak for all of  us when I say that I look forward to seeing thesun rise again over Bali, to a return to normalcy on this island we all love. Moreover, I also see Bali as being an appropriate illustration of  the world’s pre-crisis wonders and what is ultimately at stake as we strive to overcome this global tragedy. Above all else, I hope to offer you a voice of positivity, of  the wonders that were and the beauty that wwill return to; told – as always – through stories, interviews and photos.

We are living in unparalleled, mind-boggling times. Few alive today have ever experienced such draconian measures as those being taken to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. From political leaders to business owners and professionals, we must all respond to difficult and even alarming circumstances.
At Prestige and the DestinAsian Media Group as a whole, my valued colleagues and I have decided to fight on. This is a double issue of  Prestige (April-May 2020) and the next few after this may turn out to be a bit thinner than usual. But no matter what it takes, and as long as we continue to have the support of  loyal readers and advertisers, we will never give up on our publishing mission.

Did you know that, according to the United Nations, women earn 23 percent less than men globally? That women occupy only 24 percent of  parliamentary seats worldwide? Or that one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence?

In spite of  the great strides that have been made since the 1960s, we still don’t live in a gender equal world. As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 and also  Women’s History Month throughout March, let’s remember that celebrating women’s achievements and increasing visibility, while calling out inequality, is key.

This issue celebrates the triumphs of  three inspiring young Indonesian women: Dian Sastrowardoyo, Tara Basro and Nadine Chandrawinata. Dian has gone from actress to movie producer. She tells us about her upcoming production Guru-Guru Gokil and about the importance of  women’s empowerment in the film industry. “A lot of  the time, a woman’s portrayal in a movie is being told from a male perspective, which sets an incredibly unrealistic standard for women,” she points out.

We live in a time when people do not just seek better physical health, but stronger emotional and mental wellbeing. Working out can improve your health, both mentally and physically. But it can have the opposite effect if  you overdo it. Wellness is a much more complex state than having a six pack. To begin the New Year, we go on a search for holistic transformation with several truly inspiring individuals who make wellness the focus of  everything they do.

On our cover this month is Michelle Quan, makeup creator, mother and brand ambassador. Although she’s the personification of  beauty and wellness and looks a decade younger than her years, there was a period in Michelle’s life when she neglected her health. “I lost myself, which resulted in gaining a lot of  weight. I became the most unfit person, and my body called out to me that I couldn’t go on like that forever,” she tells us.

You have no doubt read plenty of  articles with titles like “Technology and the Death of Print Media”, and “Print Is Dead - Long Live Print”. I love that last headline because I’m sure there will always be a place for high-quality journalism and world-class magazines – just like the one you have in your hands.

To be sure, the market for print will never again be as big as it was before the smartphones came along. But the magazines that survive – and even flourish – in the years to come will be the ones that have created a special niche for themselves - as I believe Prestige has done in its first 15 years. 

So, thank you for your loyal support for the magazine I launched with such high hopes and dreams in July 2004. We couldn’t have done it – we can’t continue to do it – without you.

If  the political polarisation and social turbulence of  the last few years have got you down, read some of  the recent reports on Southeast Asia and Indonesia’s economic prospects by top management consulting irms like Bain & Company and the Asian Financial Forum and you’ll suddenly feel a whole lot more optimistic.
Bain says Southeast Asia’s investment ecosystem is doing very nicely, thank you. The irm expects that by 2024, the region will give rise to at least 10 new “unicorns”
with a market value of  more than U$1 billion each. Venture capital and private equity investment in Southeast Asia has soared to record levels as scores of  new investors pour into the region. Technology companies have attracted the bulk of  new private equity capital since 2014. The region has produced its irst set of  unicorns, such as Grab, GoJek and Traveloka.

As this issue was being finalised, protests were taking place in the streets of  Jakarta against moves by lawmakers to restrict free speech, muzzle the KPK anti-corruption agency and even interfere with our private lives. This attempt to turn back the clock is futile, of  course. The younger generations simply won’t put up with it.

This became increasingly clear as we put together this year’s The Vanguards: The Prestige 40 Under 40. I was encouraged by many of  the answers the impressive men and women in our annual list of  rising young personalities gave to questions about the impact of  technological change and political turbulence on society.

For example, Affan Helmy, Director of  Pisma Putra Textile Spinning, told us: “We’re definitely living in the best time there has ever been in history! I think people are prouder of  local goods, traditions and culture. Because of  that there are so many new creative products and services popping up. I believe that five to 10 years from now Indonesia will develop in leaps and bounds.”

Why go to the mall when you can look at Instagram? Can fashion’s sustainability drive really make a difference? Is cultural appropriation theft or innovation? Such are some of  the questions being discussed these days by the experts at such style authorities as Vogue, Business of  Fashion and The New York Times. Fashion, it seems, has never been so opinionated, so heavy - so political.

Perhaps it’s just a reflection of  the times we live in, but I think it’s a pity there’s a  tendency to take the fun out of  fashion nowadays. What we do online, how sustainably we behave and how much respect we give other cultures are all important matters. But, please, let’s not allow political correctness to kill all the spontaneity and joy we get out of  fashion. 

For this issue, we photographed some of  the forces of  Indonesian fashion with their muses – and what an inspiring adventure it turned out to be. Harry Halim tells us that he never thought he would become a designer for international celebrities. It was something he was “sort of  thrown into”.

When this issue was going to the printer, Boris Johnson had just been announced as the next leader of  the Conservative Party and therefore the new Prime Minister of  Great Britain. In spite of  a generally negative view among the public of  the leadership qualities of  “Britain’s Trump”, the party faithful chose Johnson, and he duly promised to unite the country and deliver Brexit. We shall see.

Almost everyone, everywhere, it seems, is worried about the poor quality of  today’s leaders, whether they’re in government, running great institutions or in the business world. This sentiment did not start with Donald Trump’s election in 2016. 

In 2015, the World Economic Forum published a survey that showed 86 percent of respondents agreeing that we have a leadership crisis in the world today. “There is an alarmingly weak correspondence between power and competency. Those in power are not necessarily up to the job of  discharging their responsibilities to the benefit of  those they lead,” wrote Forbes of  the survey.

The Best Life Has to Offer It really doesn’t feel like 15 years since we launched Prestige Indonesia, but it was in July 2004 that the Premiere Issue, with Vicky Supit as our stunning first cover girl, came out.  “Our objective is to be nothing less than the country’s premier social and lifestyle publication, with an emphasis on youth and talent and all those with the vibrancy and drive to live life to the full and enjoy the best it has to offer,” I said in my Editor’s Letter.  All these years on, you hold our 15th Anniversary Issue in your hands. And I’m proud to say that we have achieved our objective. Prestige is the archipelago’s leading high-society  and lifestyle magazine. Indeed, we have raised the bar for magazine publishing standards in Indonesia, while hosting memorable events, such as the Prestige Gala, to support worthy foundations and causes and to raise funds for the less fortunate. In recent years, we have striven to become a platform for creating awareness of important issues, and in this respect I’m especially proud of  our annual “Green Issue”. The first of  these, featuring inspiring profiles of  socialites, celebrities and other individuals who are fighting to save the planet, was published in April 2014. 

Last year, at the age of  15, a Swedish schoolgirl called Greta Thunberg began protesting outside her country’s parliament building about the need for immediate action to combat climate change. She called on politicians to actually start doing something for the planet now. Her stand went viral on social media, turning her overnight into a heroine for the environment. What a harsh reality it is that we need to be woken up to our responsibilities as citizens by a teenager! But Greta is only demanding something that is her generation’s birth right: a sustainable world to live in.

For our annual “Green Issue”, we flew to Singapore to catch up with the multi-talented and outspoken Nadya Hutagalung, mother-of-three, model, actress, TV personality, author, elephant preservationist and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador. What Nadya had to say for our Cover Story was chilling. For the first time ever, she is not quite sure the fight to save the planet is actually winnable. “If  you’re not doing something, every day, about the world your kids are growing up in, then I don’t know if  you’re a responsible parent or not,” she declares.

Why do we need the arts? They’re not essential like food and drink. We won’t get sick orstarve without poetry books or ballet dancers. If  all the theatres in the world closed theirdoors tomorrow, life would still go on. At least that’s what the philistines among us would say. But, as Sir Peter Bazalgette, British television executive and former Chair of Arts Council England, put it in a newspaper article a few years ago: “Imagine society without the civilising influence of  the arts and you’ll have to strip out what is most pleasurable in life - and much that is educationally vital. Take the collective memory from our museums; lose the empathetic plays and dance from our theatres; expunge our festivals, literaturand painting, and you’re left with a society bereft of  a national conversation… about its identity or anything else.” In this issue we do our bit for the national conversation by talking to some of  the most interesting people involved in Indonesia’s arts scene. Let’s start with our Cover StoryMaera Panigoro points out that the arts take many forms, including dance performances with a shady reputation. She hopes her production of  Srintil: Tembang Duka Seorang Ronggeng will change the way the public regards a great Indonesian tradition.

“Taste your way around the world.” That’s some good advice I’ve always tried to follow. Whenever I’m on the move – which is a lot! – and whether I’m travelling for business or pleasure, or a bit of  both, I always try to eat the local food wherever I may be. That can be quite a challenge sometimes, of  course, but one must make the effort or lose out on the true essence of  travel.

My good friend Yvonne Yuen is the subject of  this month’s fascinating Cover Story. She tells us about her journey from Shanghai to Hong Kong and then Indonesia, where she learned to be a top-quality home cook. “I started cooking because I missed home so much,” she explains. “I was trying to search for the memories through the tip of  my tongue.”

To mark International Women’s Day this month, we photographed and interviewed three extraordinary individuals whose stories of  perseverance and resilience are incredibly moving and inspiring. These strong women, in their different ways, are having a significant impact on Indonesian society, and we are delighted to celebrate their achievements in this issue. First up is a lady I have admired for 15 years or more. Veronica Colondam, who graces our cover this month, is a global superstar in the world of  social entrepreneurship. YCAB Foundation, which she launched with her late mother 20 years ago, is ranked 35 on the 2019 list of  the world’s top 500 NGOs, having reached more than 3.3 million young people and mothers with programmes that include microfinance.

What is the true meaning of  love? It all depends on who you ask. We each have different ways of  giving and receiving love. But I think it’s essentially about being on the same level with another person. You should be so comfortable with your significant other that you’re never afraid you’ll sound stupid, or that they will judge you for something. “I don’t think you can ever define love. It’s such a universal, yet complex thing to describe,” Lee Yen Wijaya tells us in this issue. She is happy to be a grandmother. “I shall love them until the end of  time,” she says of  her grandchildren. “Although, I would always worry about them all the time. I try my best to be a good grandmother to them.  I know I love them, and I know they love me too.”

How has your mood been lately? Are you experiencing any symptoms of  depression or anxiety? Do you usually sleep well for seven to eight hours a night? How you answer these questions will indicate whether you are living a healthy lifestyle. As we go into 2019, during which Prestige Indonesia will celebrate its 15 anniversary, I thought it was important for each of  us to consider our sense of  well-being. The road to good health is paved with ambitious New Year resolutions, of  course. 

Each year, in the Prestige It List, we honour a few outstanding individuals that have inspired us in some important way in the last 12 months, whether it’s in the fields of  business and entrepreneurship, philanthropy, the social scene, art, entertainment or sports. Our Socialite of  the Year, Irna Mareta, is always on the go, constantly juggling work and social activities. Her number one priority, however, is her children. “Since they were young, I created a democratic environment in the house, because I find it’s important to let my children explore their potential to the fullest,” she tells us.

Natural ingredients vs. chemicals. The rise of  digital marketing and e-commerce in cosmetics. The advantages of  non-invasive skincare treatments over plastic surgery. All of  these issues and more are covered in our “Beauty Issue” this month. “This industry is meant to empower women. There are so many ‘beautypreneurs’ out there, so many opportunities for women - and that’s why I love being here,” Wulan Tilaar tells us. This inspiring Indonesian story all started in 1970, in a small garage at Martha Tilaar’s parents’ home in Menteng. That’s when Dr. Tilaar, Wulan’s mom, opened her first beauty salon. The rest, as they say, is history.

Every issue of  Prestige, I’m proud to say, includes profiles, interviews and feature articles celebrating the achievements of  some of  Indonesia’s most impressive young leaders, whether they be entrepreneurs, artists, entertainers or distinguished professionals. But our October issue is very dear to my heart in this respect, for it features the annual Prestige 40 Under 40 list.

MILLENIALS ARE REWRITING the rules of fashion, and luxury brands are scrambling to win their attention. Some companies are getting it right, but others are stuck in a time warp, Failing to make the most of the opportunities social media sites – Instagram, in particular – give them to reach Generations Y and Z. Brands such as Gucci, Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton are using social media to appeal to millennial customers to great effect, according to UBS’s latest European Luxury report, published earlier this year. The industry’s larger companies, it says, “are using clever e-commerce and digital strategies to attract younger customer".

THERE'S NO BETTER time to celebrate the power of indonesia’s heritage in ethnic fabrics than now. For this issue we brought together five of our favourite socialites to talk about why they love the kebaya and why they have so much respect for some of their favourite indonesian couturiers and fashion designers. 
Ayu Rosan tells us why she is never happier than when she is wearing a kebaya. She tells us, in particular, about her admiration for the late iwan Tirta’s legacy. actress laura Basuki says “every time he dresses me up, the result is fantastic” about the creativity of Eddy
Betty, master of indonesia haute couture.

FOR OUR 14th 18 ANNIVERSARY Issue, we focus on some of Indonesia’s most inspiring disruptors. What are disruptors? These are people who are changing our lives: the way we think and behave, how we learn and how we do business.

Ferry Unardi dropped out of Harvard Business School to create Traveloka, a US$1 billion startup, or “unicorn”, that has changed the way the travel industry works in Indonesia. “All of our products and services are based on customers’ pain points,” he tells us.

Another of Indonesia’s four unicorns, Bukalapak, was founded by Achmad Zaky. He reveals how he made it his mission to “bridge the gap between Indonesian sellers and buyers. We now host 3 million SMEs on our platform.”

WE ARE IN A WAR ON PLASTIC. When you are looking around your neighbourhood, how often do you spot empty plastic bags and bottles littering the roads and pavements? If you look at the rivers and canals, you will see floating waste of all kinds. Bali’s beaches have not escaped the scourge of plastic either.

February 2021

December 2020 - January 2021

November 2020

October 2020

September 2020

August 2020

June - July 2020

April -  May 2020

March 2020

February 2020

January 2020

December 2019

November 2019

October 2019

September 2019

August 2019

Prestige Indonesia is the monthly luxury and lifestyle magazine that covers the life and times of the rich and famous in Indonesia and the rest of the world. As the ultimate lifestyle magazine of choice for Indonesia's elite affluent decision makers, Prestige is packed with full of useful and relevant materials that enriches, informs and entertains its readers. The magazine is an insider to the high life in Indonesia; featuring personalities who are either the peers or much to the envy and emulation of our readers. They enjoy a rich feast of intelligent reading and spectacular photography on subjects as varied as local society, business titans, international news and entertainment, fashion, travel, high-end gadgets and diversion. With high quality content and sophisticated presentation, Prestige brings a unique and modern international air to the category of lifestyle magazines in Indonesia. Besides Indonesia, Prestige also has editions in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand. It is published 13 times a year, including the annual issue: Prestige LIFESTYLE and has a print run of 25,000 copies.

Living 2019

Living 2018

Lifestyle 2018

Lifestyle 2017

Lifestyle 2016

Lifestyle 2015

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Prestige Indonesia - February 2020

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