#THGMalmaisonSalonSessions – Time will Tell: Velda Tan

Interviews • 22 Mar 2016

#THGMalmaisonSalonSessions – Time will Tell: Velda Tan


Design doyenne Velda Tan: watching out for her milestone timepiece and shares what’s next with her brand Collate The Label.

Velda Tan wearing Hublot Big Bang Steel

Velda Tan at Malmaison’s Napoleon Room, wearing Hublot Big Bang Steel with white diamonds.

 

I hear that your very first watch purchase was the Hublot Big Bang at Malmaison, can you tell us the story?
I’m really into classic brands and initially wanted to buy something “boring” like a Cartier or a Rolex as my first watch. I was actually here at Malmaison, and The Hour Glass specialist ended up recommending an additional few pieces outside of my requested styles. I was surprised as all three of them were spot on! I wanted a masculine watch that was versatile enough for different occasions and there it was – a Hublot Big Bang. I even bought an additional strap in white for variety, exactly like the one I have for the shoot today! That first experience at Malmaison was really memorable, and we’ve been coming back ever since.

So you must be pretty into watches as you bought something out of the norm. Would you consider yourself a collector?
I’m mostly influenced by my husband, he’s the watch collector in the family. Over the years I’ve watched and learned from him. I’m currently wearing a Rolex Submariner, which was actually his first watch. I just removed some of the extra links to fit my wrist and now I’ve completely taken it over! I wouldn’t call myself a collector at this point, but I definitely have an interest, and I think having a few pieces to rotate would be the perfect watch wardrobe.

Velda Tan wearing Rolx Daytona Rose Gold

Velda Tan wearing a Rolex Daytona in Everose gold.

 

You’ve departed from your first fashion venture Love Bonito to start your own brand – Collate The Label, tell us about this.
Leaving my first job (and first company) to start my own label Collate has been challenging but fun. The dynamics of being an e-tailer and a fashion brand owner are completely different. At Love Bonito, I used to reach out to a younger clientele of university students and women just starting their careers, but now with Collate I’m speaking to a more mature woman. For our fourth collection (SS 2016), it took us three months to produce 40 looks. Experimenting with pleating and textures, we designed flowy and soft silhouettes in a neutral palette. We are targeting career driven women in their late twenties and thirties who are looking for modern yet elegant staples.

You’ve recently taken a short hiatus from social media for personal reasons. As a social media celebrity and an inspiration to many young women, how do you find balance?
Fundamentally, you have to have an authentic voice on social media. Whatever piece of content I put out there has to be genuine and positive. I don’t think of myself as a celebrity or someone influential, but if you have a certain amount of reach and following, you need to be mindful of what you post.

What is your next watch purchase for 2016?
I need a milestone and I think that will be my 30th birthday. I’ve been looking around for a gold watch and am eyeing a couple of pieces. Last time we were at Malmaison, our THG specialist recommended the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak with a rose gold bezel for me, which is a beautiful piece that I can see sitting on my wrist.

Do you have any advice for a first time watch collector?
It’s important to find a piece that matches your personality. This is something that you will be wearing and looking at everyday, so it has to make you smile.

 

Tags: antimagnetic craftsmanship hour glass hour glass singapore iwc iwc singapore luxury watch luxury watches magnetic omega omega singapore omega watch omega watch singapore panerai panerai singapore panerai watch panerai watch singapore ro sinn


We’re here to help


Loading Consult A Specialist Form

Change Country

Select your country:

Share

Share via:

To find out more about our available positions, please visit our Careers page.