IF YOU COULD WAKE UP ANYWHERE TOMORROW WHERE WOULD you BE?
Cape Town. Or, more specifically, Clifton 3. I try and get there at least twice a year over Christmas and Easter. The sun and the light are spectacular – you have Table Mountain behind you, and in front of you is a beautiful view overlooking the water. I am always happiest there.
WHERE’S THE BEST SERVICE THAT YOU’VE EVER ENCOUNTERED?
The boutique hotel Upper House in Hong Kong. The Asian sensibility to service is something Europeans don’t really grasp. From the minute you walk in, every person in the hotel knows your name. They know what you like to drink and what you will have for breakfast. Nothing can beat that.
YOU’RE SITTING DOWN TO THE PERFECT DINNER. WHERE ARE YOU, WHO ARE YOU WITH AND WHAT ARE YOU EATING?
In Sicily, on a beautiful terrace overlooking the water with my closest friends from around the world. Growing up all over, it is often hard to get everyone together in one place. We would start with a selection of antipasti, move on to a pasta dish such as spaghetti vongole, followed by the finest of steaks.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST LUXURY PURCHASE?
hen living in Paris with my parents, I used all of my graduation money to buy a set of limited-edition, contemporary Limoges porcelain plates by an artist called Pisa. Around the same time I went to Hamburg and invested in a Jil Sander jacket. It was my first big purchase and I had it forever; in fact I only gave it to charity a few months ago.
WHERE WOULD YOU BUILD YOUR DREAM HOUSE AND WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE?
My dream is to live in an elevated square house made out of glass somewhere in Italy by the water, but I’ll have to sell a few more cufflinks first. I really hate mess, so it would be completely minimalist. It would be made in stark clean lines, with the addition of white marble and maybe wood.
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO ENTER THE WORLD OF DESIGN?
It became clear to me at 27 that I didn’t want to spend my life reporting to someone else. I wanted to combine the two things I loved the most: travel and design, and I wanted to be my own boss. I started in the clothing industry, importing very expensive, handwoven silks that were used by the Thai royal family and making beautiful waistcoats and jackets from them.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGNERS?
I always had great admiration for the late Alexander McQueen – what he was producing was genius. Within the jewellery world, I think Caroline Scheufele, the artistic director at Chopard, is doing something particularly interesting.
WHAT DO YOU COLLECT?
I have an eccentric collection of Natsume lacquerware – what the Japanese use in their tea ceremonies. I now have nearly 50 pieces all painted with maki-e gold. I buy one every time I go to Japan. It is purely for pleasure.
ktrotter@thenational.ae
