Singapore Tatler – February 2026

Summary

Sylvia Earle — photographed by Termsit Siriphanich in Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust and outfit by SukkhaCitta — opens February 2026 Singapore Tatler with "Deep Resolve," pushing ocean protection at 90 years old, priced S$9. The 152-page issue covers the tea shift in luxury dining, shoe designer Amina Muaddi's journey from points to play, and a Bangkok rising through its design district renaissance.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / The Scene / Style / Watches / Jewellery / Features / Regulars

p.108 · Depths of Hope
Sylvia Earle, still actively diving at 90, on her Mission Blue initiative and the network of Hope Spots — marine protected areas she has designated worldwide. The feature covers how she selects sites and what protections they receive. Close with: Singapore's own Hope Spot application is open — any individual can nominate a site at missionblue.org; the minimum requirement is demonstrated community support and a documented biodiversity survey.

p.24 · The Tea Shift
Tea culture is being reimagined in high-end dining and cocktail bars. The feature profiles three Singapore venues that have built beverage programmes around single-origin teas. Takeaway: the cocktail bar using cold-brewed oolong as a base charges 28 SGD per serve but the tea leaves yield 5 infusions — the cost per drink drops to 5.60 SGD on the fifth round.

p.26 · From Points to Play
Shoe designer Amina Muaddi reveals how her Romanian-Jordanian heritage influences her silhouettes. The interview covers her production process and why she manufactures in Italy. Close with: Muaddi's signature flared heel requires 3 extra production days per pair — the flare angle is exactly 15 degrees, calibrated for stability at walking speed.

p.28 · Slow by Design
The quiet luxury movement examined through three brands that produce fewer than 500 pieces per style. The article covers why limited production leads to higher resale value. Close with: brands that produce under 500 pieces per style see 85 percent of their styles sell out within the first season — buy from the lookbook pre-order to secure allocation.

p.38 · A Surreal Education
Surrealism's influence on contemporary fashion traced from Schiaparelli to JW Anderson. The 6-page feature uses archival comparisons. Takeaway: the lobster dress by Schiaparelli (1937) inspired the 2025 Loewe crab-claw sleeve — both use the same construction technique of padded organza over boning to create the crustacean silhouette.

p.60 · Material Futures
Innovative sustainable materials in luxury goods — mushroom leather, pineapple fibre, grape leather. Each material's durability tested against traditional calf leather. Close with: mushroom leather (Mylo) scores 7/10 on abrasion resistance versus calf leather at 9/10, but costs 40 percent less per square metre — best suited for shoes rather than bags that experience daily friction.

p.72 · Watches Picks
Current watch selections including a new Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso with a cloisonne enamel back. Close with: the Reverso enamel back adds 4,000 SGD to the base price — each dial takes 80 hours of enamelling work, making it the most labour-intensive reversible case decoration available.

p.78 · In Full Stride
A.Lange & Sohne's new Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar with a 3-dimensional month display. The technical breakdown covers the 42-jewel movement and the patented month wheel. Close with: the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar will not need adjustment until 2100 — the mechanism accounts for the century rule automatically, a feature only 3 other perpetual calendars in production offer.

p.82 · Liquid Gold
Aged care and longevity investments in Singapore, from senior-focused REITs to healthcare startups. The article gives specific REIT yields and startup funding rounds. Close with: the senior living REIT with the highest occupancy rate (94 percent) also pays the lowest yield (4.8 percent) — lower yield correlates with lower vacancy risk in this sector.

p.98 · Made to Move
Jewellery designed for active lifestyles — pieces that lock securely without damaging the stone. Three brands' patented clasp systems explained. Close with: the screw-lock clasp used by one brand requires 3 full rotations to secure — if it tightens in fewer, the threading is already wearing and should be serviced.

p.116 · In With the New
Three Singapore hotels that renovated in 2025, with specific room counts and price changes post-renovation. Close with: the hotel that added the most new rooms (40 suites) also increased entry-level pricing by 35 percent — book the original room category for the same layout at a lower rate before the new inventory resets the pricing algorithm.

p.126 · Lost in Translation
Three untranslatable words from Southeast Asian languages that capture specific emotions or experiences — the Filipino "gigil," the Thai "greng-jai" and the Indonesian "gemas." Close with: use "greng-jai" in your next team meeting context — it explains the hesitation to ask colleagues for help that often blocks cross-functional projects.

p.132 · Bangkok Rising
Bangkok's design district is transforming old shophouses into galleries, concept stores and cafes. The feature maps a walking route covering 8 venues. Close with: start at the ATT 19 gallery at 10am on a Saturday — the neighbouring vintage furniture dealer opens at 11, giving you an hour to preview the exhibition before the crowd arrives.

p.146 · Sail of the Century
The rebirth of classic yacht racing in Southeast Asia. The feature covers three regattas and the cost of chartering a classic yacht. Close with: chartering a 12-metre classic sloop for a weekend regatta starts at 3,000 SGD all-in — cheaper than a comparable power yacht charter by approximately 40 percent.

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Editor's Take

The Sylvia Earle cover package is genuinely inspiring — an active 90-year-old oceanographer naming specific Hope Spot locations, dive depths and policy victories gives the environmental content real teeth. The weakest element is the "Material Futures" sustainable materials feature, which reads like a directory of brand press releases without independent testing data beyond the single abrasion score. The issue suits impact investors and slow-luxury buyers, though the "Sail of the Century" piece on classic yacht charters is too narrow to justify 4 pages.

Strengths
• Earle names specific Hope Spot locations and nomination process
• Amina Muaddi interview specifies 15-degree heel angle and 3-day production cost
• Sustainable materials feature provides one comparable abrasion test score

Weaknesses
• Material futures piece lacks independent lab testing beyond single metric
• Classic yacht charter feature over-indexes on niche activity in a general-interest issue

Verdict: Recommended — Earle cover delivers genuine environmental utility; lifestyle features uneven.