Mr. Jonathan Chiang’s deep love and passion for artisanal lifestyle spurred him to create a venue for like-minded gentlemen to come together, L.C via.
What’s your story?
Taking over a 40 year old tailoring business, to revamp and rebrand into Singapore’s first artisanal lifestyle venue. One and a half years in, we are the sole artisanal menswear venue in Singapore and South-East Asia working exclusively with second to fifth generation artisans from all over the world.
What excites you most about your industry?
To be the voice of these great artisans and share their hard work, craft, culture and history to this part of the world. But most importantly to have clients who take pride in their exclusive, hand made products and value investing in these pieces.
What’s your connection to Asia?
Working exclusively with European artisans and businesses and showcasing their work in Asia.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Shanghai.
Spent 4 years there in my first job, am so grateful for the exposure of both business and personal maturity. Being able to learn so much in the Chinese business market, working with MNCs such as Nike, Apple and P&G. Given Shanghai’s huge melting pot of different cultures, I was exposed to meeting and learning from all walks of life, backgrounds, cultures and history. People from Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Middle East and Africa. Many of which opened my eyes into their world and getting first hand knowledge of their world, rather than what we simply read and listen to through the media.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Be kind to all, for you do not know the battles they are going through.
Who inspires you?
The mothers who have to leave their child to be domestic workers, the fathers and brothers who work three jobs to support their families, the labourers ploughing under the hot sun, the farmers bending their backs to grow rice for us. Even with such hard lives, their kindness and selflessness to help others in need is second to none and their smiles of such sincerity and purity.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
It’s not who you know, but who knows you that matters.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Be patient, calmer and less procrastination.
How do you unwind?
Spending time with my three beautiful goddaughters. Their simple joys, contentment and smiles are reminders of the simple joys we forget.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Nepal. Everyone is carefree, giving, selfless and always full of smiles and joy even with so little.
Everyone in business should read this book:
Blue Ocean Strategy
Shameless plug for your business:
‘L.C via’ is the coming together of two strangers with a common love; the passion for artisanal products.
I’m sending my corporate deck and press kits to a big magazine and all the newspaper houses for an interview.
I just managed to get one on CNN Travel, Vogue Travel and Living as well as on our local Business Times front page newspaper.
How can people connect with you?
We are very active on social media sites, our new website is more intimate with a deep history of our business and the principals we work with.
Twitter handle?
Sadly not a user of Twitter, as Facebook and Instagram are our main social sites we are very active on.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/lcvia/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/lc_via/
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This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:
Callum Laing invests and buys small businesses in a range of industries around Asia. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is the founder & owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 12 countries. He is a Director of, amongst others, Key Person of Influence. A 40 week training program for business owners and executives.
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