Cover Aespa wearing the Chopard Ice Cube and Alpine Eagle collections (Photo: Chopard)
Aespa wearing the Chopard Ice Cube and Alpine Eagle collections (Photo: Chopard)
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K-pop group Aespa, one of the hottest music acts of the moment, on the highlights of its journey thus far and the exciting experiences as Chopard ambassador
Since its debut in 2020, K‑pop group Aespa has quickly risen to become one of the most popular groups not just in South Korea but around the world. Well known for its innovative metaverse concept blending the real and virtual worlds, the group comprises four members, Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning, and their avatars, or “æ” characters.
In just over three years, Aespa has made its mark on the music scene with hits such as Black Mamba and Next Level, and received several awards and nominations at various music awards shows, including the Melon Music Awards and the Seoul Music Awards.
As one of K‑pop’s most exciting acts today, it is no surprise that the girl band caught the attention of Chopard, which announced Aespa as its brand ambassador in September 2022. Since then, the group has starred in several of the Geneva‑based watch and jewellery brand’s campaigns, wearing pieces from collections such as Happy Sport, Happy Hearts, Ice Cube and Alpine Eagle. The members recount some of their most memorable moments as ambassadors for Chopard as well as the highlights of their careers thus far.
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Above Aespa wearing Chopard Ice Cube & Alpine Eagle collections (Photo: Ahn Joo Young)
Aespa wearing Chopard Ice Cube & Alpine Eagle collections (Photo: Ahn Joo Young)
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How has the partnership with Chopard been since Aespa was announced as its brand ambassador?
Karina: After [more than] a year as a brand ambassador, my love for Chopard has become even more special. I often wear necklaces and rings from the Happy Diamonds collection as this collection is my personal crush. [Whether it’s] in [our] music videos or [at] special events, I always wear Chopard jewellery to complete a stylish look. The year 2023 was special as Caroline Scheufele, Chopard’s co‑president and artistic director, invited us to the Cannes Film Festival. Aespa actually walked the famous red carpet wearing stunning Chopard jewellery and high jewellery creations. That will always be an exceptional moment.
Your attendance with Chopard at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival was the first time a K‑pop group has participated in the festival. What did it mean to you?
Ningning: It was an unforgettable experience—and an honour to be the first K‑pop group to participate in the Cannes Film Festival. I had a really great time. I’d like to thank Chopard again for inviting us. Walking the red carpet wearing the magnificent high jewellery necklace, earrings and ring set with heart‑shaped diamonds and rubies was an amazing experience. I’m proud to be a brand ambassador.
Above Ningning (pictured left) and Karina wearing the Chopard Precious Lace collection (Photo: Ahn Joo Young)
Ningning (pictured left) and Karina wearing the Chopard Precious Lace collection (Photo: Ahn Joo Young)
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Both Chopard and Aespa value innovation. Why is innovation important to you as artistes?
Karina: I think “innovation” is an important keyword for an artiste and I always want to show my fans something new. I try to get into innovative materials. The more inspiration we get from different things, the more we can give our fans a new look. It’s what we have in common with Chopard; the search for new, more meaningful materials and ideas. It’s quite impressive to me that although Chopard already has a long history, it always looks for innovation in its collections. This is very similar to Aespa; we always aim to surprise our fans with exciting looks and visual effects.
What was the highlight of your recent world tour?
Winter: The biggest highlight of the tour was meeting MY (the name of Aespa’s fans) from all over the world. I can feel the unique energy from each country. It was such a precious moment [and] made me want to meet MY from all over the world again if I ever get the chance. It was also great to have a variety of experiences in each country.
What has been Aespa’s biggest achievement so far?
Giselle: As an artiste, I’m most proud of the fact that we’ve been able to share our work with fans around the world [while] on our world tour. I also think being a brand ambassador for Chopard is a great achievement. It’s fun to represent a maison that shares the values of creativity and innovation, and most of all, have a family spirit with ethical values.
Above Giselle (pictured left) and Winter wearing the Chopard Ice Cube and Alpine Eagle collections (Photo: Chopard)
Giselle (pictured left) and Winter wearing the Chopard Ice Cube and Alpine Eagle collections (Photo: Chopard)
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What is your favourite Chopard piece or collection?
Giselle: My favourite collection is Precious Lace. The lace‑inspired designs are so wonderful. I like the Ice Cube collection too. I love how the pieces show different lights depending on the angle, and how they seem to come to life with every movement. For watches, my personal favourite is the Alpine Eagle, as I really love the cool design.
Chopard is committed to sustainability and Aespa spoke at the 2022 United Nations High‑level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. How else do you plan to advocate for sustainability and any plans to work with Chopard on this?
Giselle: I [gave] a speech [at the event] on the topic of “Next Generation to the Next Level”, in which I mentioned that future technological advances, such as the metaverse, would only be possible if we preserve a sustainable planetary ecosystem. Aespa is using music to communicate and bring love to the next generation. I know that Chopard has been committed to sustainable luxury for a long time; in fact, [the brand is a pioneer] in the issue. If we’re on the same page, we’re always open to working together on shared goals.
What can we look forward to from Aespa in 2024?
Karina: The year 2023 has been a busy one for us with our world tour and the year‑end award shows. We have a lot of new activities planned for this year.
Giselle: We’ve all been working hard to get ready for this year. We’d like to work in more countries to meet more fans.
Annabel Tan is the Editor of Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Singapore, where she covers all things luxury timepieces and fine jewellery across both print and digital platforms. She is also the Editor of Tatler GMT Singapore, a role that deepens her fascination with the ever-evolving world of watchmaking. Outside of work, she’s usually on the hunt for her next favourite watch that she can’t afford, planning her next beach getaway, or catching up on the latest Formula 1 race.
