We caught up with Mun Ka Young in Singapore to learn more about her new role as TUMI's global ambassador and face of the Asra collection.
The APAC region's biggest stars gathered at Sentosa Golf Course in Singapore on March 27 for the inauguration of TUMI's new global ambassador, Mun Ka Young. The South Korean actress – known for hit shows such as “True Beauty” and “Find Me In Your Memory” – has officially joined the TUMI family in a glitzy and stylish affair. Wearing a chic black dress and accompanied by the Asra shoulder bag in Purple Sunset, all eyes were truly on the German-born starlet.
Mun Ka Young stars in her first-ever campaign for the lifestyle brand; perfectly capturing the energetic essence of the Asra collection for women. Directed by C Prinz and filmed by Bibi Cornejo Borthwick, filming took place in Los Angeles – Mun's first visit to the city. And certainly an unforgettable experience. It was also an allusion to the joy of travel, an integral part of TUMI's illustrious history.
A few hours before the “Discovering Asra” party, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Mun Ka Young herself. Calm, elegant and enchanting, Mun — accompanied by her own little Asra moonlight crossbody bag — shared with us her goals as a TUMI ambassador, her best travel tip and much more.
What are your goals as a TUMI Global Ambassador?
I look forward to introducing you to TUMI’s expanded line of women’s bags. I have always been a fan of TUMI as a brand that creates bags and accessories that are built to last and designed to meet the highest standards. Asra is no different and combines effortless style and timeless beauty with the smartest functionality. I love that the brand continues to innovate and push boundaries, especially in the women's space.
What characteristics or aspects of TUMI stand out to you and how do you embody or resonate with the brand's DNA?
Yes, the design is beautiful, but the fact that its functionality is also amazing lies in the great balance between the two, which is TUMI's DNA. The fact that they can capture both design and functionality. For me, I believe that balance in life is really important. That's why I think TUMI's DNA and my life are very similar. The TUMI brand has been very familiar to me since I was young thanks to my parents. It means a lot to me to be able to be featured this time as the face of the collection. I'm really excited and have high expectations from the Asra campaign.
When you look at TUMI, it's simple but full of details. For the Asra collection, we take a look and realize that in this simple looking bag, there are so many things that can fit inside. There are a lot of little details they thought of for women. Having these details applied in the products reminds me of who I am. Because I also like to be simple, but if you know more about me you realize that I am very detail-oriented and love to plan.
What was your very first experience or memory with TUMI?
TUMI is a brand I've always kept an eye on, ever since I started traveling a lot and noticing other people's style and luggage choices. I love that TUMI bags are both stylish and functional, and always meet the highest standards so I can fully concentrate on the trip.
What's your best travel tip?
The most important thing is to have a to-do list! I'm the type of person who needs to write everything down because it saves a lot of time. Being able to plan ahead and make sure everything is packed for my trip makes me happy, relieved and comfortable. So here's some advice for traveling.
What is your favorite TUMI bag to take when traveling?
The piece of luggage I always carry for work or photoshoots is the 19 Degree Packing Case in Hunter Green. The color is amazing and really pops so it's easy to find on the carousel. When I travel, I love wearing the Large Hobo Black from the Asra collection. When traveling I like to pack and it has a large space to store everything. Plus, it looks great and fits any style. Inside, the things I have to carry are definitely lipstick and other small items. TUMI products usually have little pockets inside where I can store all these items.
Learn more about the TUMI Asra collection HERE.
(All photos by Bibi Cornejo Borthwick for TUMI)
This article was first published in Prestige Hong Kong
