Musician Q Sound with singer Tasha and his ensemble entertaining guests at the Hublot Loves Football event.
AS official timekeeper of the FIFA World Cup for the fourth season running, Hublot and The Hour Glass hosted an exuberant launch of its Hublot Loves Football pop-up in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
Content creator and TV host Shalma Ainaa welcomed over 300 guests to the event, promising them a fun evening of all things Hublot and football.
The Hour Glass general manager Teh Soon Kheng thanked attendees for playing their part in kicking off the festivities in the build up to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and restated Hublot’s commitment to the beautiful game.
“Hublot’s precision, innovation and the ability to keep its cool under pressure are some of the reasons why it has become associated with the world’s most popular sport, as well as The Hour Glass.
“As we count down the days to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, we hope you find this pop-up to be a taste of the heady excitement to come when football fever kicks off in earnest,” he said.
Teh then welcomed a mystery act to officially mark the launch of the Hublot Loves Football pop-up. To the surprise of the crowd, the faint strains of a big band increased in volume as a 16-person ensemble led by multi-talented trombonist, band leader and composer Q Sound and singer Tasha appeared seemingly out of thin air and took the stage.
The former principal trombone for the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra – fluent in a range of musical genres spanning classic and soul to jazz, funk, R&B and hip-hop – showcased his versatility in popular hits such as About Damn Time by Lizzo, Treasure by Bruno Mars and Don’t Start Now by Dua Lipa.
National footballer Siti Nurfaizah Saidin showing her ball juggling skills at the Hublot Loves Football pop-up in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
Having revved up the crowd, he handed the evening over to DJ Blink, who was part of the 1990s rave scene in Kuala Lumpur when big progressive house tunes were making waves.
The veteran DJ proved his sleight of hand at the decks by channelling his keen ear and the technical wizardry of the hip hop turntablists into a pumping soundtrack for the night.
While he kept a steady beat going, guests explored the space while enjoying a smorgasbord of canapes that circulated throughout the event.
The hard-to-miss pop-up spanned the centre concourse and was a microcosm of the intersecting worlds of Hublot and football.
Tiered stadium seats backed by a panoramic LED screen for action-packed clips anchor one side of the construction with colourful stadium lockers and a referee board at the other end.
Amid the white aesthetic, carpeted in parts with grass that evokes the anticipation of a football pitch, are a showcase of exclusive Hublot and FIFA World Cup products and merchandise, as well as a special illuminated display that celebrates Hublot’s football ambassadors and friends of the brand.
This was designed in collaboration with Lebanese fashion designer Mira Mikati, who was also invited by Hublot to commemorate FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 with the Hublot Loves Football campaign logo.
Those who have ever entertained the notion of going pro with their football game had the chance to put their skills to the test with Fast Feet – a high-stakes game that challenged participants’ aim and the calculated power of their kicks. Numerous participants were brave enough to give it a go with the guidance of a professional football player.
