By Aulia R Sungkar. Published in Fashion TV Magazine, first edition (June-July 2010).
Property Mogul Lord Alain Levenfiche’s quest on the road to success has accorded him the redefinition of the essence of luxury.
With more than two decades of property under his belt, Alain now owns an impressive portfolio of properties across the globe, including the exotic Ko Po Island in Thailand, an exclusive 875-acre polo ranch and upscale apartment in Argentina, as well as his current development of more than 100 vineyards located on 2,043-acre land in Mendoza province, also in Argentina.
Born in Paris and raised in London, Alain can be anywhere depending on his mood. One day in Thailand, the next day in Argentina, perhaps in London or Paris the following week, or he may be on his way to Spain with his Praise the Lord, an 86-foot Tarrab motor yacht. Engaging in such lifestyle is indeed a luxury, but Alain takes it as ordinary. What a life!
Everyone has their own interpretation of luxury. For some, it means premium living in the vibrancy of a metropolis, or amassing a great fortune. For Alain, it’s a unique hedonism that mirrors his lifestyle.
Fashion TV Magazine had the honor of meeting Alain during his recent visit to Jakarta, Alain asserts that his success has made appreciate living away from big cities as “the absolute luxury!”
Why do you think so?
For me, luxury is not living in big cities. I would rather live in the countryside, by the beach, up in the mountains, or even in the jungle. Luxury could be working on my tan at the beach. Luxury is a perception.
Do you think your frequent travel affect your lifestyle?
Yes, definitely! Travel, to me, is more than leisure. It’s part of my daily routine. I’m very keen on visiting exotic places where I can be away from the city’s hustle and bustle. I’ve been to safaris in Kenya and Tanzania, and I also spent my early days in South Africa. So, I really loved being close to nature. I’m aiming to explore more countries and regions throughout the world. Indonesia is the 124th country I have visited. The country is beautiful, particularly the island of Bali. It’s such an alluring island with some of the best beaches in the world. Moreover, Bali’s friendly atmosphere and the charm of its people really attract me. In fact, I’m contemplating to buy properties in Bali.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Travelling is such a big part of my life, so I really enjoy cruising on my boats. In addition to my 86-foot Tarrab yacht, I have a 26-meter in a Befer.I love my boats!
Let’s talk about fashion. Do you always relate fashion to luxury?
Our lifestyle is a reflection of what we wear. I’m somewhat of a hippy in character. I never do business in a suit…and I never do business wearing socks and shoes. But I always choose high quality apparels. So I guess you can call me a platinum card hippy.