Shara Hayz is a fashion designer based in London. Creating clothes with a futuristic feel, her clothes are especially popular with singers. Hailed as the tailor to the raver, Shara beat off 2000 entrants on SKY TV’s reality show “Styled to Rock” where she presented her collection to Rihanna.


Why do you love travel?
Travelling can give you a sense of freedom. It reminds you of all the different places that exist in the world and the different cultures and ways people live, I’ve always loved diversity. I believe it is especially important for a creative person like myself to be able experience different places for inspiration.


Your favourite travel destination and why?
I have different ideal places for different reasons, for work I love to travel to New York, for relaxation it has to be a tropical country.

What do you need for a perfect holiday?
Good friends, great hotel or apartment, sun, swimming pool or even better a beach with clear blue sea, good music and good food.


In which country have you felt most at home?
New York – I love their attitude to work and London for its creativity.


Most unusual souvenir you have brought home?
Probably a huge folding leather engraved chair from Sri Lanka.

Favourite holiday discovery?
There are two! Learning to snowboard in Bulgaria and also snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef with all the beautiful coral and tropical fish.


Worst holiday or travel experience?
Probably a work trip to Barcelona for a fashion trade show. One evening I ate some tapas and ended up with an allergic reaction and an ambulance was called to resuscitate me.


Best piece of travel advice?
Universal travel adapter, with so many electronic devises being used on the go, don’t get caught out with an adapter for the specific country you're in!


Your top five travel destinations?
Tokyo
New York
Sri Lanka
L.A.
Berlin


What has travel taught you?
How much the world has to offer and how differently people live, this always has a big impact on how lucky I am. I’ve travelled to poor parts of the world where people live a very simple life; to visiting grand pent house apartments in Beverly Hills in LA, experiencing this always puts a good perspective on your life and the world.


What is the country you will never go back to and why?
Probably Ibiza, unless it is for work I probably wouldn’t consider returning to the island of dance.


In which country did you taste the best ever cuisine?
Hong Kong; I visited some great restaurants that served many small dishes which you share, including an interesting frog appetizer which tasted like chicken! I love the way they serve their food.


Next travel destination?
Hopefully Shanghai, though this will be a business trip, I hope I can see some of the sites in between the business meetings.



Text by Tina Edward Gunawardhana