With the luxury market currently in decline with the exception of a few brands, the evolution of “luxury” is always top of mind. Yes, markets are cyclical and things will inevitably bounce back, but with the world on fire, what does luxury look like going forward? Especially with new generations pushing the boundaries on what historically has been acceptable.
Luxury views “acceptable” as not an option. You need to be able to maintain a further showcase of depth. It takes time and dedication. Look at the majority of celebrity or influencer-based endorsements. Most have such minimal knowledge or interest in the product they're selling, but consumers are led to believe they are the driving faces of said businesses. There must be true care, true passion, true knowledge of the product and what it means to those who enjoy it to thoroughly understand it as luxury.
Vaughan walks us through a few brand case studies that he's exploring, so there's a lot of gems in this piece - hope you enjoy!
I've been watching this Australian drama called Love Me the past few weeks and have really been enjoying it overall. I won't spoil it but the series explores modern love and grief across two seasons, as experienced by various family members at different stages of life. Apparently, it's a remake of the Swedish series titled Älska mig. Haven't watched it myself but will add to the list!
Nothing much to add other than it's a nice, light and wholesome watch!
Vanhée was born in Seclin, a small town of about 13,000 people near the Belgian border, to an Algerian mother and a French father. After graduating in 2003 from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, she went on to work at Maison Martin Margiela and under Phoebe Philo at Celine. What a resume!
She joined Hermès in 2014 and states that her role at the luxury fashion house involves being an interpreter of the historic brand’s codes — equestrian iconography, artisanal leatherwork — which she marries with her own varied interests: pioneers of modern dance like Pina Bausch and Trisha Brown and rock bands such as the Smiths.
The profile includes inspo photos including a rendering of a bridge designed by Sumayya Vally, an architect from South Africa. She shares, “I love the symbolism of the bridge. It’s about immigration, in a way, and about allowing people to cross obstacles. It’s functional, but there’s a lot of poetry. It’s being built in Vilvoorde, Belgium, less than an hour by car from the Royal Academy.”
This is largely driven by their brand Miu Miu which saw a 93% increase in sales, topping their staggering 89% growth from last quarter, while Prada saw a 6% increase in year-over-year sales. 🛍️
The correct term to describe this week's horrific attacks against brown and black folks in the UK is pogroms. Anti-immigrant sentiments and rampant Islamophobia on the heels of the Labour party being elected should indicate to Americans that the same is very much possible in the US, especially when neither Democrats or Republicans have condemned Israel's genocide—which is deeply rooted in Islamophobia and the US' longstanding foreign policy in the region. Furthermore, both Trump and Harris have used anti-immigrant language to those seeking asylum at our borders—which is legal and a human right. Buckle up for 2025! 😒
I shared a bit in last week's newsletter about the Sahel region and Russia's military influence in the region, so this article further fed my fascination about recent events! 🇷🇺🇳🇪🇺🇦
