Monday, May 5, 2008
Time magazine has just published its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. There are three luxury-related players this year; Karl Lagerfeld, Takashi Murakami and Carine Roitfeld of French Vogue.
The profile of Lagerfeld is written by architect, Zaha Hadid, designer of the Chanel Mobile Pavilion. Hadid rather deftly describes his importance…
The initial context of his work demanded a kind of radicalism. Before Karl, we all looked to couture for inspiration and direction. Now, through his work, fashion originates from the street, the media—anywhere. — (Via Time)
Takashi Murakami is profiled by Marc Jacobs as the man that made it possible for the LV logo to sprout hands…
I thought, I would love it if the mind that imagined this dizzying world of jellyfish eyes, singing moss, magic mushrooms and morphing creatures would be willing to have a go at the iconic Louis Vuitton monogram. — (Via Time)
And Carine Roitfeld (editor-in-chief, French Vogue) profiled by Hedi Slimane…
Her definition of fashion is clearly hedonistic, embracing fashion’s immediacy but with a broad cultural vision that puts everything in perspective.” — (Via Time)
Friday, May 2, 2008
Google has just launched an interesting initiative where they have commissioned artists to design igoogle search pages.
These new designs are provided by artists including fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, Nigo of The Bathing Ape, Dolce & Gabbana, and more.
Now you can put the work of world-class artists and innovators on your personalized Google homepage. Then add your choice of news, email, games, and more for a page that’s as useful as it is beautiful. — (Via Google)
Luxury brands have struggled to create an online presence that reproduces their carefully controlled offline positioning, but according to new research, consumers are ready for - and expect - luxury brands to innovate and develop clear online experiences.
The inherent contradiction between the ubiquitous accessibility of brands in the online world and the fiercely protected exclusivity at the heart of luxury consumer goods has to date remained an unresolved mismatch. — (Via BrandStrategy)
You can view historically how luxury websites have approached their web design via the Internet Archive Way Back Machine
Louis Vuitton, for example, has come a long way since its first web design in 1998… Visit LV 1998 website
Over the last few months, the previously low-key Korean Air appears to have found an almost limitless media budget, for TV, print and online advertising. With their new Tiffany blue color scheme and “Excellence in Space” positioning, they have raised their profile enormously.
However, we have to wonder whether their new print ad is going to attract any new customers…
It mentions their “180 degree reclining Kosmo Sleeper Seat” but the image features a a seat that looks like an unreclinable plastic shallow bucket seat, and while the model appears to be in the throes of relaxation, the reality of having a plastic spike resting against the back of your neck suggests the opposite.
The ad might be communicating on the other tagline “From departure to arrival, witness the creation of your own private room”, in which case this is a metaphorical seat.
Either way, it’s not a very helpful ad.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
The whispers of acquisitions in the luxury sector have turned into stock-price boosting open rumors in certain weeks.
First LVMH announced its purchase of Hublot, with perhaps a tequila brand to round out the Moet Hennessy portfolio.
Now two more rumors hit the newswires…
Burberry shares soar 5% on news of a possible acquisition from Coach…
Burberry climbed 21.25 pence, or 4.6 percent, to 483.75 pence, closing at its highest since Jan. 14. The Times newspaper said last month Coach Inc., the largest U.S. luxury-goods maker, was a “possible predator.” — (Via Bloomberg)
Hugo Boss prepares to purchase…
Our criteria is that the brand has to have global recognition and standing and be in the sectors we are specialists in: men’s wear, women’s wear, shoes and accessories — (Via Forbes)
The photographic collaboration between Juergen Teller and Marc Jacobs has lasted 11 years; with Teller shooting each of Jacobs’ campaigns; including the most recent highly-publised Posh-Spice-In-A-Bag campaign…
To celebrate the relationship between Teller and Jacobs, Steidl Publishing is to publish a retrospective look… But not until September…
Preview book on amazon.com
The aesthetic created between Teller and Jacobs has reached such a level of familiarity that when New York agency spoofed the look in an initiative called The New Enthusiasm people were surprisingly easily fooled…
The market for art at auction has shown a year-on-year steady rise; from $4 billion in 2004 to $9 billion in 2007.
So luxury analysts are closely watching the art market for signs that it is beginning to soften around economic worries.
What is beginning to emerge is a sense that a slight stumble in confidence is not the same as the feared collapse with which the art press often appears obsessed…
After three years of speculation about a bust, will this be the moment when the art market finally crumbles?” — (Via Slate.com)
The growing trend for molecular mixology in high-end bars is growing into a global phenomenon, and also moving into the mainstream press.
Last week Time magazine explored the story of the trend which began with food, and which is spreading rapidly into the cocktail market.
Chemistry isn’t a word that most people associate with cocktails. But more bartenders are applying the science of molecular gastronomy to the search for a better drink, mixing alcohol with such stuff as liquid nitrogen, alginates and chlorides. — (Via Time)
And courtesy of molecular mixology…
#1 Cointreau caviar
#2 The apparently-nicer-than-it-sounds whiskyburger
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
In conjunction with long-term collaborator, Rem Koolhaas’ company OMA, Prada has launched an initiative, Prada Prototypes, which is an online auction of limited-edition Prada garments and accessories.
The ‘Prada Prototypes’ auction features 24 pieces including dresses, skirts, bags and shoes all hand-selected by Miuccia Prada. Initially created for the catwalk, the pieces have never appeared or been produced with the specific colour or material and some pieces have been made specifically for the auction.
The auction website lets bidders personalize the process by allowing them to include information about themselves, photo, or links to their websites. Bidders can also track the bid history of individual pieces through a graphic chart.
The Prada Protoypes idea works on several layers, both tactically and strategically. It creates a minor revenue stream for the brand, while also communicating ideas of couture, personalization, and buzz for the Prada brand.
In a marketplace where luxury brands still struggle with online representations of their brand personality, it’s a smart solution
To see the project in action, visit Prada.com and click on the Prototype Auction tab
Although millionaires reportedly “no longer feel wealthy”, they also feel optimistic that the economic situation from next January will be much brighter.
The millionaire mentality is that “today’s problem as tomorrow’s opportunity” and they are seeking to benefit…
Using a scale ranging from minus 100 as the worst to 100 as the best, the survey found that high net-worth individuals have a minus 50, or “very weak,” view of the economy right now. But when asked where things will be next January, the grade rises to a positive 18. — (Via Associated Press)
