💎 Brilliant Cut No. 18:

Dior Rising, Hennessy NFT, Gucci's 'Vault', Bottega Takes Over the Great Wall, Walpole Luxury Trends, China's Luxury Market Surges, D&G Nixes Fur, LOEWE x Studio Ghibli, Hugo Boss Revival, and More

Welcome to this edition of Brilliant Cut, a free monthly newsletter that helps you smartly navigate the most important luxury marketing stories and insights.

Issue #18 | February 1, 2022 | 🐯 Happy Lunar New Year to all celebrating!

Bulgari offers a $39,000 hotel suite for those who might spend millions on a necklace

(WSJ) Who would pay more than $39,000 a night for a hotel suite? The Italian jeweler Bulgari is betting it is someone who would spend millions of dollars more for one of its emerald, sapphire and diamond-encrusted necklaces. Read more

Can Dior’s meteoric rise continue in 2022?

(Vogue Business) Dior is betting big again this year. Catwalk shows; high-end new stores, including the reopening of the Paris flagship; digital; and NFTs are front and centre. Read more

Think 2021 was bad? Not for Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Lamborghini

(CNN) Americans may be feeling uneasy about the economy, but if sales of ultra-luxury cars are any indication, the super rich are doing just fine. Both Rolls-Royce and Bentley posted record sales in 2021. Read more

Twelve artists reinterpret iconic ‘Lady Dior’ bag

(Wallpaper) For Dior Lady Art #6, 12 international artists, from Tokyo to Shanghai, Dubai to Dublin, reintepret the Parisian maison’s famed ‘Lady Dior’ bag. Read more

Chanel showcases French luxury crafts at new atelier complex

(NASDAQ) In a sign of the French luxury sector's booming fortunes, Chanel will on Thursday inaugurate a huge complex of ateliers where artisans from around a dozen accessory suppliers create shoes, embroidery and other handmade crafts. Read more

Hublot and Bulgari’s watch sales have soared past pre-pandemic levels

(Robb Report) Even amid a tumultuous 2021, Hublot and Bulgari’s watch sales ticked along at an extraordinary rate. Read more

2022 fashion-tech predictions

(Vogue Business) Recent experiments offer clues to what to expect from the fashion-tech arena in the year ahead with the prominence of digital spaces, digital fashion and NFTs that engage and reward consumers who value personalisation, co-creation and exclusivity. Here’s what’s top-of-mind as we head into 2022. Read more

Hennessy is selling $226,000 NFTs of its luxury cognac that also reserve the rights to the real thing

(Insider) Cognac brand Hennessy will release its first non-fungible tokens on the NFT platform BlockBar and is starting Wednesday with a collection that will give buyers the rights to actual bottles. Read more

Selfridges will become the world's first retailer to sell a range of Paco Rabanne's dresses in digital form only

(Daily Mail) A dozen of Rabanne’s dresses from his ‘unwearable’ collection of the 1960s are to be sold as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from £2,000 to more than £100,000 as part of a new exhibition at Selfridges’s flagship Oxford Circus store. Read more

Lamborghini is releasing NFTs with carbon fiber from space

(duPont Registry) Lamborghini is releasing five “Space Keys,” and they are examples of space-themed NFT artwork. And if that sounds strange, it is. Embroiled in mystery, the project was announced after social media teasers hinted at a “To The Moon” theme, and the artist of the NFT is currently undisclosed. Read more

Prada & Adidas want to bring you into their NFT project

(Boardroom) By bringing in 3,000 creators, fans of both brands will have a chance to own and create a piece of the NFT. Read more

Unlocking utility is key for fashion brands launching NFTs in 2022

(Cointelegraph) 2021 may have been the year for fashion NFTs, but 2022 will require brands to launch NFTs with utility behind them to move the idea forward. Read more

How the metaverse advances circular fashion and considerations therein

(WWD via Yahoo) When fashion has fully entered the metaverse, the upsides for sustainability will be many, though new questions around ethics will no doubt come into play. Read more

Ralph Lauren CEO says metaverse is way to tap into younger generation of shoppers

(CNBC) Ralph Lauren CEO Patrice Louvet said Monday that the fashion brand is chasing opportunities in the metaverse as a way to attract younger shoppers. Read more

Gucci releases ‘Vault,’ the latest fashion house metaverse play

(Bitcoinist) Fashion houses globally have found an inherent tie to NFTs it seems. Gucci has joined the ranks (once again), with a new collaborative release announcement. Now, Gucci launched an “experimental online space,” Vault, in partnership with Superplastic. Read more

Bottega Veneta takes over the Great Wall of China with monumental digital screen

(Designboom) In celebration of the upcoming Chinese lunar new year, Bottega Veneta is taking over part of the Great Wall of China with a monumental digital screen. The Italian luxury fashion house’s public art installation, which is on view from january 6 to 12, 2022, displays a colorful festive message in shades of Bottega green and tangerine (a symbol of luck in Mandarin). The message that appears on the screen reads ‘新春快乐’, which translates to ‘Happy New Year’ in English. Read more

The renaissance of coded luxury

(W) In a time of Gucciaga and logomania, quiet luxury still ended the year on top. Read more

Can Hugo Boss actually be cool?

(New York Times) The brand built by selling Wall Street suits is trying to reinvent itself for the post-office age. Read more

Global auction sales soared to a record $12.6 billion in 2021

(Barron's Penta) The global auction market soared to record levels in 2021, with Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips posting a combined US$12.6 billion in sales, according to a report. Read more

Nike sees highest resale value, according to The RealReal

(Hypebeast) The RealReal released its 2022 Luxury Consignment Report, showcasing the current state of the luxury resale market. In addition to illustrating the growth of some of the most hyped brands today, the report discusses increasing generational participation in circular shopping. Read more

Klarna reveals luxury consumer behavior data in latest report

(WWD via Yahoo) According to Klarna’s latest consumer report data, 84 percent of luxury shoppers would find it helpful to pay for high-end items over time without interest or extra cost. Read more

Walpole Luxury Trend Report

(Walpole) In Walpole's inaugural Trend Report our contributors reveal the trends reshaping the luxury landscape through a global lens. Read more

Balenciaga remains the world's hottest brand for Q4 2021

(Hypebeast) Lyst Index Q4 2021 has once again named Balenciaga as the world’s hottest brand. In the previous Lyst report, Balenciaga took the top spot, taking the world by storm with Demna’s Met Gala unveiling and The Simpsons collab for Spring/Summer 2022. Read more

Luxury fashion brands play it safe for Lunar New Year

(Vogue Business) Amid China's crackdown on a myriad of sectors from celebrity fan culture to gaming, as well as Chinese netizens’ lower tolerance for tokenism, brands are approaching the holiday with caution. Read more

For the Year of the Tiger, can luxury fashion change its stripes?

(CNN) An estimated 2 billion people -- in Asia and beyond -- will celebrate the Lunar New Year on February 1. For many, this means welcoming one of the Chinese zodiac's 12 animals (this year, the tiger), their sequence following the order in which they finished the Jade Emperor's folkloric Great Race, from rat to pig. Read more

China’s personal luxury market grew 36% last year despite Covid-19 challenges

(Barron's Penta) China’s personal luxury market saw double-digit growth in 2021 despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as well as social and economic challenges. Read more

Jing Daily’s weekly roundup of notable luxury social media campaigns in China:

📲 January 7, 2022 // January 14, 2022 // January 21, 2022 // January 28, 2022

Prada and Adidas are running it back

(GQ) Prada and Adidas are teaming up for a third collection that’s also a first on a few different fronts: While the Italian luxury house and the German sportswear giant previously collaborated on some relatively subtle re-editions of Adidas’s signature Superstar and Luna Rossa 21 sneakers, this is their first foray into co-branded apparel and accessories. Read more

LOEWE releases a whimsical ‘Spirited Away’ capsule collection in partnership with Studio Ghibli

(Print Magazine) Studio Ghibli fans, rejoice! And all others can kindly see themselves out (and take a long hard look in the mirror while they’re at it). The Spanish luxury leather house LOEWE has just released a Spirited Away capsule collection that’s rife with the whimsical charm, vibrance, and childlike wonder we all know and love from the 2001 Miyazaki film itself. Read more

Fendi and Ledger team up for luxury crypto hardware wallet accessory

(Hypebeast) Italian luxury house Fendi is entering web3 through a partnership with global digital asset management platform Ledger. Read more

Louis Vuitton and Nike ‘Air Force 1’ by Virgil Abloh sneaker to launch with auction

(WWD via Yahoo) Louis Vuitton will launch its eagerly awaited “Air Force 1” sneakers, designed in collaboration with Nike, with an auction to benefit late designer Virgil Abloh’s scholarship fund for Black fashion students, marking the first of a string of related initiatives scheduled to take place this year. Read more

How far have luxury brands come in terms of sustainable beauty?

(Independent) As Chanel launches its first sustainable beauty range, Independent's Laura Hampson explores what other legacy brands are doing to help the environment. Read more

Valentino drops two sneakers made of recycled and plant-based materials

(Robb Report) The Maison just launched reimagined versions of its Open and Rockstud Untitled sneakers that are partially crafted from recycled and bio-based materials. As a part of its new “Open for a Change” project, the kicks feature uppers and side bands made from viscose and polyurethane of corn-derived polyols as an alternative to leather. Read more

Dolce & Gabbana to stop using fur in its designs in 2022, testing ‘eco-Fur’

(WSJ) Dolce & Gabbana, the Milan-based fashion house, said it was discontinuing the use of fur in its products this year. Moncler, the Italian outerwear brand known for its slick puffer coats, similarly stated last week that it was cutting fur from its line. Read more

Pressure builds on the watch industry over green claims

(Financial Times) Luxury watch companies have made a big play of partnerships with leading conservation agencies. Hublot is helping to save the rhino. And Omega is trying to protect the oceans, as well as clearing up space junk. Close ties to non-profits have a positive effect on consumers — and the bottom line. Being good is good for business. Read more

Industry leaders declare climate, social emergency with new grassroots movement

(WWD via Yahoo) Fashion industry executives are joining forces to launch a new grassroots movement, dubbed Fashion Declares. Read more

The Luxury Item is my podcast on the business of luxury. Listen to the last three episodes where I interview some of today’s leaders in luxury:

👗 Melissa Lefere-Cobb, senior vice president, division head at iconic French luxury fashion house Hervé Léger to discuss reviving the once-popular red carpet staple brand. Listen: Apple / Spotify / YouTube

🏨 Shannon Knapp, president & CEO of The Leading Hotels of the World, discusses creating value for its member independent luxury hotels and travelers, and latest trends in the luxury hospitality industry Apple / Spotify / YouTube

📚 Alex Assouline, chief of operations, brand & strategy at luxury book publishing house Assouline Publishing talks about being "the first brand of luxury culture" and growing the luxury coffee table book empire Apple / Spotify / YouTube

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✨Mixed Gems: Featured writers on luxury, fashion, and culture

The era of the luxury car clubhouse has arrived

Jake Emen of InsideHook writes that the world's most coveted car brands are building experiential gathering grounds for owners and enthusiasts. Read it here

Why is fashion so obsessed with the metaverse?

GQ’s Rachel Tashjian says brands from Balenciaga to Stefan Cooke are seeing that the gaming community is one of fashion's great untouched customer bases. Read it here

The metaverse is a new wave of growth. Luxury brands should jump in and start building

Mario Ortelli from Luxury Society says the metaverse represents a growing opportunity to embrace in the coming decade. How luxury brands build their presence and interact in the digital space today may determine their future success in the years to come. Read it here

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Thank you for reading this issue. - Scott

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