Luxury

An exploration of the luxury market through trends, insights and expert opinions.

News 04.06.2021

Need To Know

Agua Mágica is recontextualising modern mezcal, Yoox curates a Gen Z shopping hub and Americans feel positive about their financial futures.

Agua Mágica revives mezcal drinking rituals

Agua Mágica

US, Mexico – The ultra-premium spirits brand has launched its first mezcal with the aim of spotlighting the events, festivities and celebrations at which mezcal is traditionally consumed.

Focusing on the history of Oaxaca – the birthplace of mezcal – and the rich origins of the drink, Agua Mágica is reclaiming the spirit from industrialisation and commoditisation. To do this, it's using a combination of sourced and harvested single-village agaves, espadín and tobalá from the terrain of San Juan del Río. This location provides ideal natural conditions for agave – resulting in a complex and rich mezcal flavour.

Alongside retaining these important creation rituals, the brand also reasserts the place of mezcal to be consumed as part of festivities and gatherings, including weddings, funerals and births. ‘My mission with Agua Mágica is to initiate conversations around redirecting mezcal's current growth trajectory, through a premiumisation and re-contextualisation of mezcal consumption occasions,' explains Rafael Shin, founder of Agua Mágica.

As consumer interest in Modern Mezcal grows, this brand is stepping in to preserve the origins of agave-based spirits.

Topi skincare is for contrasting climates

Topi botanicals Topi botanicals

US – Topi is a skincare brand designed to protect the skin from different climatic conditions.

The brand, which positions itself as ethically and sustainably sourced, was launched with two vegan serums targeted at holidaymakers – its Sun Serum and Snow Serum. Each contains botanical ingredients to form a protective barrier on the surface of the skin, working against the skin aggressors that occur in these juxtaposing climates.

When creating the brand, Topi’s founders considered the impact of both indoor and outdoor conditions found while travelling, such as heating, air conditioning, pollution, LED screens and aeroplane environments. ‘I’ve always had an interest in medicinal botanicals,’ says Quentin Smith, co-founder of Topi. ‘[So] I wanted to find other ways of using them that made sense for how I like to care for my skin and interact with my environment on a day-to-day basis.’

In our forthcoming Beauty, Health and Wellness Forum, we’ll examine the effects of our surroundings and the environment on our overall wellbeing. Tickets are available to buy here.

Yoox’s online hub wants to entice Gen Z shoppers

Hi Guy_Z! by Yoox Hi Guy_Z! by Yoox

UK – At a time when Generation Z are snapping up pre-owned fashion, online retailer Yoox hopes to attract them to discounted luxury goods with a new youth-focused hub.

Dubbed Hi Guy_Z!, the platform will spotlight up-and-coming designers and talent, with promotions focused on businesses that follow sustainable practices. Among the brands initially selected to be featured on Hi Guy_Z! are Jacquemus, Fear of God, A-Cold-Wall, Our Legacy, Nike and The North Face. Each of these have been chosen using a combination of data and buyer knowledge relating to Gen Z customers. Through this channel, Yoox welcomes a more curated approach to reaching a particular group.

‘The idea was to create something that was welcoming, warmer and closer to their tone of voice and perspective,’ says Paolo Mascio, president of fashion at Yoox Net-a-Porter. ‘We already have customers between 15 to 25 years of age and we already carry a lot of brands that appeal to this audience, but we want to represent a virtual place where young people can really meet and establish use.’

Elsewhere, we’ve identified the ways that other retailers are innovating through off-price strategies that tap into the interests of young consumers.

Stat: US citizens believe they will get wealthier

Modern Banking for the Culture by Greenwood, US Modern Banking for the Culture by Greenwood, US

US citizens generally think they will get richer, according to a recent study by YouGov.

Almost half of Americans (48%) say they’re going to accumulate more capital, while nearly one in five (19%) believe they will become ‘much richer’. By contrast, three in 10 think their circumstances are likely to remain stagnant, while 16% say they are more likely to become poorer.

The research also found that those who are already wealthy are the most likely to expect to get richer, with more than three in five Americans earning over £70.5k ($100k, €82k) in gross personal income anticipating that they’ll become wealthier. This compares to just over two in five of those earning under £35.2k ($50k, €41k).

To discover more about how fintech brands are supporting consumers with asset management, look out for our forthcoming interview with Diem.

Guochao Wellness

Markets

Guochao Wellness

The Chinese luxury wellness sector has shifted gears by embracing the ‘national trend’ of Guochao, offering authentic cultural experiences and C-be...
China : Guochao : Luxury
Emerging Youth: Saudi Arabia

Markets

Emerging Youth: Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, digitally savvy Gen Z, fuelled by a profound cultural pride and a thirst for global experiences, are redefining retail, luxury, ho...
Saudi Arabia : Gen Z : Middle East
Practical Paths to Planet-Positive Luxury

Viewpoints

Practical Paths to Planet-Positive Luxury

Diana Verde Nieto tells LS:N Global about Reimagining Luxury, her latest book on how to build a positive and sustainable future for brands.
Luxury : Advertising & Branding : Sustainability
Five Luxury Leisure Pop-Ups

Big Ideas

Five Luxury Leisure Pop-Ups

As the personal luxury goods market rebounds and consumers continue to seek out experiences across travel, leisure and dining, luxury brands are di...
Luxury : Travel & Hospitality : Retail
Luxury’s Food Strategies

Big Ideas

Luxury’s Food Strategies

From high fashion embracing high flavours to pantry staples becoming status symbols, brands are getting creative about turning eating into a luxury...
Luxury : Food & Drink : Retail
Luxury States: New Codes of Luxury 2024–2025

Macro Trends

Luxury States: New Codes of Luxury 2024–2025

An essential tool, the Five Luxury States define people’s emotional and psychological journeys through the luxury sector, giving rise to a new set ...
Luxury : Travel & Hospitality : Fashion
NRF 2024 Retail’s Big Show: Community, Luxury and Loyalty

Big Ideas

NRF 2024 Retail’s Big Show: Community, Luxury and Loyalty

At the biggest retail conference in the US, all eyes were on experiential retail, the evolution of the luxury consumer and the critical role of loy...
Retail : Events : Luxury
Destination Debrief: Hainan

Big Ideas

Destination Debrief: Hainan

China’s Hawaii has turned its tropical forests and pristine beaches into a destination for both local and global luxury consumers seeking an authen...
China : Hainan Island : Hainan
Saudi Arabia: Luxury Beauty & Wellness

Markets

Saudi Arabia: Luxury Beauty & Wellness

Our latest report explores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fostering a health renaissance, with high-end retreats and holistic beauty brands all on th...
Wellness : Beauty : Health
Brand Innovation Debrief: Loewe

Big Ideas

Brand Innovation Debrief: Loewe

Spearheaded by fashion mastermind Jonathan Anderson, the Spanish luxury house is reaching new heights and mainstream appeal, without compromising o...
Fashion : Luxury : Pop Culture & Media
Podcast: Carlota Rodben on the Future of Luxury and Emotion

Podcasts

Podcast: Carlota Rodben on the Future of Luxury and Emotion

In a new episode of his Back to the F**kture podcast, The Future Laboratory co-founder Martin Raymond is joined by Beyond Luxury: The Promise of Em...
Podcast : Back To The F**kture : Luxury
Future Forecast 2024: Luxury

Micro Trends

Future Forecast 2024: Luxury

The luxury sector has shown remarkable resilience amid economic challenges, and maintained its social and economic prestige, demonstrating impressi...
Luxury : Economy : Legacy
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN

What do we use cookies for?

We use cookies to enable the use of our platform’s paid features and to analyse our traffic. No personal data, including your IP address, is stored and we do not sell data to third parties.

Learn more