50 shades of luxury

Developed in collaboration with contemporary craft exponents the Crafts Council, What is Luxury? opens with a consideration of the influence of design excellence and craftsmanship on luxury. Over the course of the next few months, the exhibition will also consider the relationship between waste, biotech and functionality, and luxuriousness. ‘From a diamond made from roadkill to a vending machine stocked with DNA, a golden crown for ecclesiastical use to traditional military tailoring, over 100 objects address how luxury is made and understood in a physical, conceptual and cultural capacity,’ says the V&A. 

The Big Picture: In a Whole-system Thinking society, brands like EKOCYCLE are working to make sustainability an aspirational lifestyle, working with the likes of W Hotels and Harrods on a range of luxury goods.