Need To Know
20 : 07 : 18

London – The Style Studio, in Covent Garden, is a new concept store from jeweller Tiffany & Co that marks a departure from the brand’s traditional luxury retail proposition.

Featuring a fragrance vending machine and on-the-spot jewellery engraving and leather embossing, the store is encouraging a more playful way of interacting with the brand. The interiors are also a far cry from the typical luxury jeweller, with neon signs and walls printed with T logos and the brand’s trademark blue. Employees also have a new dress code – rather than wearing formal uniforms, they are encouraged to dress casually and can even wear sneakers.

The new store is the next step in the brand’s aim to re-imagine luxury for the younger generation. In May, Tiffany & Co created a song in partnership with Spotify to promote its latest collection, which featured 20-year-old actress Elle Fanning and an original rap by A$AP Ferg.

Edinburgh – The Old Curiosity Distillery has created two new gin flavours that change colour when mixed with tonic water.

Expanding on the brand’s first collection of colour-changing gins, which were debuted in February, the two new flavours are Geranium & Mallow – made with juniper, coriander, and winter savoury – and Damask Rose, which includes the distilled petals of the damask rose flower.

Although the gins are clear in colour, they both turn a ‘powerful pink' when the tonic water is added. The limited edition bottles, which are bottled at 46% proof, will be available from Harvey Nichols.

Charles Spence, professor of experimental psychology at the University of Oxford, recently debated the efficacy of clear and coloured drinks, where he acknowledged the Instagrammable qualities of uniquely coloured beverages.

Texas – The world’s largest indoor skydiving operator is integrating virtual reality (VR) into its flying experiences.

Thrill-seekers at iFly locations across the US can wear a VR headset during their simulated flying experience, combining the sensation of free-falling with hyper-realistic visuals. The usage of VR has given iFly skydivers the opportunity to experience the previously inaccessible locations, such as Dubai, Hawaii, Southern California or the Swiss Alps.

As VR has matured, the medium has struggled to find its place in the home due to the experience being somewhat isolating. However, as iFly exemplifies, the key to its success may lie in the leisure industry and the renaissance of the video game arcade.

According to economic journal Rzeczpospolita, Polish spending on luxury goods is growing twice as fast as its GDP. Although watches, alcohol and cosmetics are contributing to the growth, the fasted growing sector is high-end jewellery, including diamonds, especially from foreign producers. The value of goods exported by Italian jewellery brands to Poland grew 15% in 2016, according to the country’s Central Statistical Office.

Poland’s lucrative luxury market, although underrepresented, is on the rise. Keep an eye on our sector for the emerging luxurians that your brand should know about.