LUST

Discover the world’s most coveted masterpieces. From fine horology and high jewelry to luxury beauty and bespoke fashion, we curate the artifacts of modern desire.

‘Azzedine Alaïa couldn’t give a damn what other people said was the new mood’

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Ahead of the first UK solo exhibition of the couturier’s work, former colleague Sophie Hicks remembers his exacting pursuit of fashion perfection

Tiffany & co debuts The Home Collection in Europe at 2018 Salone del Mobile Milano

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Tiffany & Co. announced the debut of its Home & Accessories collection in Europe. To celebrate the collection launch during the prestigious Salone de Mobile design fair, the luxury jewelry house is unveiling a creative installation within its Piazza Duomo store in Milan.

Drawing inspiration from the whimsical wit of Home & Accessories, the store will be transformed into a greenhouse – a reinterpretation of the intricate sterling silver, copper and glass masterpiece handcrafted by Tiffany artisans. The façade of the store echoes the linear architecture of the greenhouse, while the design theme continues throughout the store with a large-scale greenhouse on the main floor and artistic floral creations.

Tiffany & Co The Greenhouse Project 2018 by Artist shantell_martin
Tiffany & Co The Greenhouse Project 2018 by Artist Shantell Martin; photo: Tiffany & Co

Five female artists: Anna Galtarossa, Shantell Martin, Marilyn Minter, Laurie Simmons and Anna-Wili Highfield, were chosen by Tiffany’s chief artistic officer, Reed Krakoff, to interpret the garden structure through their contemporary and innovative lens. The exterior window displays will reimagine their extraordinary vision through works that range from sculpture to collage. The creative installation is on display, from April 15 to April 22.

“We chose to elevate the greenhouse from Home & Accessories because it is a perfect expression of Tiffanycraftsmanship and a symbol of the power of creativity,” says Krakoff.

“My vision for the Tiffany greenhouse was to fill it with beautiful Tiffany objects until they exploded out through the windows, out through the roof,” said artist Marliyn Minter on The Greenhouse Project

“I’m a huge collaborator. When it’s a great fit, you get to make something that’s really amazing,” added artist Shantell Martin on The Greenhouse Project.

Tiffany & Co The Greenhouse Project 2018 by artist marilyn minter
Tiffany & Co The Greenhouse Project 2018 by artist marilyn minter; photo: Tiffany & Co

 

Haute Horlogerie know-how: Speake-Marin Crazy Skulls with Flying Tourbillon, Minute Repeater Carillon and double dial animation

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  Speake-Marin, the watchmaking company specializing in high-end timepieces founded in 2002 by English watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin, offers a new stunning show on the dial of the new Crazy Skulls timepiece, a unique piece (CHF 387,800/ USD 403,878 without tax).   Hand-engraved skulls hide a 60 seconds Flying Tourbillon and let a heart shape appear … Read more

Prada x MR PORTER reunited for a bowling-themed capsule collection

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Rooted in nostalgia: Exclusive Bowling-Themed Capsule launched by Prada x MR PORTER.

1950s an 1980s, two eras of bowling popularity, serve as a source of inspiration for a bowling-themed capsule collection announced by Italian luxury fashion house Prada and luxury menswear online retailer Mr. Porter.

Debuting on MR PORTER on the 25th of April, the 32-piece capsule collection is anchored in ready-to wear and shoes. It draws from eras of bowling popularity – the 1950s and 1980s – and features camp-collar shirts in Hawaiian and pop-cartoon prints and madras and gingham checks, mid-century-style block-panelled stripe cardigans and stripe knit T-shirts, blouson jackets in satin and suede and two printed Tshirts with exclusive PRADA bowling logos, both referencing the eras of inspiration.

prada mr porter
mr.porter x prada; photo: prada

Pleated and flat-front trousers, polo shirts and a mohair bi-colour wool blazer complete the ready-to-wear offering. Loafers, creeper and cap-toe Derbies and cap-toe sneakers in nubuck and deer skin make up the exclusive offering of Prada shoes.

“We are incredibly proud to be working with Prada on this special project and to be the first men’s online retailer to partner on an exclusive collection. The retro themes of 1950s and 1980s menswear were an effortless inspiration for the campaign and content, and allowed us to easily meld the worlds of Mr Porter and Prada,” said Toby Bateman, Managing Director, MR PORTER.

“We are extremely pleased to be part of this exclusive project in collaboration with MR PORTER that we consider being the perfect partner to communicate the values of the brand. Prada’s DNA is in fact about creating products which are really breakthrough that may at times surprise customers, while bringing ideas and ideals to life. We strongly believe that this partnership with one of the major menswear luxury e-tailers is strategically relevant to our digital transformation in today’s changing scenario where we are making significant steps forward,” added Stefano Cantino, PRADA Group Strategic Marketing Director.

The partnership is culminating in a MR PORTER x PRADA hero story with video in The Journal and a MR PORTER x PRADA bowling event in New York City, both on 26 April.

This January, Prada released an exclusive sneaker for MR PORTER -a sportswear-inspired limited edition runner.

prada mr porter 2018 capsule collection announcement
prada x mr. porter 2018; image: mr.porter teaser video

La Maison des Startups: LVMH to invest in startups whose solutions have potential in the luxury industry

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Innovation isn’t just a buzzword at LVMH luxury group, the French multinational luxury goods conglomerate headquartered in Paris. Collaborating with startups helps a luxury business stay abreast of both business opportunities and ways of working. A newly-announced LVMH initiative will welcome 50 international startups each year. LVMH announced the creation of an accelerator program at the STATION F startup campus in Paris.

The new “Maison des Startups” will accelerate collaboration between LVMH Maisons and startups.

LVMH to invest in startups whose solutions have potential in the luxury industry
New LVMH program will welcome 50 international luxury-related startups each year. photo: LVMH

As Ian Rogers, Chief Digital Officer at LVMH, says: “A healthy startup ecosystem is necessary for a healthy industry.”

“Innovation is an integral part of the history of our Maisons, which are often centuries old. This is why we know, perhaps better than others, how to find ways of working with startups that benefit us all,” commented Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO, LVMH.

With 89 work stations, the LVMH program at STATION F will welcome 50 international startups each year in two six- month terms. The first group joined the campus in November 2017.

Over half the startups that joined the program are identified through the LVMH Innovation Award, at the Viva Technology show, during which the Group welcomed more than 80 startups in 2016 and 2017, particularly in the context of the LVMH Innovation Award. Nearly all of them already work with some of LVMH Maisons (Moët Hennessy, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Sephora etc.). In addition, several LVMH employees whose projects won awards during different editions of the DARE LVMH initiative dedicated to intrapreneurship within the Group will also be welcomed at STATION F to launch their projects.

The LVMH program at STATION F lets entrepreneurs benefit from personalized coaching and support from LVMH group experts. A series of workshops will allow the startups to familiarize themselves with challenges facing the luxury industry, and pitch sessions will be regularly organized to let them present the evolution of their solutions to representatives of LVMH Maisons. Networking sessions will be on the agenda too.

“It’s a great challenge that awaits those who want to renew the luxury industry all the while maintaining it to the same level of excellence that it is known for, especially in France – who better than LVMH to support luxury startups at STATION F? We are proud to have them as partners,” said Roxanne Varza, Director of STATION F.

In January 2018, LVMH announced record sales of 42.6 billion Euros in 2017, up 13% over the previous year, as all divisions turned in strong performances. In the same year, the net profit increased 29%.

LVMH to invest in startups whose solutions have potential in the luxury industry-2018 April LVMH to invest in startups whose solutions have potential in the luxury industry-

Through the gaps in the pleats: Issey Miyake Baked Stretch is offering glimpses of Iceland

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  The Anatomy Of Luxury: Issey Miyake x Selfridges pop-up. “Issey Miyake Baked Stretch light material was used to create a loose silhouette. For one week only at the Selfridges Corner Shop, Issey Miyake, the Japanese fashion designer known for his technology-driven clothing designs, exhibitions and fragrances, invited visitors to explore the inspiration behind its latest … Read more