‘I’ll Trade You a Dior for the D&G’

It’s a sunny Sunday afternoon in late summer, but about 30 hip young women are milling around inside a nail salon in East London. (New York Times)

Tag Heuer Looking Beyond the Metros

Swiss luxury watch maker Tag Heuer is now looking beyond the metros. The company, which has seen its share in the estimated Rs 1,200 crore Indian luxury watches market, grow to 8 per cent, will multiply its presence in the country through multi-branded outlets in the smaller cities. (Business Standard)

Luxury Gandhi Pen Scripts Controversy

The controversy over a brand of luxury pen that depicts Mahatma Gandhi as brand ambassador for its new range spiralled on Thursday. (The Times of India)

Will Hermès Acquire Asprey?

Change continues to brew at Hermès as the company capitalizes on its phenomenal performance during the current recession by continuing to develop an aggressive growth plan. (Fashion Week Daily)

LuxuryLab Daily Digest

Luxury Discounts Are Double-Edged Dagger (Marketing Daily)
The study, the latest in ongoing research from the Luxury Institute, surveyed men and women with more than $150,000 in annual income, and reports that 44% of these shoppers believe luxury has become a commodity.

Demand for Superyachts on the Rise (CNN)
Demand for the world’s largest, most expensive yachts is on the rise ahead of the Monaco Yacht Show this week.

Economic Recovery and Insight (Brand Strategy Insider)
If you have recently searched for “Kenya safari,” “gold jewelery,” or “insurance price comparison” lately, you are responsible.

Digital Marketing: Economic Recovery and Insight

If you have recently searched for “Kenya safari,” “gold jewelery,” or “insurance price comparison” lately, you are responsible. (Branding Strategy Insider)

LuxuryLab Daily Digest

Annie Leibovitz to Design For Louis Vuitton (Elle UK)
Photographer joins guest designers to help Louis Vuitton raise money for the Red Cross.

Giving Fashion an ‘Eco-Boost’ (New York Times)

Luxury Brands Waking to a New Reality (Chief Marketer)
As the recession keeps depressing, luxury brands are experiencing a wake-up call from this nasty cycle and from chastened luxury buyers.

Baume & Mercier Watches Lose Their CEO (Luxist)
What is it, resign as CEO season? Just the other day I wrote about how A. Lange & Sohne lost their CEO, and now the same is happening to Swiss watch brand Baume & Mercier.

New, Old Trend Emerging on the Diamond District (Janus Thinking)
new trend is emerging on the diamond market, where rough unpolished diamonds now are being sought after by diamond dealers and used by jewellery designers for their character, uniqueness and authenticity.

E-Commerce Is Getting Chinese to Loosen Their Purse Strings

For all the talk that the Chinese are spending too little, business is booming for the country’s online retailers, heralding the emergence of young, affluent consumers who will reshape the global economy over the next decade. (New York Times)

Google Wins Latest Battle with Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton is fighting to prevent search engines using protected brand names. (Telegraph)

Survey Finds Wealthy Less Keen on Luxe Category

As if luxury brands didn’t have enough problems coping with the global recession, they now have to battle two perceptions in the minds of the wealthiest consumers they’re banking on to lead a recovery — commoditization and declining quality. (Women’s Wear Daily)