The COVID-19 crisis has not dampened affluent Americans’ desire to travel, but it has affected the kinds of experiences they’re craving. How are brands satisfying HNWIs’ hunger for exclusive and extraordinary trips while also responding to growing expectations for sustainability and privacy?

The COVID-19 pandemic saw storefronts close and spending shift rapidly to the online arena. The luxury sector was particularly badly hit. Newly reopened department store La Samaritaine is hoping that experiential retail and its French cultural heritage can draw back discerning shoppers.

Catwalks are known for pomp and posturing, but Balenciaga’s deepfake show undercuts that with the playful use of a usually maligned technology. For the luxury fan wanting brands to be more accessible, deepfake fashion can be used to show that brands don’t take themselves too seriously.

Tmall Luxury Pavilion is an e-commerce storefront and ‘an app within an app’ on Tmall that drives shopper engagement with luxury brands. By operating with invite-only access, it uses exclusivity to highlight its luxe appeal and mimic the atmosphere of brick-and-mortar retail.

Post-pandemic, the luxury watch industry is ready to modernise itself and adapt to attract a broader audience. By blending heritage and lightweight high-performance technology, Breitling is setting an example of affordable luxury for younger consumers with an active lifestyle.

With stores, entertainment venues, and domestic travel set to reopen, there’s much excitement about ‘revenge spending’. But after a year in sweats and reflecting on their relationship with opulence, what does luxury mean to people? Canvas8 polled 1,000 Americans and spoke to eight to find out.

With the need for drastic climate action more apparent than ever, people’s lifestyles choices are coming under intense scrutiny. Is it possible to live in comfort and luxury in a way that minimises harm to the planet? Proponents of ‘hedonistic sustainability’ believe it can be done.

Gucci's first-ever vegan collection is being met with skepticism due to croc leather handbags remaining on store shelves. With brands being called out for greenwashing, Gucci’s vegan collection is proving to be controversial for those who want to see the brand fully committed to its sustainability efforts.