The fourth in a series of short films investigating important luxury markets and interviewing local key players, we look at luxury in Japan, as presented by The Luxury Channel
Japan: The World’s Truly Mature Luxury Market
Over the last decade, collaborations between luxury brands and contemporary artists have gone beyond mere artistic partnerships towards a new kind of luxury branding.
PARIS – Art and fashion have always developed side by side, for fashion, like art, often gives visual expression to the cultural zeitgeist. During the 1920s, Salvador Dalí created dresses for Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiapparelli. In the 1930s, Ferragamo’s shoes commissioned designs for advertisements from Futurist painter Lucio Venna, while Gianni Versace commissioned works from artists such as Alighiero Boetti and Roy Lichtenstein for the launch of his collections. Yves Saint Laurent’s vast art collection, recently auctioned at Christie’s in Paris, testified to his great love of art and revealed the influence of a variety of artists on his own designs.
In the 1980s, relationships between luxury brands and artists were advanced when Alain Dominique Perrin created the Fondation Cartier. In the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, a book marking the foundation’s 20th anniversary, Perrin says he makes “a connection between all the different sorts of arts, and luxury goods are a kind of art. Luxury goods are handicrafts of art, applied art.”
The Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemparain building in Paris
The fourth in a series of short films investigating important luxury markets and interviewing local key players, we look at luxury in Japan, as presented by The Luxury Channel
The fourth in a series of short films investigating important luxury markets and interviewing local key players, we look at luxury in Japan, as presented by The Luxury Channel.
With the increasing importance of China, the original Asian luxury mecca has somewhat faded from the media’s consciousness. Despite this decrease in coverage, consumption continues to be strong, with Japan speculated to account for a quarter of worldwide of luxury goods purchases. Somewhat unsurprising, considering it was estimated back in 1998 that 94% of women in Tokyo in their 20’s, owned at least one Louis Vuitton handbag.
Fast forward to 2010, examining Capgemini and Merrill Lynch’s Asia Pacific Wealth Report, Japan was identified as the single largest HNWI market in Asia-Pacific, still ahead of China despite the growth of the latter’s economy. Japan was identified to account for 54.6% of the Asia-Pacific HNWI population and 40.3% of its wealth at the end of 2009, so whilst conspicuous consumption may be experiencing a natural decline, wealthy consumers are still present to drive the luxury economy.
An ongoing theme within the FT Business of Luxury Summit, Tokyo, was how big brands could continue to engage the mature Japanese consumer, who was moving away from branded consumption, as the entry-level market expanded and no longer symbolised true luxury. Houses like Chanel, Dunhill and Dior looked to their retail offerings, understanding the importance of service and experience for the Japanese, and developed flagship stores that incorporated art galleries, cafés and in the case of Dunhill, an English-gentleman style Barber.
Understanding the value of longevity within Japan, luxury producers also traded on their rich heritage in attracting Japanese consumers, posing a challenge to newer brands, both in entry and ongoing success. How would such non-heritage and non-logo driven brands penetrate and flourish in such a saturated market with established habits? But the overall consensus from luxury brand executives and key local players, was that Japan’s highly discerning customer will always base purchasing decisions on quality of product and customer service. And that the move away from conspicuous brand-heavy consumption, would allow the next generation of brands to establish themselves in the East.
We also invite you to view our other features in the series:
– India: where Eastern Tradition meets Western Luxury
– Moscow: Where Wealth is Worn with Pride
– Dubai: The Art of Living
In partnership with CNBC Europe The Luxury Channel are in a unique position to offer LS members preferential sponsorship opportunities through advertiser funded programming to enhance their brand on their weekly ‘Luxury Life’ series and on major international broadcasters BBC World News, CNBC, National Geographic, FOX Channels . Engaging an audience of 250 million high net viewers and syndicating through trusted 3rd party media partners, 40 million high net worth viewers through USA Hotel Networks and Forbes.
For further information on the The Luxury Channel platform please contact Eadaoin Kelly
Creative Strategist, Digital
Sophie Doran is currently Senior Creative Strategist, Digital at Karla Otto. Prior to this role, she was the Paris-based editor-in-chief of Luxury Society. Prior to joining Luxury Society, Sophie completed her MBA in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on luxury brand dynamics and leadership, whilst simultaneously working in management roles for several luxury retailers.