Bose Attempts To Clone Sonos With New Lifestyle Collection.

Bose is a brand which only really had one big win, that being Active Noice Cancelling.  They pretty much invented it, sold it en-masse to aviation, and then put it into the retail arena to great success.  They're a big company, and make profit, but their brand identity has always been confused.  

Indeed, it always felt like they were playing catch-up outside of ANC.  All their surround sound kits seemed to ape Sony kit, and there was a constant antagonism with Bang and Olufsen.  In that they're a lifestyle design leaning audio brand, but weren't able to justify Bang Olufsen prices, while often following their design cues.  Their new lifestyle collection therefore seems very on brand, in that they feel like a cross between 2010 Sonos speakers, and the Bang Olufsen M3.  

Frankly, nothing here is particularly offensive.  Bose make good kit, and these probably all sound great, with lots of connectivity options.  The prices of this little set of three items are pretty reasonable.  The M3 clone speaker is £349.00, the subwoofer is £849.00, and the soundbar is £999.00.  But they all just look a bit. . . bland.  Also outdated.  

Perhaps you disagree?  If so, they're available now from Bose online.

Kering Potential Canary in the Coalmine as Shares Drop by 9.3%

We have been waxing lyrical for some time about the possibility of a decline in luxury goods consumption and growth.  Something difficult to advocate for given the constant success of Hermes.  Yet Hermes is an outlier, and the Kering Group, parent of Gucci amongst many others, is showing things might be less rosy than they want you to think.

The fire comes from the fact that following Gucci reporting a slump in earnings, the conglomerate has seen a 9.3%.  This is a significant drop, and it’s our sense that, as the title suggests, we are witnessing the beginning of a downward spiral of the luxury industry.

We’ve been wrong before, but the multitude of competing global factors lend us to say were more likely right.  Time will however, as with all things, tell.

Chanel Blow the Doors off Outrage Pieces with the Half Shoe.

 

In a world where attention is money, and Oscar Wilde's famous quote that the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about is literally the key to survival, outrageous acts and products are increasingly ordinary.  It's refreshing therefore to find that some brands can still create a double take, and Matthieu Blazy's Chanel half shoe certainly achieves this.

Being quite literally half a shoe, these shocked attendee's at Chanel's Cruise 2026 show.  With the internet and fashion circles in a tailspin about how it can be reasonable to charge more for less, given it's rumoured these may retail of £1,800.00 or more.

Yet the final image here demonstrates with absolute aplomb that these aren't meant to be worn.  It's self-evident that they make no sense, and as the image shows, they can't even stay on the feet.  These are meant to garner attention, create controversy, gather clicks, and keep Chanel current, hot, and in demand.  In this they are a resounding success, after all, we wrote about them, and you're reading about them.

Hermes Paddock Yoyo Asks How Much is Too Much for a Charging Device

Living in a world where most digital devices come with a charging cable and plug free, and alternative's can be purchased for pennies, the question might be asked, how far could one go moving in the opposite direction of this disposability.  In fact, this question has already been asked and answered by Hermes, with the new Paddock Yoyo range of charging devices. 

The selection includes an Apple Watch charging pad, duo charging pad, and plugs and cables.  All of which are smothered in Epsom calf leather.  The prices start from £1,000.00, and go up to £4,000.00 for the full set in a leather pouch.

We'd love to suggest this is merely the grandstanding that brands such as Louis Vuitton partake in, with for example the "burger box" they released some years ago.  However, this is Hermes, and if they produced this, they know they have consumers.  That we live in a society where there are clientele that will pay £4,000.00 for a charger set where it's not even possible to stand your Apple Watch up, meaning in most cases the band needs to be removed to use it, is definitely a symptom of deeper ills.  Perhaps you disagree?  In which case head on over to Hermes before they sell out!  

 

Loro Piana Confounds Logic With Jewellery Collection.

Pictured here are the offerings from Loro Piana's newest release, a jewellery collection.  The mind immediately jumps to why a business created for the express purpose of manufacturing fabrics feels that jewellery is within its purview.  However, lets step aside from that momentarily, and consider the pieces themselves. 

They are without exception, entirely unexceptional.  Bland, dull, and ordinary pieces that wouldn't look out of place in a small high-street jewellery store.  But this isn't surprising, as Loro Piana is, as often noted, owned by LVMH, and what LVMH does with everything it touches is turn them into sterile clones of its flagship Louis Vuitton.

There's another item underpinning this move, which is the desire that all brands now have to be 'houses'.  To sell all things for all people.  The casual observe might cite Louis Vuitton and Hermes and mention how they do this.  Yet, Hermes started as a saddle maker, a craft requiring exceptional skill, that can be turned to any other luxury manufacture.  And Louis Vuitton, as much as we malign them, have the same background as a trunk manufacture.  LVMH's problem is thinking that their excellence can be applied to every brand in their portfolio.  It can't, and they should appreciate the value of specialisation in the businesses they buy.

Perhaps you disagree?  If so, these pieces are available now from Loro Piana's website's and stores ranging from £750 to £3,000. 

 

Louis Vuitton Darjeeling Collection - Again

In 2007, Wes Anderson released the Darjeeling Limited.  A predictably whimsical and playful tale about three wealthy brothers travelling across India on a spiritual journey, with undertones of chasing an inheritance.  A common Anderson theme.  While the on-screen stars were the usual Anderson suspects of Owen Wilson and Adrian Brody, another star was Louis Vuitton luggage.  

The custom made luggage was a Shibboleth representing the brothers journey, and disposing of it showed their growth.  LVMH decided to ignore this message, and seized on their IP by releasing a selection of Darjeeling pieces.   Now, fifteen years later, they have released them again.

Never let it be said that Louis Vuitton have run out of creative ideas, for this collection is significantly different than the last.  In that it has a lot more pieces.  While the old one only had the pieces from the film, this one pastes the custom designed logos' over everything from stationery, to socks.

We don't think going bigger hides the creative bankruptcy of this collection, but if you disagree, the collection is available now, prices ranging from £200.00 to £80,000.00.

 

Rimowa Flogs Dead Horses With Grid Classic Collection.

Since Rimowa'a acquisition by LVMH they have demonstrated poor choice after poor choice.  We wrote last year about the decision to release the classic range in multiple colour ways, and how this is inherently contradictory in respect to the messaging of classicism, given it stands diametrically opposed to it.

Rimowa's latest release however does manage to qualify for the classic moniker, as it's a re-release of a 1950's collection, the alumium grid collection.  The grid like pattern released by Rimowa in the 1960's remained true to its origins, whatever the business case may be for debating from it.

What makes this collection slightly odd is that Rimowa moved away from this design due to the groove design being more hard wearing, along with being more attractive overall.  Therefore by releasing this new re-issue, the brand has taken a step back, and down.  An odd choice.  

You may disagree, and find these pieces irresistible.  In which case they are available now from Rimowa, staring from £1,900.00 for cabin luggage.  Yes, they are also significantly more expensive by over 60% than their superior, other, edition.