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authenticluxurypedia
Dear all,
In a previous discussion, initiated by Florian around Buzz Words, I suggested that we may start to collect definitions of words that are of importance for the interests and work of ALN members and see where we may have a common understanding or complementary views around them.
I have noted that ALNers are already sharing their knowledge and providing their thoughts about what means "luxury" "eco" "authentic" "green" “organic” etc. It is however currently spread out across the various discussion threads or member’s profiles. It would be nice if we can have this at one place, as a reference, and where those definitions can evolve along with the contributions of members.
Here is a question for Jem Bendell: I would like to know if the web platform of the ALN would allow for starting to build up an “authenticluxurypedia" in the format of wikipedia for such purpose?
In the meantime, I am starting with 3 words under this Forum:
1. LUXURY
2. AUTHENTIC LUXURY
3. ETHICAL AND/OR GREEN/SUSTAINABLE LUXURY
I invite ALNers to suggest their preferred or own definitions of these words, to add sub-discussions threads around additional ones, as well as to react to and complement definitions proposed by other members.
CharlieG
In a previous discussion, initiated by Florian around Buzz Words, I suggested that we may start to collect definitions of words that are of importance for the interests and work of ALN members and see where we may have a common understanding or complementary views around them.
I have noted that ALNers are already sharing their knowledge and providing their thoughts about what means "luxury" "eco" "authentic" "green" “organic” etc. It is however currently spread out across the various discussion threads or member’s profiles. It would be nice if we can have this at one place, as a reference, and where those definitions can evolve along with the contributions of members.
Here is a question for Jem Bendell: I would like to know if the web platform of the ALN would allow for starting to build up an “authenticluxurypedia" in the format of wikipedia for such purpose?
In the meantime, I am starting with 3 words under this Forum:
1. LUXURY
2. AUTHENTIC LUXURY
3. ETHICAL AND/OR GREEN/SUSTAINABLE LUXURY
I invite ALNers to suggest their preferred or own definitions of these words, to add sub-discussions threads around additional ones, as well as to react to and complement definitions proposed by other members.
CharlieG
Views: 7
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by CharlieG on -
What is « LUXURY »?
What would be your PREFERRED or OWN DEFINITION of “LUXURY”
The usual ones:
1. The Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary definition of “luxury” is as follows: “something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary. The proposed synonyms includes: amenity, extravagance, frill, luxus, superfluity” and related words: “comfort; embellishment, redundancy, self-indulgence; dainty, delicacy. Contrasted words includes: “basics, essential(s), fundamental(s)”.
2. However, an article from the Encyclopedia Britannica reflect on the following: “Economists of the early 19th century all believed that the living standards of the working classes in capitalist societies would remain close to a subsistence level, meaning that luxuries would be more or less permanently denied them. But in modern industrialized economies even the poor consume goods that the early economists would not have considered necessary”.
3. See also: New stock index seeks to define what is luxury, Reuters, Mon Feb 5, 2007 10:14am EST http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSL0555652020070205
On “New Luxury”:
4. In an article entitled “The Changing Face of Luxury”, Patricia Graham and Marcus Matthews, from the Knowledge Network wrote:
“If many of the truly affluent around us can claim a surfeit of material possessions,
fewer can boast a comparable surplus of the most valuable commodity of all—
personal time. In a world of multiple stresses, multitasking, multimedia, and multiple
responsibilities, the ability to escape—to slow down and live in the moment—also has
assumed a luxurious dimension”.
[…] “Success in luxury branding increasingly will be less about identifying and providing the trendy "things" important to people and more about understanding the role "things" play in people's lives”.
“The Changing Face of Luxury”, by Patricia Graham and Marcus Matthews, KNOW™ Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 1 - Spring/Summer 2004: http://www.knowledgenetworks.com/know/2004/spring/1-1_graham.html
5. I like a number of Suzy Menkes’ definitions in her article entitled What is Luxury? on kiwicollection.com including:
“Luxury is clean air, green surroundings and people taking private planes to the far ends of the earth - it is what people long to have”
“Luxury gives the third dimension, say the perfect scent”.
“Luxury is not show-off, it is internal. It gives you an experience in life, it adds to the
joy of your day”.
Find more in What is Luxury? by Suzy Menkes, Fashion Editor of the International
Herald Tribune. http://www.kiwicollection.com/around_world_detail/ITEM=120/
6. See also: Tim Girvin reflection around “new luxury” on his blog - referring to an interview with Tom Ford at: http://blog.girvin.com/?p=674 [December 14, 2007]
“The new luxury will be: relevance, credibility, authoritative, artisanal/hand made, deep expertise, focused, truthful (as discrete from hype), worth”.
7. Finally, see the What’s Luxury project at : http://www.chihapaura.com/whatsluxury
My preferred one would be: FOREVER YOURS. “Intimate Luxury: For Ineke Hans (NL) luxury may be confined to the temporary imprint that a golden ring with a hidden message leaves on your finger”.
http://www.chihapaura.com/whatsluxury/lx06.htm
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Permalink Reply by Jem Bendell on -
This is what I wrote in the first ALN Bulletin...
Encarta defines the adjective authentic as:
1. not false or copied: genuine and original, as opposed to being a fake or reproduction
2. trustworthy: shown to be true and trustworthy
3. (law) valid: legally valid because all necessary procedures have been followed correctly
Consequently the noun “authenticity” is described as:
1. genuineness: the genuineness or truth of something
2. correctness: the legal validity or correctness of a legal document
Yet the word authenticity describes something far deeper when applied to concepts and individuals. And luxury brands are all about concepts and individuals. In philosophy “authenticity” is about the degree to which one is true to one's own personality, spirit, or character, despite the conditioning of one's material and social environment. You can look it up on wikipedia, but a more fun way to reflect on this is one of the popular books on the subject, which are now listed on the right column of the website.
“Luxury” is a very personal thing. In general it includes concepts and experiences of beauty, quality, rarity, and prestige. My understanding of luxury is an experience that is unusual and pleasurable to me. As someone who knows something about the state of the world and others, and knows how my consumption affects that, an experience isn't really that pleasurable if it's not helping matters. And in a society where what we consume often makes us feel guilty (so market research tells us!), so a guilt free consumption experience is unusual, and a positive feeling even more so. Hence, to me luxury is a positive experience of consumption where I enjoy it, and feel good about it making the world a better place.
The term “authentic luxury” alludes to the idea that if we are fully alive, awakened, and connected people, and thus being “authentic”, we will naturally see luxury as an experience of beauty, quality, rarity and, yes, prestige, that we enjoy precisely because it makes the world a better place (and certainly doesn't cause harm!)
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Permalink Reply by CharlieG on
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What is your preferred QUOTE about "LUXURY" and/or "AUTHENTIC / GREEN / ETHICAL LUXURY"?
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Permalink Reply by Jem Bendell on
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Thanks for the question.
I am planning an authentic luxury resource centre... which will be user maintained... and will include definitions, but perhaps more importantly, a directory of issues and initiatives that address them. More on this in the next couple of weeks.
I will write to the whole group soon about the definition of authentic luxury. As some of the books on the right hand side suggest, authenticity is a concept of existential philosophy about self discovery and being true to oneself, awakening from social convention, as well as its more common usage as meaning an "honest" and "genuine" product.
The problem with the term Authentic Luxury is that some may think it just describes the mainstream luxury industry's attempts to reassert its desirability at a time of when the massification or democratisation of luxury (industry terms, not mine) are reducing its appeal to the more discerning consumer. The benefit with the term is that it helps avoid the ghetto of "sustainable", the boring connotation of "responsible", and allows social and environmental excellence to be understood as part and parcel of what real luxury should be. But we may need to remind some people thats the aspiration of this network... and hope they are inspired to see the future in this way.
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Permalink Reply by Timothy Han on -
I will leave my definitions for the resource centre but I will add the following quote:
"Luxury is a necessity that begins where necessity ends"
- Coco Chanel
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Permalink Reply by Lukardis von Studnitz on -
When I started my on-line shop www.luxuryfaircraft.com I also had to define "luxury" in the sense of fair trade to not be considered an oxymoron. My definition of Luxury is as follows:
Luxury: is defined by the Oxford dictionary as a state of great comfort and extravagant living and as an unessential but desirable item. I do not intend to leave it at this stage and also refute the statement by Henry David Thoreau that "the luxury of one class is counterbalanced by the indigence of another". I add the concept of "the luxury of doing good" as described in Websters' dictionary. In my definition luxury is to be understood also as synonymous with benevolence and charitableness: the luxury having the time and means to extend one's horizon beyond one's own immediate circle. Therefore, I hope that my customers will experience my products as a luxury in two ways: the inherent luxury of the item, and the luxury of having added to the wellbeing of others. Products once enjoyed subsequently becoming a necessity.
Be interested on some comments about my definition.
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