LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
THERE ARE TWO DISTINCT POINTS OF VIEW
when it comes to trends; there are those who believe trends are passe and you must chart your own course and set the agenda. Then there are others who welcome direction and are happy to be schooled in the finer nuances of luxury living. We decided to cater to the latter group in this issue because very often, the start of the year leaves you flummoxed, with multiple to do lists, goals, and options staring you the face. As you grapple with the paradox of plenty, a nudge in the right direction is welcome, often even necessary.
We take our job of bringing you the expert view very seriously, so in this issue we have let a clutch of experts do the trend spotting for us. Francois Arpels’ lineage is exemplary; his great grandfather founded the jewellery house Van Cleef and Arpels in France and he in turn founded Brands and Beyond, a fund dedicated to Made-in-India lifestyle brands. He sets the pace for the issue as he tells us what to expect from the luxury retail market in India in 2019, both in terms of homegrown brands and those eyeing a share of the pie from overseas.
Want to know where to pack your bags and head to this season? Anthony Lim of Insight Vacations Asia urges you to travel beyond the gateway cities and discover some of Europe’s hidden gems as he picks five new European discoveries that will ensure your holiday is filled with fascinating experiences.
When it comes to wellness, no fad is too out there and no wellness routine too mundane to adopt. Alejandro Bataller, founder SHA Wellness, Alicante, talks about people choosing wellness vacations and detox camps for prevention rather than cure this year. He also highlights the role of technology in promoting wellness this year.
In the realm of E-commerce and technology, from luxury brands adopting augmented reality to smart clothing options and drone deliveries, we chart how you should stay savvy.
It’s exciting to see how the luxury universe is evolving; pick and select products and experiences that complete your vision of 2019. There is much to choose from.