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From business to fashion: the future of luxury is in the metaverse

The luxury market is increasingly central in the metaverse: in addition to the success of the best fashion brands in the virtual world, the business world is also growing bigger in the metaverse. Here’s an analysis about the growing trend of the luxury and fashion market in the virtual world.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Business in the metaverse: how and why
  
• Meta-fashion: desing in the metaverse
  
• Technological trends between metaverse and NFT

Business in the metaverse: how and why

It is not the first time that we write about the increasingly central role that the virtual world, or rather the metaverse, is playing in the business world, and, more specifically, with respect to the luxury market. In fact, we have already mentioned both the growth of the luxury real estate market in the metaverse and the massive investments of the most famous fashion brands in the virtual world, culminating in the Metaverse Fashion Week. Focusing on the latter trend, business success stories in the metaverse have multiplied in recent months. One of the most recent is that of Exclusible, a startup founded by Thibault Launay and specialized in creating digital experiences for luxury brands in the metaverse, through NFTs, to which we have dedicated an article focused on the world of art. The metaverse has now become an established frontier of business, even fundamental to be able to expand the market of luxury brands to the virtual world and, mostly, to the market segment of the youngest, already accustomed and very active in the digital world.

Another similar reality is the Mioo start-up, born from the collaboration between Mion S.p.a. and Valuart, with the aim of promoting the sustainability of the fashion sector - which we discuss in another article - through metaverse interactive objects, namely digital products that can be collected and traded in the virtual world exploiting the blockchain technology, which generates digital certificates of authenticity and uniqueness for the objects, also favoring the tracing in all the steps of the production chain, starting from the raw material to the purchase. Another success of the business in the metaverse is Wear3 by Avawear, the project of the entrepreneur Andrea Panconesi, who has created a marketplace for the sale and purchase of NFTs that identify clothing items to be used in the virtual world. As anticipated, however, the business in the metaverse also concerns the world of works of art, with the so-called “crypto art”, namely all that set of digital works, or physical works of art subsequently digitized, identified by a specific data structure, formed by a temporal chain of blocks, which make it unique and authentic. Crypto art is the basis of a dense commercial network of unique works, which can be purchased and sold as exclusive contents at mind-boggling figures. Suffice it to say that, over the course of 2021, crypto art generated an amount of 24,9 billion dollars linked to the sale of digital works of art.

Meta-fashion: desing in the metaverse

If the luxury sector is already a protagonist in the metaverse, the real forerunners are the fashion brands, which immediately rode the commercial opportunities offered by the so-called “meta-fashion”. This expression indicates the whole sector of the sale of virtual goods in which luxury brands are already investing, especially to attack the market segment represented by those born after 2000, the so-called Generation Z, which represent an annual turnover of over 200 billion dollars. There are several fashion brands that have already undertaken strategies and invested in meta-fashion. Such as, for example, Hugo Boss and Gucci, with the digital artwork "Gucci Aria NFT" auctioned by Christie's, or with the virtual garden "Gucci Garden Experience", which attracted more than 19 million visitors and the sale of virtual Gucci Dionysus bags at an average price of around 1.600 euros, or at the cost of a real luxury bag.

Also Balenciaga entered the metaverse thanks to a partnership with Epic Games on Fortnite, creating four virtual dresses and various accessories for the video game avatars. But also Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton have signed various accessories and virtual products designed for the gaming world, in addition to Burberry which has collaborated with Tencent Games. All this confirms what has already been noted regarding the Metaverse Fashion Week. In recent months, the metaverse - or rather, the various autonomous metaverses that already exist - has become the scene of the sale and purchase of luxury items and, according to an estimate by the lender Morgan Stanley, will represent more than 10% of the market for goods of luxury by 2030, for a figure that is around 45 billion euros compared to the more than 400 total in the sector.

Technological trends between metaverse and NFT

Turning instead to the technological trends relating to the metaverse and NFT, it can be said that one of the sectors affected by the biggest growth, as anticipated a few lines ago, is that of crypto art works. To access this market, you need to open a digital wallet, in which to store the cryptocurrencies required for transactions. After opening a wallet and filling it with cryptocurrencies, it is necessary to identify the marketplace - that is virtual shop - most suitable for the type of NFT that you intend to buy or sell.

To give an idea of ​​the value of art NFTs, we can take as a reference the most expensive in the world, which can even reach 91 million dollars ("The Merge by Pak"), or stand just below the level of value (“Everydays, The First 5000 by Beeple” sold for 69,3 million dollars and “Clock by Pak and Julian Assange” for 52,7 million dollars). In general, therefore, the business is rapidly moving into the metaverse, both as regards the luxury market and with respect to fashion in general - with meta-fashion - and to the world of art. In fact, in the coming months, industry experts expect rapid and exponential growth of the metaverse, where more and more users are accumulating cryptocurrencies in their virtual wallets.

Luxury tourism in Europe: great potential and few investments

In Europe there are luxury destinations for all tastes: from the mountains to the most exclusive seaside resorts, from the most classy tourist and artistic destinations. Luxury tourism, however, needs to be developed to make the most of the potential of the Old Continent, representing an ideal environment for attracting new investments.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• What is luxury tourism?
  
• The huge potential of luxury tourism in Europe
  
• Luxury destinations and travels in Italy

What is luxury tourism?

We are specialized in the world of luxury. That is why our articles present all possible options for those interested in this market, from real estate to fashion, from means of transport to events. And of course, luxury tourism cannot be missing. Those who regularly follow us will have already come across our content that presents unique luxury holidays - such as those on a private island or in a luxury chalet among the peaks of the most beautiful Italian mountains - or even more unique travel proposals - like the Orient Express “La Dolce Vita” luxury train or the futuristic G Train project. In general, luxury tourism includes all that vast offer of exclusive and classy experiences aimed at an audience that wants to combine maximum comfort with the possibility of living unique experiences in breathtaking locations.

That can also be said about the best luxury spas in Italy or with the most exclusive and expensive restaurants on the Italian territory. Luxury tourism in fact guarantees amazing landscapes and quality products, but also artistic beauty and cutting-edge services. Another example? Just think of the best luxury hotels that ensure top hospitality and comfort to their guests. Speaking of luxury tourism in Europe, everyone knows that the Old Continent stands out for the beauty of the locations, the works of art, the services offered and the various possibilities to make your stay unique. A sector which, however, is not yet fully expressing its incredible potential.

The huge potential of luxury tourism in Europe

We present in another article the best luxury holiday destinations in Italy, but most of the concepts also apply to luxury tourism in Europe. In fact, from a landscape, artistic, cultural, economic and tourist point of view, all the countries of the Old Continent have strong elements on which to focus in order to attract visitors. Luxury tourism in Europe, however, espress much less than its potential. The European organization Eccia (European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance), which gathers more than 600 excellence brands and 6 associations from the European high-end sector, has in fact recently published its "High-end tourism" report, created by Bain & Company, in collaboration with Forwardkeys, Global Blue and Virtuoso, reporting uncomfortable data on the high-end tourism segment. If the luxury tourism sector is worth about 130-170 billion euros, representing about 22% of the total expenditure related to tourism, a growth potential of the sector has been estimated between 170 and 520 billion euros in the next 10-15 years. Indeed, through a plan for the development of high-end tourism, an increase in the value of the sector in Europe could reach 520 billion euros.

This exponential growth is due to the fact that luxury tourism produces 8 times as much as the daily expenditure of normal tourism. In summary, a high-end tourist spends 8 times more than an average tourist, generating double the number of employees for the accommodation facilities. To date, although luxury structures represent only 2% of the total, they generate around 22% of the total tourism turnover in Europe, especially in the area of ​​accommodation (22%) and expenses related to culture, entertainment and shopping (33 %). In short, the margins for growth are really many. Specifically, tourists with great financial resources, looking for luxury holidays, prefer countries with facilities that meet the demand, including Italy, which, however, could improve a lot in respect to its potential. This is why the luxury tourism sector in Europe, and the Italian one in particular, need investments in sustainability and nature, on bureaucratic procedures for visas and creating a hospitality training system focused on luxury and, maybe, on wellness, an increasingly popular area also in terms of five-star tourism.

Luxury destinations and travels in Italy

The Italian territory offers several exclusive options for those who look for comfort and services in the most beautiful locations. Starting from the mountains, and therefore mainly from Northern Italy, there are many ideal locations for a luxury holiday, starting with the Dolomites and Trentino Alto Adige. In Lombardy, Lake Como is perfect for a luxury holiday in one of the various hotels in the area. Also on Lake Garda, there are various luxury hotels, especially in Gardone Riviera, while the Venetian Alps frame Cortina d'Ampezzo. Moving to the Italian seaside resorts, there are really many possible choices, especially in Southern Italy and the islands. But Liguria can also boast the Cinque Terre, as well as Portofino, with their classy hotels and famous fish restaurants. For a luxurious and elegant beach holiday, one cannot help but think of the Amalfi Coast, where the naturalistic beauty is combined with the possibility of staying in various luxury hotels, especially in Amalfi and Positano.

Another luxury destination in Campania is the island of Capri, the favorite destination for VIPs in the Gulf of Naples. Let's move on to the most famous islands, Sardinia and Sicily: the first offers the Costa Smeralda, in the North-West area, while the second boasts Taormina, which offers several options for a luxurious stay. Finally, there are also many cities of art for a luxury holiday in Italy. But, if a selection is needed, Venice stands out, famous for its exclusive hotels flanked by Renaissance and Gothic palaces; Milan, which offers the very best in luxury hotels, with one of the few 7 stars hotel in the world; Florence, the most famous in the world for buildings and works of art, as well as for a wide range of luxury hotels and restaurants; Rome, the capital, which has nothing to envy in terms of art, services and luxury accommodation, within a unique artistic context. In short, Europe - and Italy - certainly do not lack the potential to achieve the exponential growth of luxury tourism presented in the Eccia study.

Everything you need to know about luxury sofas

Choosing a luxury sofa is essential for enhancing the entire living room furniture in a home that is both welcoming and elegant at the same time. From the attention to the choice of models and materials, to uniformity with the design style of the house, to the selection of brands and the evaluation about prices: let's take a look at luxury sofas.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Luxury sofas: types and materials
  
• The best brands of luxury sofas
  
• The prices of the best luxury sofas

Luxury sofas: types and materials

The furnishing of luxury homes is a theme that we address, on a more general level, in a dedicated article, but this time we will focus specifically on luxury sofas, the beating heart of the living room, therefore of the entire home. This room, in terms of design, must revolve around an elegant and comfortable sofa, which is in line with the style chosen to furnish the entire environment and, in general, the entire house. This is why the choice of the sofa is essential in furnishing the living room. The first element to evaluate is represented by the design of the sofa, which can be of different types: angular, also in the corner variant with peninsula, linear or modular, chaise longue, but not only. The corner sofa is ideal for exploiting the living room spaces, especially if it is a luxury open space, the theme of a recent article. The choice of a modular sofa, on the other hand, is ideal for varying the layout of the interiors, perhaps with an "L" or "U" shape, and also very convenient for moving around and cleaning. The chaise longue sofa, on the other hand, is a guarantee as regards the union of elegance and sobriety, as well as being comfortable and welcoming. Another variable is that linked to the number of seats of the luxury sofa, which can vary from three to five seats, passing through the median size of the four seats. Once the shape and dimensions have been established, it is necessary to move on to the style of the sofa, which must be in line with the style chosen to furnish the entire living room - a topic to which we have reserved a dedicated article.

Starting from the classic style in a luxury living room, the sofa must refer to a bygone historical era, resulting in elegant and refined, but at the same time comfortable and classy, also thanks to decorative cushions. The latter represent a typical accessory that combines comfort and elegance, in different patterns and colors. If you choose to furnish your living room in English style - the subject of another article -, the choice will fall on a large leather sofa, to be placed side by side with one or two armchairs. Obviously there are many other options regarding the types of luxury sofas: the Chesterfield one, which generally has three seats, a low backrest and a quilted or capitonné pattern on the backrest and armrests, the very comfortable Lawson sofa, which provides a backrest composed of large cushions, the 1950s modern sofa and the modern contemporary one, which stand out above all for the fact that one falls within the classic furnishing style and the other in modern design. Without neglecting the camel hump sofa, the Cabriole and the Tuxedo. Finally, leaving aside the theme of coloring, which must be in tone with that of the rest of the living room, the last variable to consider is the material of the luxury sofa. Usually the choice falls on leather, the generally preferred material for luxury sofas, or on velvet, but there are also solutions in linen, cotton, wool and more modern materials such as microfibers.

The best brands of luxury sofas

After this overview of the types, designs, materials and styles of luxury sofas, it is now time to present the best brands of luxury sofas, obviously Italian. The craftsmanship of sofas in Italy is in fact among the best in the world, especially as regards luxury products. The latter are able to combine class and practicality, elegance and comfort, in addition to the resistance guaranteed by materials of the highest level. Precious fabrics, perfect padding, design and attention to detail make these luxury sofas real jewels: here are the best brands.

• Mascheroni is a brand known for the quality of its sofas, all handcrafted in fine materials and with excellent finishes.
• Ped Artigiani Italia the brand of Italian luxury sofas par excellence, famous all over the world for the highest quality leathers and hand-made padding, as well as tailor-made designs based on the needs of the individual customer.
• Mantellassi has been producing luxury sofas for almost a century and its strengths are the structural solidity and aesthetic elegance of its sofas, available in different styles to suit different types of living room.
• Vismara Design is a brand known for its ability to integrate traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technologies and materials, as well as for the different types of padding, ranging from velvet to leather according to the customer's tastes.
• Ravasi Salotti is a guarantee as regards the creation of classic style sofas, but also offers excellent solutions as regards contemporary design, and is known for the great attention paid to the choice of materials.
• BM Style produces both classic and modern sofas, all in the name of class and attention to every detail, thanks also to the cooperation with well-known high fashion brands in the creation of some collections of luxury sofas.
• Carpanelli has been making luxury sofas and furniture since 1919, so it offers the utmost experience and quality as regards craftsmanship, but it is a company also known for the quality of its upholstery materials, as well as for its prestigious finishes and coatings.

The prices of the best luxury sofas

Concluding this article about the best luxury sofas, it is time to address the question that you are all asking: how much does it cost to buy one of these sofas? The answer obviously varies both on the basis of the brand chosen and on the design of the specific sofa, but it also depends on the dimensions and materials on which you decide to focus. Taking up the brands mentioned above, we can say that the basic prices for a sofa produced by BM Style or by Mascheroni are around 1.000 euros, but can reach and exceed 2.000 euros in many cases.

The same goes for the sofas by Ravasi Salotti, while those made by Vismara Design have a slightly higher starting cost, of around 1.500 euros. On the other hand, figures ranging between 2.000 and 3.000 euros for the luxury sofas of Carpanelli and Mantellassi, the two brands with the longest history in the sector. In short, there is no shortage of alternatives. Now you just have to find the luxury sofa that best suits the style of your living room.

Discovering the 2022 Venice Boat Show at the Arsenale

The 2022 edition of the Venice Boat Show will be held in the beautiful setting of the Arsenale. The exhibition will bring together the best in nautical design and technologies, with an eye always on environmental sustainability.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Venice Boat Show 2022: what it is and how to reach it
  
• The program and the attractions of the Venice Boat Show
  
• A look at the Venice Biennale 2022

Venice Boat Show 2022: what it is and how to reach it

The 2022 one is a very important year for the city of Venice, the heart and theater of various events with a global reach. One above all is obviously the Venice Biennale 2022, which we have presented in detail in a dedicated article. But not only. In the heart of the Serenissima, the doors of the Venice Boat Show have also opened in recent days, now in its third edition in the splendid setting of the Arsenale, where the best of nautical design and technologies will meet, accompanied by artistic and Venetian craftsmanship shipbuilding exhibitions. The event was inaugurated on Saturday 28 May and will see the closing ceremony on Sunday 5 June. The ancient ship factory of the Venetian fleet therefore hosts the event for the third time in a unique context, which boasts a water basin of about 50.000 square meters, more than 1.000 linear meters of piers, for a total of about 30.000 square meters of outdoor exhibition spaces and approximately 5.000 square meters of covered pavilions in total. The Venice Boat Show will be accessible from three pedestrian entrances (with as many exiting gates), namely the "Arsenale - Pavilion of the Ships", the "Giardino delle Vergini" and the "Bacini-Arsenale Nord" (recommended for people with reduced capacity motor).

All entrances can be reached on foot from the main access points to the city, but for more detailed information, please refer to the dedicated page of the official website of the Venice Boat Show. One of the central themes of the 2022 edition is sustainability, a topic of utmost importance globally and now also central to the luxury and fashion sector, as reported in our recent article about the future of luxury brands. There will therefore be events about low-impact technologies, such as electric propulsion, already a protagonist in the world of luxury yachts and which now concerns all segments of the nautical industry: from hulls to batteries, up to on-board assistance electronics and technologies aimed at comfort and leisure. All followed by national and international operators and journalists. And above all, it is open to an audience of all ages with attractions that go far beyond the nautical panorama, as evidenced by the provision of discounted tickets for participants in the Boat Show who also want to visit the Biennale Arte and the Venetian Civic Museums.

The program and the attractions of the Venice Boat Show

The program of the 2022 Venice Boat Show is really rich. There are in fact a total of 200 exhibitors, with as many as 300 boats, of which 240 are in the water. After the one-year stop in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the success of the 2021 edition (about 30.000 total visitors), this year the number of boats has risen by 25%, for a total length of 2,7 kilometers. In terms of exhibitors, as many as 98% confirmed their presence after the last edition, with important groups in the national and international shipbuilding sector, including Azimut Benetti. The new exhibitors include Sanlorenzo, which is also one of the sponsors of the Italian Pavilion of the Biennale Arte, and the British group Sunseeker, which contributes to the international dimension of the event.

The Italian Navy will also participate with its stands, with three ships and with a launch exhibition from two helicopters. As anticipated, there will be many events related to the theme of sustainability, including several conferences focused on sustainable navigation and the presentations of over 30 electric boats. The protagonists in this sense will be Yamaha, Huracan, Torqeedo, but not only. Aqua Superpower will be there to present new electric charging stations. The program of the 2022 Venice Boat Show is completed with the areas dedicated to traditional Venetian shipbuilding, which will have an entire dedicated pavilion, but also with regattas and trophies, motorboat events and a wide range of nautical themed activities, as well as related to history of the Arsenale.

A look at the Venice Biennale 2022

Having mentioned it several times, it is appropriate to talk briefly about the Venice Biennale 2022, which reaches its 59th edition this year. This event was born over a hundred years ago, exactly in 1895, and is considered one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the world. To be precise, the Venice Biennale consists of a set of exhibition, performative and research activities that are inherent in different sectors and which were inaugurated as real stand-alone exhibitions in different historical periods. These are the Biennale Arte (1895), Architecture (1980), Cinema (1932), Dance (1999), Theater (1934), Music (1930).

In particular, the Art and Architecture Exhibitions are made up of three sub-categories, namely the International Exhibition, the Exhibitions at the National Pavilions and the Collateral Events. The 2022 edition of the Venice Biennale managed to bring together as many as 85 participating countries, a number now stable since 2017, making this event included in the list of the most important art and architecture exhibitions in the world. The Venice Biennale 2022 is already open to the public from Saturday 23 April and will remain open until Sunday 27 November 2022, better not to miss it!

All about the Cannes Film Festival 2022, the event combining luxury and cinema

The 2022 edition of the Cannes Film Festival confirms the ever closer link between cinema and luxury. Let's find out what the Cannes Film Festival is, the program of the 75th edition and all the stars and VIPs who took part in it.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• What is the Cannes Film Festival?
  
• Cannes Film Festival 2022: dates and program
  
• All the VIPs at the Cannes Film Festival

What is the Cannes Film Festival?

To present the Cannes Film Festival it is enough to mention its two symbols recognized all over the world: the red carpet and the Palme d'Or. The first covers the famous catwalk - the Montée des Marches - on which all the movie stars and VIPs who take part in the film festival parade are immortalized. The second is instead the prize that is awarded to the best movie of each edition and which often certifies the success of the movie worldwide. At the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, every year, this film festival occupies the attention of the global press for two weeks and brings to the South of France, in Cannes, the most famous actors, including those coming from Hollywood, given the great media importance of the event. The Cannes Film Festival was born in 1939 with the aim of creating a French alternative to the Film Festival in Venice, where in these weeks is instead the scene of the 2022 Biennale, which we present in another article.

Apart from some editions skipped due to force majeure, the event has always been held regularly every year on the Côte d'Azur, always capturing great guests and a lot of public. By now the Cannes Film Festival represents one of the most impactful events both in terms of cinema and costume in the whole planet, thanks also to the prizes that the stars of world cinema are hunting for. In addition to the Palme d'Or for best movie, there is the Special Grand Prix for the creativity and level of innovation of a movie and various individual awards. In short, very little to envy about the US Oscar Ceremony.

Cannes Film Festival 2022: dates and program

The 2022 one is the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. This year it returned to spring dates, from 17 to 28 May, after the summer version of last year and the canceled edition due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The decorative set-up chosen for the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes this year is the reproduction of the cloudy sky that is the backdrop to the famous movie “The Truman Show”, with Jim Carrey. The opening night, however, saw the movie "Coupez!" by Michel Hazanavicius, who directed Matilda Lutz, Romain Duris, Bérénice Bejo and Jean-Pascal Zadi.

But in the program of the Cannes Film Festival 2022 there are other highly anticipated movies, such as “Top Gun: Maverick Day” with Tom Cruise and “Crimes of the future” with Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux and Viggo Mortensen. Also in this 75th edition, tens of thousands of professionals of the sector, but also of cinema enthusiasts, are populating the streets of Cannes and giving life to a truly impressive spectacle. In addition to arthouse movies, the program also gives high importance to the selected movies related to the conflict in Ukraine. As for the two opening and closing evenings, the ceremonies are entrusted to Virginie Efira, the Belgian actress chosen to present the Cannes Film Festival 2022.

All the VIPs at the Cannes Film Festival

Finally, it's time to recap the VIPs who populated the red carpet of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes. At the top of the list is certainly the aforementioned Tom Cruise, star actor of the movie "Top Gun: Maverick Day", one of the most awaited movies of the entire festival. Without moving away from the regulars from Hollywood, Anthony Hopkins and Anne Hathaway, protagonists of the movie “Armageddon Time”, also arrived on the French Riviera. Impossible not to mention Julia Roberts, Marion Cotillard and Sharon Stone, a regular presence in Cannes for several editions. There were also Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba, protagonists of "Three thousand years of longing", but also Tom Hanks for Baz Luhrmann's movie dedicated to the rock superstar "Elvis", in which the young star Austin Butler also took part.

To close the Hollywood chapter, the Cannes red carpet also hosted Michelle Williams, in addition to the aforementioned Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux and Viggo Mortensen, who starred in David Cronenberg's movie. We close the review of the VIPs who took part in the Cannes Film Festival 2022 with the Italian stars: Pierfrancesco Favino, protagonist of "Nostalgia", Alessandro Borghi and Luca Marinelli with "The eight mountains", Jasmine Trinca, who made her directorial debut with the his “Marcel!”. And who knows if a virtual version of the Cannes Film Festival will soon be created in the metaverse, just as it has already happened with the Metaverse Fashion Week, which we present in a dedicated article.

Luxury on the road: the best sports cars

The most powerful and elegant luxury cars are often the sports models, which combine top quality design with the most advanced technologies: from the fastest to the electric ones, let’s discover the best sports cars of 2022, with a special focus even on the supercar tax.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• The best sports cars of 2022
  
• Luxury electric sports car
  
• Sports cars that don't require the supercar tax
  
• Supercar tax 2022: rules and news

The best sports cars of 2022

Sports cars have always been synonymous with elegance and class, but, at the same time, also a concentrate of the technological avant-garde in terms of engines and comfort. The same can also be said of luxury motorhomes, which we talk about in another article, but luxury cars certainly exert a superior charm. In particular, several top-level sports cars were launched on the market over the course of 2022. Exclusive supercars with unique features… and huge prices. Let's find out the selection of the best sports cars of 2022, based on the Money.it Motori ranking.

• Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS - The sports jewel of the Stuttgart car manufacturer features a 4-liter in-line six-cylinder engine, a naturally aspirated engine, capable of reaching 9.000 rpm, unleashing a maximum power of 500 horsepower (368 kW), with a dry weight of 1.415 kg. In short, a sort of racing car that is allowed to travel on the road, since the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS reaches 315 km/h, going from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. Starting price: 147.471 euros.
• Ferrari Daytona SP3 - There are around 500 examples - all already sold within hours of being released on the market - of this exclusive model of the Prancing Horse: the car manufacturer from Maranello has equipped these supercars with a very powerful 6,5-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine, which it guarantees a maximum power of 840 horsepower at 9.250 rpm, which also means acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h from a standing start in 2.85 seconds and a top speed that exceeds 340 km/h. This incredible Ferrari sports car also includes adjustable pedals, a body made of composite materials, as well as an infinity of customizations at the request of the lucky buyers. Starting price: 2 million euros.
• Audi RS3 - We return to Germany for this Audi, a supercar with a 5-cylinder 2.5 TFSI 400 horsepower engine, capable of reaching 100 km/h from a standing start in 3.8 seconds and reaching a top speed of 290 km/h. The Audi RS3 also offers RS Torque Rear technology, designed to control the car's oversteering behavior, as well as adaptive DCC suspension (optional) which instantly adjusts the dynamics of this supercar based on driving style and running conditions. Starting price: 60.900 euros.
• Aston Martin DBX707 - It might seem strange, but among the best sports cars of 2022 there is also an SUV, even if it is not a normal SUV, since we are talking about the Aston Martin DBX707, equipped with a 4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine capable of generating 707 horsepower, which allows this luxury car to exceed 300 km/h and go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds. In addition to this, this luxury sports car, produced by the famous British car manufacturer, offers 420 mm carbon-ceramic brake discs, 23-inch wheels, aerodynamic appendages and a wide range of customization. Starting price: 254.513 euros.
• BMW M8 Competition 2022 - Third stage in Germany, specifically in Bavaria, for this BMW supercar, which offers three body configurations (Coupé, Cabriolet and Gran Coupé) and three different driving modes (Road, Sport and Track), as well as an engine V8 TwinPower Turbo capable of delivering a maximum power of 625 horsepower for 750 Nm of maximum torque and M Steptronic eight-speed double-clutch automatic transmission. The performance of the M8 Competition 2022 speaks for itself: from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and an electronically “limited” speed to a maximum of 250 km/h. Starting price: 177.400 euros.
• Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 - One of the best supercars of 2022 could not miss a supercar like this hybrid Lamborghini, already sold out, with a 780 horsepower 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine combined with a 34 horsepower electric unit, for a total power of 800 horses. With a top speed of 355 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, this sports car is at the level of a racing car, thanks also to a body of around 1.550 kg, entirely made of fiber. of carbon, and to a braking system with 400 and 380 mm carbon-ceramic discs. Starting price: 2 million euros.
• Mercedes-AMG GT63 S E Performance - Our journey among the best sports cars in the world could only end in Germany, this time at Mercedes, which launched this supercar with a total power of 843 horsepower, thanks to a Biturbo V8 engine from 4 liters flanked by a very efficient electric unit. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 316 km/h make the AMG GT63 S E Performance a super sports car, which also includes AMG Ride Control + suspension, 21-inch wheels and AMG Night Package. Starting price: 202.970 euros.

Luxury electric sports car

Speaking of luxury sports cars, we cannot avoid mentioning electric cars, increasingly in vogue and increasingly similar in performance to traditionally powered supercars. Let's find out the best luxury electric sports cars, identified by Daze Technology.

• Porsche Taycan Turbo S - This electric model unleashes an impressive 761 horsepower, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 260 km/h, as well as including a specific gearbox for high speeds and an 800 V battery voltage, for 412 km of autonomy a recharge up to 80% in 20 minutes. Starting price: 192.544 euros.
• Audi RS e-tron GT - Also in Germany, Audi's luxury electric sports car has a 646 horsepower engine, which allows it to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, powered by a battery identical to that of the Porsche Taycan at high voltage (800 V) to allow fast recharges and maximum autonomy. Starting price: 107.300 euros.
• Tesla Model S Plaid - The performance of this Tesla makes it a sports car in its own right, given the enormous power of the engine (1.020 horsepower) and its speed superior to the rival Porsche Taycan, thanks to its three engines, an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.1 seconds and a top speed of 322 km/h. Starting price: 130.970 euros.
• Mercedes EQS AMG - Closed the US parenthesis, we return to Germany for the first fully electric Mercedes sedan, whose AMG version exceeds 700 horsepower, which pushes a 5,22 meter long body, with a maximum speed limited to 210 km/h, also due to the enormous weight (2,5 tons). Starting price: 174.320 euros.
• BMW i4 M50 - We head to Bavaria for this 544 horsepower electric sports car, the most affordable in our league table, but still equipped with the BMW M Sport sports package. Starting price: 72.970 euros.

Sports cars that don't require the supercar tax

After this list of supercars, electric sports cars and luxury automobiles, a question arises: do all these cars require paying a supercar tax? Before making a quick point on supercar tax 2022, to which we have dedicated an entire article, it is appropriate to talk about sports cars that do not require the payment of the luxury tax on cars, identified by Icon Wheels magazine. In fact, this category also includes several high-performance sports cars, namely a top speed of at least 180 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 10 seconds.

Starting with the Italian carmaker Alfa Romeo, several configurations of Giulia, Giulietta and Stelvio are below the 158 kW threshold, as well as a large number of Audi and BMW models. Not only. Jaguar and Jeep also offer different configurations that do not exceed the threshold that triggers the payment of the supercar tax, as well as Land Rover, Lotus, Mercedes and even Porsche. Some Tesla models also fall into the category of sports cars that do not require the payment of the luxury tax, but we recommend a tour on Icon Wheels to check in detail all the names and features.

Supercar tax 2022: rules and news

It is now time to make a brief summary of the so-called “superbollo”', or the supercar tax that is added to the normal car tax, without replacing it. The criterion for determining whether or not a car requires the payment of the supercar tax by the owner is the power of the engine: the supercar tax, in fact, is only up to the owners of cars that exceed the power of 185 kW (corresponding to about 251 horsepower). This power threshold, in fact, only identifies a limited number of car models, which generally fall within sports and luxury cars.

It must also be considered, however, that the supercar tax is also linked to the registration date of the vehicle and decreases over time. The tax, in fact, covers 100% of its amount only for cars registered within the previous 5 years, after which it is reduced until it is canceled after twenty years from the registration of the vehicle. Are you curious to have more details on the 2022 supercar tax? Then we recommend reading our article specifically dedicated to this topic.

There is a new luxury hotel in Venice: welcome to the Orient Express Hotel

The Orient Express name is associated with the exclusive luxury train that is also about to arrive in Italy with the "La Dolce Vita" project, but not only: the Orient Express Hotel is about to open in Venice. In addition to the new luxury hotel in the Lagoon, the Serenissima also offers various luxury solutions in real estate and is experiencing an important year with the 2022 Biennale.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Welcome to the Orient Express Hotel, the new luxury hotel in Venice
  
• Luxury in Venice includes the real estate market
  
• Discovering the Venice Biennale 2022

Welcome to the Orient Express Hotel, the new luxury hotel in Venice

In the collective imagination, the Orient Express is the most luxurious train in the world, of course. But the agreement between the French group Accor (which has held the "Orient Express" brand since 2017) and Arsenale S.p.A. (a company that operates in luxury hospitality) does not only concern luxury on rails, but also hotels. The partnership between the two companies has in fact also given life to the project that will lead to the construction of the Orient Express Hotel in Venice, the next luxury hotel on the Lagoon. In another article we have already talked about the Orient Express, as Accor and Arsenale S.p.A, in collaboration with Trenitalia, have also launched the project called Orient Express "La Dolce Vita" which, starting from 2023, will allow travel on super luxury convoys on different itineraries on the Italian territory, with Rome as the heart of the route. The capital, in fact, will host the Orient Express Minerva Hotel from 2024, which will be built in the former Palazzo Fonseca (owned by Arsenale S.p.A.), and will offer guests 93 rooms, 24 suites and a Guerlain spa.

If the openings of the other Orient Express Hotels scheduled in London, Paris, Milan and Florence have to be announced, the news of the upcoming opening of the Orient Express Hotel in Venice is now official. The latter will be hosted by the walls of the historic Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, in the heart of Venice, and will be designed by the archistar - subject of another article - and interior designer Aline Asmar d'Amman, head of the Culture in Architecture studio. The Orient Express Venezia will open its doors to guests in the early months of 2024 and will make 45 rooms and suites available, overlooking the splendid panorama of the gardens and canals of the Serenissima. This luxury hotel will also include a bar, inside the former ballroom on the Noble Floor, a restaurant and several terraces with views. In short, the Hotel Orient Express in Venice will have nothing to envy to the most exclusive luxury hotels in the world.

Luxury in Venice includes the real estate market

But Venice is on top not only as it is one of the best Italian destinations for luxury tourism, which we present in another article. La Serenissima, in fact, also offers several interesting options in the luxury property market, as can also be verified in our section dedicated to properties for sale in Venice and Veneto. Choosing to buy a luxury home in Venice brings with it the guarantee of owning a home immersed in a unique setting for its architectural beauty and romantic atmospheres. From canals to historic buildings, from gondolas to picturesque views, from San Marco to the Grand Canal, Venice is certainly one of the best cities for those who love elegance and luxury.

But not only. Indeed, the Serenissima is also the scene of many unique and fascinating events. To mention one above all, just think of the Venice Carnival, but also the Historical Regatta and the Biennale - the International Art Exhibition, to which we have dedicated an article and which we will present more in detail later. Buying a luxury home in Venice is an investment that does not fear devaluations, as for the villa in Via Cannareggio available on our website. The house has an area of ​​about 450 square meters, three terraces (one of which overlooking the Grand Canal), eight bedrooms, mooring, berth and exclusive pier. In short, a real jewel in the heart of one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world.

Discovering the Venice Biennale 2022

As mentioned a few lines ago, Venice is also hosting the Biennale, that is the International Art Exhibition, which, for this 2022 edition is entitled "The milk of dreams" and, as the main novelty, proposes the presence of some of the most famous brands in the world of luxury fashion, including Valentino, Burberry, Dior, Louis Vuitton, but not only.

The presence of these brands confirms the relation between art and fashion, especially as regards the luxury sector. The 59th edition of the Venice Biennale will see all these brands as protagonists and, in particular, Valentino, who will be the main sponsor of the Italian Pavilion. But Louis Vuitton will also contribute to the event with eight of the most famous newsstands in Venice that will host the travel books of the French brand. Are you curious to know more about the Venice Biennale 2022? Well, then you just need to read our article.

Traveling in luxury on plane: all about first class flights

Flying is always the best way to travel, but it becomes a real luxury when it comes to first class flights, where air travel becomes an exclusive experience. Starting from the comforts offered by the various airlines up to the ticket prices, let's find out everything there is to know about first class flights.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• First class plane ticket: traveling in luxury
  
• How much does it cost to fly first class
  
• The most luxurious private planes in the world

First class plane ticket: traveling in luxury

The expression "traveling in first class" is synonymous with luxury and elegance. But this is not just a way of saying, given that, for the lucky ones who can afford it, the first class ticket is an opportunity to travel comfortably and quickly, especially when it comes to airplanes. Flying in first class is an exclusive experience comparable to that of the best luxury hotels, which we present in another article. Obviously, not all airlines offer first class flights: some stop at economy ones, while others offer business class, which in any case ranks a step below first class. Among the companies with which it is possible to travel in first class we find the Qatar Executive, unique for luxury, comfort and services. Starting from the lounge room available at the airports and the possibility to check in a 40 kg baggage. Singapore Airlines is also known worldwide for the first class of its Airbus A380s (the only double-decker aircraft in the world), which include six super luxury suites, isolated via a sliding door and including: bed (also double bed), reclining and fully adjustable leather seats, full HD 32-inch screen, wardrobe, compartments for personal effects and side table. The first class of Cathay Pacific Airways, the largest airline in Hong Kong, is instead famous for the gourmet menu that is made available to six lucky passengers.

Even better known is Emirates, the flagship airline of the Arab Emirate of Dubai, whose first class is arguably among the best in the world. What does it offer? First of all, Emirates was the first company to offer suites on board, since 2003. These suites include a shower in each of the two bathrooms and reflect the design of the cars produced by Mercedes-Benz, plus a zero gravity seat, designed by Nasa, fully adjustable. But the Emirates suite also offers a minibar, room service, a desk, a wardrobe and a 32-inch hi-tech monitor, as well as autonomous lighting management within the suite. If that's not enough, the first class ticket also includes access to the lounge room at the airport, where you can also enjoy collectible cognacs. We close this review of the best first classes of aircraft with those of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi airline, Etihad Airways. The Etihad's Airbus A380s and B787 Dreamliners include real mini-apartments of 12 square meters, including a bedroom, bathroom with private shower and personal butler. The first class of Etihad flights also offers passengers a 26-inch screen, a minibar and a common area, outside the suite, in which to meet the other lucky passengers on the flight.

How much does it cost to fly first class

Traveling in luxury with a first class ticket is certainly not a possibility for everyone. The prices of first class flights, in fact, are very high, but, as we have seen, also justified by the comforts and services they offer to the lucky passengers. Starting from the Italian flag carrier, it should be noted that it is no longer Alitalia since 15 October 2021, when it was replaced by ITA Airways (Italia Transport Aereo S.p.A.). ITA Airways does not include first class service in its flights, but offers business class service, at fairly low prices and verifiable directly on the airline's official website. Remaining in Europe, Swiss International Air Lines also does not have first class flights, but still offers a luxury business class, with high prices.

For example, return tickets from Milan to Paris cost around 1.000 euros, while at least 2.000 are needed for the Milan-New York route. First class is available on some flights of the French airline Air France. A few examples? A first class return ticket from Paris to New York can cost anywhere from 7.000 to 15.000 euros, depending on the time of year and day. The route that connects Milan and New York, always with a first class flight, is slightly “cheaper” if you choose the Emirates, since the ticket can cost from 6.000 to 7.000 euros, a price that is also requested for first class flights Milan-Dubai. Instead, more than 10.000 euros are required for a first-class return ticket from Milan to Moscow. Finally, the cost of first class round-trip Milan-Dubai flights with Etihad is around 7.000 euros in total.

The most luxurious private planes in the world

To close this review on luxury air travel, it is also worth mentioning the most luxurious private planes in the world. If first class is a luxurious or exclusive way of getting around, it must be said that there are also private planes so exclusive that they are only available to the richest people on the planet. These aircraft are unique in terms of size, features and above all for their interiors, which ensure truly exclusive comfort and services.

The most luxurious planes in the world obviously have incredible prices, but they allow their very wealthy owners to reach their destinations quickly, comfortably and… showcasing their class. Who are the lucky ones who have these luxurious planes at their disposal? These are famous actors, billionaires, former presidents and aristocratic figures of the United Arab Emirates. The customizations demanded for their private jets range from unique exterior decorations, to ballrooms and cinemas inside the aircraft.

Ideas for furnishing a minimal luxury home

The choice of furniture for a luxury home is essential to enhance the spaces and offer maximum comfort, two central elements in the minimal style, which combines elegance and functionality. Starting from the elements of furniture to the choice of natural materials such as wood and stone, a minimal luxury home stands out for its essentiality and simple geometries.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Minimal furniture for a luxury home
  
• Stone and wood: the materials for luxury interiors in a modern style
  
• The minimalism of luxury open spaces

Minimal furniture for a luxury home

Minimal furniture does not give up its essence, even in a luxury home. Yes, because the minimal style of the interiors is always characterized by simplicity and essentiality, even when dealing with luxurious and large homes. The minimalist furnishings are clean and elegant, dominated by linear and geometric shapes, which at the same time favor functionality and the absence of superfluous elements. This means that furnishing a luxury home in a minimal style involves choosing a limited number of furniture elements, but valuable, both in terms of design and materials - which we will focus on later. Similar to what happens with modern-style luxury furniture, even the minimalist design favors sharp and clean lines, defined spaces and volumes, some examples of which can be identified in luxury open spaces. In a minimal architectural context, decorations are absent and replaced by games of geometric lines, also favored by the choice of neutral colors, such as white, beige and gray, but also black.

The interiors furnished in a minimalist style are tidy, essential and balanced in every room of the house, even in luxury homes. Luxury must emerge from the amplitude of the spaces, from the welcoming environments both for the owners and for the guests, through, for example, the choice of big size sofas in fabric or leather and through the elegance guaranteed by lights and suspended furniture elements. Even the minimal luxury style bedroom must not be weighed down by excessive furnishings, but revolve around the bed, low and positioned in the center of the room, with entirely free walls and a walk-in closet as an ideal solution to avoid weighing down the interiors. Even the luxury bathroom in a minimalist style goes in the same direction, above all thanks to the possibility of using resins and polymers to obtain uniform and simple surfaces. Therefore, even a minimal style house can be furnished in a luxurious way, thanks to minimal and at the same time elegant architectural choices, which however do not include refined elements or luxurious materials. On the contrary. It is much better to seek refinement by choosing specific elegant and luxurious objects, as we suggest in our other article.

Stone and wood: the materials for luxury interiors in a modern style

Turning to the choice of materials for the interiors of a minimal luxury home, it is possible to immediately identify two protagonists: wood and stone. While it is true that a luxury home with a minimal interior design can also include technological elements and innovative materials, these must however be able to find a balance with refined furnishing accessories and natural materials, such as wood and stone. These two elements in a minimalist context are often handcrafted or left rough, always in order to convey a sense of simplicity and cleanliness.

Deepening the discussion related to wood as a primary material, the minimal style favors uncarved and wood preserved rough. The most suitable materials for a minimal luxury home, in addition to wood - possibly solid - and stone - even lava one - are glass and, especially for floors, resistant and smooth latest generation resins. As for the choice of luxury furniture elements, even in minimalist and modern contexts, we suggest you read our article dedicated to the topic.

The minimalism of luxury open spaces

Finally, it is also worth mentioning the luxury open spaces, with respect to which minimalism is always the main feature. The furniture of an open space is in fact clean and minimal, dominated by linear and geometric shapes, which favor both elegance and functionality. In a minimalist luxury open space, it is also essential in the choice of lighting.

In fact, the latter must enhance the central elements of each room - namely the sofa in the living area, the bed in the bedroom and the table or island in the kitchen - with LED lights, floor spotlights and designer lamps. Furthermore, the minimal design tries to make the most of natural light and favors neutral colors, such as white, ivory, silver and black, ideal for creating an elegant and classy atmosphere.

Virtual fashion, NFT and crypto art: here is the luxury of the metaverse

The luxury market is increasingly a protagonist in the metaverse: in addition to the success of famous fashion brands in the virtual world, the art market is now consolidated in the metaverse, thanks to NFTs and crypto art. Let's analyze the growing trend of the luxury and fashion market in the virtual world, starting from what NFTs are and how crypto art works.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• What is “crypto art”, the digital art
  
• Luxury fashion brands in the metaverse
  
• Where and how to buy crypto art… and their price

What is “crypto art”, the digital art

The increasingly central role of the virtual world, or rather of the metaverse, with respect to the luxury market is no longer a novelty. This is testified by both the growth of the luxury real estate market in the metaverse and the massive investments of the most famous fashion brands in the virtual world, culminating in the Metaverse Fashion Week. But even the world of works of art is not exempt from this trend. The so-called “crypto art” is in fact more and more in vogue. The expression “crypto art” means, simplifying a little, digital art, that is all that set of digital works, or physical works of art subsequently digitized, which are identified by a specific data structure, formed from a time blocks chain, which make it unique and authentic.

The authenticity of this work is certified by the now well-known NFT (Non Fungible Token), real digital certificates of authenticity that identify intangible virtual contents and are potentially reproducible indefinitely. What makes these contents unique is their certification through blockchain, a technology created to allow transactions - in the form of data exchange - and tracing that guarantee the uniqueness and originality of works of art, games, luxury products and fashion items… obviously virtual. Crypto art, therefore, is the basis of a dense commercial network of unique works, which can be purchased and sold as exclusive contents, even in special virtual art galleries. And for incredible prices. Suffice it to say that, over the course of 2021, crypto art generated an induced amount of 24,9 billion dollars related to the sale of digital works of art, growing exponentially from the approximately 95 million dollars of the previous year.

Luxury fashion brands in the metaverse

In our article about the Metaverse Fashion Week, we found that there are already many luxury brands that are equipped to land in the metaverse, including Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton and Moncler. These fashion brands testify how the market for luxury clothes and the most exclusive accessories in the virtual world is already flourishing, also thanks to the many VIPs who have paved the way for the purchase of virtual products signed by famous brands.

In fact, in recent months, the metaverse - or rather, the various autonomous metaverses that already exist - has become the scene of the sale and purchase of luxury items and, according to an estimate by the Morgan Stanley bank, will represent more than 10% of the market of luxury goods by 2030, for a figure that is around 45 billion euros in respect to the more than 400 total in the sector. The trend of the fashion and design sector in the metaverse is therefore experiencing exponential growth, but is destined to grow further. The link between luxury clothing brands and the virtual world is in fact increasingly close, and also passes through the world of NFTs and cryptocurrencies.

Where and how to buy crypto art… and their price

At this point, a question remains: where and how do you buy crypto art works? What is the price of art NFTs? Proceeding in order, before listing which are the best platforms for purchasing digital works of art, it should be clarified that the art sector in the metaverse is very subject to changes in terms of the value of the works, therefore also with respect to the platforms on which to buy them. In any case, to access this market you need to create a digital wallet, in which to store the cryptocurrencies required for transactions. The most popular apps for creating a wallet are MetaMask, Coinbase, Binance's Trust Wallet and Math Wallet.

After opening a wallet and filling it with cryptocurrencies, it is necessary to identify the marketplace that is most suitable for the type of NFT that you intend to buy or sell. Some examples of NFT trading platforms? Here they are:

• Coinbase
• OpenSea
• Crypto.com
• Binance Marketplace
• PancakeSwap
• FTX
• Rarible
• Zora
• Magic Eden
• NiftyGateway
• Mintable
• MakersPlace (by invitation only)

In particular, for NFTs that represent works of art, the platform most used by artists is Foundation, where you can find some of the most expensive art NFTs in the world: here is the ranking.

• The Merge by Pak - $ 91 million
• Everydays, The First 5000 by Beeple - $ 69.3 million
• Clock by Pak and Julian Assange - $ 52.7 million
• Huma One by Beeple - $ 28.985 million
• CryptoPunk # 5822 - $ 23.7 million
• CryptoPunk # 7523 - $ 11.75 million
• CryptoPunk # 3100 - $ 7.67 million
• CryptoPunk # 7804 - $ 7.6 million

As happened for the Metaverse Fashion Week in the field of luxury fashion, these figures relating to art NFTs also show how the virtual world is increasingly linked to the art sector, therefore, more generally, to the luxury market. All the experts, in fact, expect rapid and exponential growth of the metaverse, where more and more users are accumulating cryptocurrencies in their virtual wallets.

Vintage to conquer luxury, between circularity and sustainability

The future of luxury goods, especially in the field of fashion, is increasingly linked to vintage and second hand products, in the name of circularity and sustainability. Let’s discover the latest trends in circular fashion and second-hand items in the field of luxury.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Second hand luxury fashion: a growing market
  
• Circular fashion: the future of luxury brands
  
• Luxury and sustainability: the rental option

Second hand luxury fashion: a growing market

To some it might seem contradictory, but the link between the luxury market and second-hand goods is now getting closer and closer. Especially with regard to second hand fashion, which plays an increasingly important role also due to its being in line with the generally shared goal of sustainability, the topic of another article. The platforms dedicated to the sale and purchase of second-hand luxury items are in fact increasingly in vogue and offer products of the highest quality and prices. An estimate by the US consultancy firm McKinsey reports that in the decade 2020-30 the second-hand luxury goods market will grow from 25-30 billion euros at a rate of 10% on an annual basis. And the British at Barclays confirms this trend, claiming in their report that the second-hand fashion sector will increase its turnover from 36 billion dollars (as of 2021) to 77 billion dollars in 2025, with an increase of eleven times.

The second hand market is therefore destined to become the protagonist in the field of luxury fashion. This trend is confirmed by several global projects by famous luxury brands, such as the Gucci Vault, Alessandro Michele's portal for the sale of second-hand items and Valentino Vintage, but also by the growing number of online platforms dedicated to the second-hand market. Like the one in collaboration between Moda Operandi and Rebag, which offers a collection of luxury used bags (including models by Hermès and Louis Vuitton), which we present in another article. But the existing projects and platforms dedicated to second hand luxury fashion are always growing, with a luxury market increasingly oriented towards sustainability and, at the same time, determined to exploit this trend of purchase from their consumers.

Circular fashion: the future of luxury brands

The phenomenon that includes second hand luxury fashion, the rental of luxury items, recycling and other practices aimed at growing the sector by lightning the production chains and the consumption of materials is called circular fashion. In fact, circularity, like sustainability, is an increasingly central keyword in the context of the luxury market. In the field of fashion we are witnessing a revolution aimed at generating sustainable luxury fashion, moving the sector away from its traditional role, associated with the use of refined materials and expensive production chains, as well as a lack of attention to the environment and social themes. Even luxury fashion wants to reduce its impact on the environment and society, by becoming "circular", that is, by limiting waste.

How? Through practices such as the rental of luxury items, repairs of still usable products and reuse, three micro-areas could reach 700 billion dollars by 2030, or 23% of the total revenues of the fashion sector. It therefore seems that the continuous market launch of new products and innovative materials in the field of luxury fashion will be partially replaced by repaired, rented and second-hand products. In short, circular fashion will be increasingly central within the luxury market, which is heading, like all other sectors, towards circularity to become more and more sustainable on an environmental and social level.

Luxury and sustainability: the rental option

To achieve sustainable luxury fashion, brands will have to implement production processes that guarantee sustainable products that match contemporary needs and tastes. It is also expected that, having reached the year 2030, fashion brands could get as much as 20% of their turnover from second-hand goods, increasing the profit margin on the single product up to 40% and opening doors to options like the rental of luxury items (although, as we have written about luxury bags, the trend is already growing). If buying a luxury bag is an excessive step or, simply, you want to try different models and change them constantly, there is also the possibility of renting this type of accessory.

To date, the best option to rent a luxury bag is… in London with Cocoon, which offers bags from the most luxurious fashion brands (including Chanel and Prada) by paying a monthly fee, thanks to which you can then make a replacement with another model of bag. But also in Italy there are companies dedicated to the rental of luxury bags, such as REWI - Rent Your Wish and Rent Fashion Bags. What awaits us, from now to 2030, is a world of luxury brands increasingly in the name of sustainability.

Private submarines: here is the luxury underwater transport

Private submarines represent one of the very last frontiers of luxury transport, with unique features and comforts, but also staggering prices.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Models and features of luxury submarines
  
• How much do luxury submarines cost?
  
• Discovering luxury electric yachts

Models and features of luxury submarines

Luxury transport also arrives underwater. Yes, because now the new frontier of luxury means of transport are private submarines, namely submersible boats that offer the comforts of a luxury boat together with the unique possibilities of submarines. In fact, these boats allow you to sit comfortably and enjoy incredible marine views, hundreds of meters below the sea surface. The currently existing private submarines combine latest generation technologies and classy design, as well as offer different options in terms of size, shape, interior spaces and customization. There are private submarines that can be housed and transported inside a yacht, but also others that are completely independent. We begin with the U-Boat Worx Nexus Series submarine, which is the largest ever produced, capable of accommodating up to nine people and taking them up to 200 meters below the surface of the water. This submersible offers unique views to all its passengers, via swivel seats, which can rotate in any direction and move to leave living space, and large panoramic windows, made possible by the elliptical pressure hull and external structure without lateral floats.

On a technological level, U-Boat Worx Nexus Series is designed to be able to move in any direction underwater, as well as being equipped with a latest generation lithium-ion battery, which allows the submarine to operate up to eighteen hours and dive ten times a day. Another luxury private submarine is the Project Neptune, built in partnership between the specialized company, Triton, and the famous British luxury car brand, Aston Martin. This submarine boat can host three people and can even reach a depth of 500 meters. Also produced by Triton, the 1000/2 MKII is a submarine that can be transported inside a large yacht, manages to touch 305 meters below sea level and travel at four knots per hour, as well as offering tools for air conditioning and humidity management. Let's now move on to the Aurora-6S, designed by SEAmagine, a unique submarine above all for one reason: it manages to reach 1.000 meters below the surface of the water. This private submarine is composed of a large glass bulb designed to allow passengers to experience incredible and unique marine views, while the weight, size and color of this luxury submarine have a wide range of customization, to be able to adapt to the yacht that hosts it.

How much do luxury submarines cost?

Obviously, private submarines will not be affordable for everyone, a bit like it happens with all luxury means of transport, such as, for example, the incredible G Train project. Submarines, however, also have technical characteristics that involve the use of very expensive materials and technologies, so their prices are really high. To mention an example, it is possible to take the Migaloo M7, one of the most equipped and comfortable submarines ever produced. This submarine is actually a huge yacht, more than 250 meters long, also capable of diving up to 250 meters below the surface of the water.

This incredible submersible boat also offers refined luxury interiors, exclusive latest generation comforts and extraordinary services, such as the heliport and swimming pool on the deck, but also a cinema, a gym with a Jacuzzi, a lounge bar and much more. The starting price of this jewel? There is talk of a figure that is around 800 million dollars. The cost of the other private luxury submarines is probably slightly lower than that of the Migaloo M7, but it certainly falls into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Discovering luxury electric yachts

Moving from the abyss to the surface, it is also appropriate to mention the electric yachts, which we have presented more in detail in this article, considered by some to be the future of luxury homes, obviously aquatic. Generally an electric yacht can accommodate between four and six people, accommodated in two or three cabins. The command area is located inside the bow, together with the kitchen area and a sofa bed, while the so-called "owner's cabin" develops at the stern, including a double bed, wardrobe and desk. These electric houseboats obviously also offer a bathroom with shower and toilet, a sauna and a large deck, which can also accommodate a grill, a water slide and an anchor for an inflatable boat.

Moving on to motor technology, these yachts generally have two electric motors powered by a battery pack that works via solar panels, with the possibility of also providing an additional diesel generator. A dream, right? Actually yes, given that, currently, electric yachts are not yet available for purchase and even their price remains unknown, although it is possible to imagine a cost equal to six figures. In short, electric yachts have all the credentials to become, in the near future, real floating luxury homes.