A Critical Lens

This book does not shy away from the contradictions and controversies surrounding luxury. We examine the tension between exclusivity and inclusivity, the environmental cost of producing goods designed to last forever yet subject to seasonal trends, and the social implications of extreme wealth inequality that luxury both reflects and reinforces.

We explore how counterfeiting—often dismissed as merely a legal and economic issue—raises complex questions about accessibility, desire, and the value we place on authenticity. We investigate labor practices throughout global supply chains, examining how brands ensure ethical treatment of workers from French ateliers to leather suppliers in distant countries.