This Week's Obsession: The 5 Ways Our Club De-risks Luxury Investment

It's More than Just a Slowdown, it's a Vibe Shift - which means luxury shoppers must be savvier.

1. The Luxury “Vibe Shift”

A recent Wall Street Journal piece warns that luxury is experiencing more than a temporary slowdown—it’s facing a cultural reset. Fashion and leather goods sales at LVMH fell 9% in Q2 2025, hit by lower tourist spending and waning enthusiasm from Gen Z shoppers. In a sector used to steady growth, this marks a significant change in tempo.

2. Value, Not Just Prestige

Interestingly, brands with more restrained price increases—like Cartier—are faring better. This suggests today’s luxury buyers are rewarding value perception as much as prestige. Analysts predict 2025 will deliver flat sales across the global luxury market, a rare departure from its usual outperformance.

3. Gucci’s Struggle and Kering’s Shake-Up

Kering, home to Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, reported a 25% drop in Gucci’s sales, driving an 18% fall in group revenue to €3.7 billion. Net profit for the half-year plunged from €878 million to €474 million. With S&P Global downgrading its credit outlook to negative, Kering is reshuffling leadership—bringing in Luca de Meo as CEO in September and handing Gucci’s creative helm to Demna Gvasalia.

4. What’s Driving the Shift?

Several forces are converging:

1. Tourism slump hurting spending in key European luxury hubs
International tourism—long a major driver of luxury sales in Paris, Milan, and London—is slowing. With fewer affluent travellers from the US, China, and the Middle East, brands are missing the big-ticket purchases that often boost quarterly results. Local customers, while important, spend differently and tend to be more considered in their purchases, leaving boutiques quieter than usual.

2. US tariffs on European luxury imports testing pricing power
Fresh US tariffs on European luxury goods are forcing brands into a tough choice: absorb the cost or raise already-inflated prices. For prestige houses like Hermès, scarcity and craftsmanship still justify the spend. But for others reliant on logo-driven “it” items, higher prices risk pushing aspirational shoppers out entirely—testing the true strength of their brand pull.

3. Gen Z’s pivot towards authenticity, craftsmanship, and vintage
Gen Z’s influence is reshaping demand. They favour heritage design, artisanal detail, and unique vintage finds over loud logos and mass-market hype. This is a generation that sees pre-owned as not just acceptable, but aspirational—valuing sustainability, individuality, and long-term worth over seasonal novelty.

4. Leadership churn at top houses
From CEOs to creative directors, luxury’s biggest names are reshuffling leadership to reconnect with evolving consumer values. These transitions can signal opportunity for renewal, but they’re risky. Brands that misread the cultural moment can lose relevance fast, while those that align with shifting tastes can stage dramatic comebacks.

More Luxury Club: A Smarter, Lower-Risk Way to Invest in Luxury

In today’s evolving luxury market, buying high-end fashion is no longer just about style—it’s about making smart financial decisions. With major brands facing sales slowdowns, shifting consumer tastes, and unpredictable resale values, the traditional approach to luxury ownership carries more risk than many shoppers realise.

More Luxury Club changes that equation. Our co-ownership model is designed to de-risk your investment—both at the moment of purchase and when it’s time to sell.

1. Lower Buy-In, Same Access

Instead of tying up thousands—or tens of thousands—of pounds in a single luxury piece, members purchase shares in carefully selected, high-quality items. This fractional model significantly reduces your initial outlay while giving you full access for an allocated portion of the year. A minimum of 12 weeks per year.

Why it matters:

You enjoy the item without over-exposing yourself financially.
Your capital remains free to diversify into other pieces or investments.

2. Meticulous Asset Selection

Not all luxury items hold their value. Our team applies strict criteria—brand reputation, craftsmanship, demand history, and resale performance—to choose pieces most likely to retain or appreciate in value.

Why it matters:

You’re buying into an asset that has already been vetted for longevity and desirability.
Our partners uses market data and AI to forecast the future resale price of each item.

3. White-Glove Maintenance Protects Value

Luxury items can lose significant resale value if poorly maintained. More Luxury Club handles cleaning, storage, and repair servicing with the highest professional standards—ensuring your piece remains pristine. In addition, your item is safeguarded by comprehensive theft and damage insurance.

Why it matters:

Preservation extends the asset’s life and marketability.
Buyers in the secondary market will pay a premium for “like-new” condition.

4. Built-In Resale Advantage

When you’re ready to sell, you’re not entering the open market cold. You have access to a ready-made community of fellow members who already understand the item’s value, standard of care and provenance.

Why it matters:

You avoid long delays and lower offers often seen in public resale channels.
Sales are streamlined and transparent, with buyers you can trust.

5. Shared Market Risk

In traditional ownership, a dip in market value hits your entire investment. In our model, any price movement is proportionally distributed among co-owners, significantly softening potential losses. And you pay a fraction of the resale commissions on other platforms which further reduces your equity.

Why it matters:

Luxury becomes a calculated investment rather than a gamble.
The risk/reward profile looks much more like a balanced portfolio than a single high-stakes purchase.

The Takeaway

With More Luxury Club, you’re not just buying into a handbag—you’re buying into a savvier way to participate in the luxury market. By lowering the entry cost, protecting the asset’s condition, and creating a built-in resale ecosystem, we de-risk luxury ownership from start to finish.

In a world where the luxury landscape is shifting fast, this is the modern, intelligent way to invest—combining the joy of access with the security of sound asset management.

Céline is on our designer radar - and why it should be on yours

Céline has long been synonymous with Parisian minimalism—think clean lines, timeless proportions, and that effortlessly refined sophistication only quality craftsmanship can deliver. But Céline’s allure reaches beyond the obvious.

Each piece is an ode to understated elegance: the iconic Box Bag, with its sleek silhouette, elevates everyday essentials into objects of desire; the structured Luggage (Phantom) Tote stands as a bold statement while maintaining its subtlety, its contours both architectural and inviting; and the practical Trio Bag merges versatility with discreet luxury, seamlessly adapting from day to night.

True to its heritage, every Céline creation offers more than fleeting style—it promises quiet confidence, the kind that whispers rather than shouts, and stands as a benchmark for those who appreciate design that transcends trends, season after season.

From our viewpoint, its handbags are design perfection—architectural, understated, and ageless. They embody the kind of quality that makes co-ownership meaningful: a stable, value-holding presence in your rotation. If you're a fan, don't miss out, look for Céline in this September's Fab5 drop.

Love It or Hate It: The Rise of Embossed Skins

Beyond Snakeskin, Autumn Goes Full-on for Skins

Suddenly, eels, lizards, and crocodiles seem a little less frightening. It’s hard not to fall in love when they look this good.

This season, exotic skins have taken centre stage, transforming runways into showcases of striking artistry. Snakeskin, in particular, is having a huge year—making appearances at Valentino, Miu Miu, and Stella McCartney, each brand infusing classic silhouettes with bold texture and a seductive edge.

For those who crave originality and the unexpected, Gucci, Fendi, and Jil Sander are pushing boundaries with alternative skins—think eel, lizard, and embossed leathers with patterns so intricate they feel like art installations. These aren’t just handbags or shoes; they’re conversation starters.

Why We Love It ❤️

Texture as a power move – Embossed skins give a tactile richness you simply can’t get from smooth leather.
Instant statement – Even in neutral tones, the patterning draws the eye and elevates an outfit.
Versatility – Works across accessories, outerwear, and footwear without feeling forced.

Why Some Hate It 💔

Not for minimalists – The bold textures can feel overpowering for those who favour clean, understated lines.
Care factor – Exotic skins, even embossed ones, require a little more TLC to maintain their beauty.
The ‘faux vs. real’ debate – In an age of conscious fashion, some consumers are conflicted over the ethics of exotic leathers.

The Verdict

Love it or hate it, embossed skins are shaping the accessories game in 2025. For the daring, they’re a chance to add drama without screaming for attention. For the hesitant, they’re a “try in small doses” trend—start with a belt, a clutch, or a pair of shoes before committing to a full handbag.

And for the More Luxury Club member? This is an investment trend to watch. The right embossed skin piece—especially from a heritage house—can retain value and turn into a long-term wardrobe icon.

We are enamoured with Céline's Mini Celine Antoinette lizard (below), it's not just the lizard skin but the vintage design of the bag, which is also a trend for autumn, 'Frame/Pinch Closure' which is reminiscent of coin purses with kiss lock closures, vintage vibe but updated for 2025. We hope to see her next month as The ONE.