Isa Lavs, digital marketing consultant, explains why the UK luxury fashion retail sector has continued to go from strength to strength
Shoppers at The Village, Westfield London’s dedicated luxury space
Three years since it was first predicted that the UK recession and the ensuing meltdown of the global economy would bring the consumer world to its knees, the luxury fashion retail sector has continued to go from strength to strength.
Last year, English leather goods stalwart, Mulberry, reported record sales and PPR, (the group that owns Alexander McQueen amongst others), continues to expand at an astonishing rate. Arguably the most iconic British luxury fashion brand, Burberry, has recently reported storming sales figures and like many of its contemporaries appears to be very much recession-proof.
These facts beg the question: why are extravagantly expensive, high-end luxury fashion brands remaining so popular in the UK when we are constantly being reminded that times are still tight and in response we should all tighten our belts that little bit more?
“ Luxury shoppers from mainland China and Hong Kong account for about 30% of the luxury goods market in Britain, followed by Russians, Arabs and Japanese ”
The answer to this important question consists of a myriad of explanations; the most pertinent being that the British need to stand out from the crowd and cannot be so easily thwarted. Buying goods from the likes of Vivienne Westwood may swallow-up a significant proportion of the average Brit’s pay packet, but boy is the quirkiness and reverie worth it.
Luxury shopping in London has benefited in recent tough times not only from the Brit enfant terrible attitude, but also from wealthy foreigners who each summer flock to the capital to partake in some of the finest shopping in the world. Affluent tourists bolstered UK luxury fashion shopping throughout the recession and it looks as if they are set to continue spending on our shores.
Luxury shoppers from mainland China and Hong Kong account for about 30% of the luxury goods market in Britain, followed by Russians, Arabs and Japanese (The Guardian). However, whereas the British employ luxury as a tool for differentiation, their Chinese counterparts consume so that they can blend in and be part of the pack.
Inside The Village at Westfield London
UK luxury shoppers are more inclined to buy into little-known, young designers such as Jonathan Saunders and Henry Holland than the Asian shopper who, conversely, is more drawn towards globally recognised brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Fendi.
Designs from these fashion powerhouses can be snapped-up in the UK at far cheaper prices than they can be in China; over the past three years the British pound has lost approximately a third of its value against the Chinese renminbi, making the UK an incredibly attractive shopping holiday destination for those with a taste for the best that money can buy.
Along with competitively lower prices, British heritage brands such as Mulberry, Burberry and Aquascutum all tell an alluring story characterised by skilled craftsmanship and time honoured traditions; it is a romantic and nostalgic story that many want to buy into, whatever the cost.
Queen of floaty, feminine style, Alice Temperley, says: We (the Brits) have a heritage to delve into that we can pull from and that gives it (British fashion) a sense or romance, and a sort of nostalgia. It is nice to buy into something that sort of seems like it’s got a story and with heritage, comes a feeling of quality (Reuters).
“ Over the past 3 years the British pound has lost approximately a third of its value against the Chinese renminbi, making the UK an incredibly attractive shopping destination ”
The element of quality in traditional, British-made luxury fashion and leather goods is important to understanding why luxury shopping has prevailed in austere times. It is interesting that many UK consumers are more than happy to cut back when it comes to FMCG goods- often choosing to buy own-brand household items rather than more expensive, established options- yet they are inflexible when it comes to buying a great pair of shoes or a beautiful handbag.
This mentality can be attributed to this simple logic: “buy cheap, buy twice”. A Mulberry handbag may set the UK women back by at least £600, but this £600 is an investment, it has bought her more than just a exquisite handbag; it has bought her peace of mind, a security that her purchase will stand the test of time and will not need to be replaced in a year or so. In today’s somewhat uncertain times, this consumer choice is a no brainer for the money-savvy, fashion-forward femme.
Louis Vuitton’s London Maison on New Bond Street, opened in 2010
The continued success of luxury shopping during the UK recession and beyond has captivated economists the world over; how can brands that flat-out refuse to commoditise survive an icy climate of restrain?
Interestingly, it is this reluctance that sets the luxury retailer apart from the rest of the pack and makes it all the more attractive. The psychological and emotional power of aspirational shopping should not be underestimated; in a world of bland, generic, low-cost goods, the fantastical offers a welcome counterpoint.
Moreover, the fact that luxury shopping is what it is- luxe, exclusive, uncompromising and unyielding- affords it a lucrative integrity sadly missing from the majority of today’s high street. Perhaps the defining point is that luxury fashion brands constantly challenge our preconceptions of them; they keep us guessing what is coming next, they are highly creative and very exciting. Instead of commoditising, they invent and reinvent, and this is at the core of their success.
