Luxury keeps reinventing itself. There was a time when $900 Libero Ferrero bags and $2,100 Brioni blazers were all the rage. But something new always comes around. This time, the flavour of the season is personalisation. While it’s not exactly new, there’s always a different take coming up.
Here are some more options to create your own masterpiece with a luxury nametag.
Dior
Add badges to the interchangeable straps of the My Lady Dior bag to make them truly your own. Launched in December last year, this is the French atelier’s first customisable bag. To make it truly unique, choose three ‘Lucky Badges’ from a selection that ranges from hearts to hashtags and roses to lucky stars. The self-obsessed can choose initials, and for die-hard Dior fans, there’s a badge of the patent Christian Dior bag design. It can’t get more meta than that. Starts from $3000.
Gucci
The Italian brand launched a DIY service last year, in which their Dionysus purses can be customised with a plethora of options: embroidered patches of butterflies, bees, dragonflies, snakes and peonies, besides trims, hardware, and monogrammed initials (also available in Swarovski crystals if you’re into bling). It falls right in line with Alessandro Michele’s design philosophy, which is “that the way you dress is how you feel, and that men and women should feel authentic and free in the expression of themselves.” Salma Hayek,Deepika Padukone and many international celebrities swear by this bag as their favourite. The second phase, rolled out in September 2016, saw Gucci’s Ace sneakers, menswear and men’s dress shoes added to the list. Bags start at $3300, Ace sneakers at $695, DIY suiting from $4,030 to $8,500 and up to $30,000 for dress shoes
Montegrappa
What’s more exclusive than bespoke? ‘Extra Bespoke’, of course, as this 105-year-old Italian company calls it. Share an image, and Montegrappa’s engravers will transfer it on to solid gold or silver, which will then grace the surface of a pen, making it a one-of-a-kind heirloom piece. Family, loved ones, and pets are the most popular requests for this Portrait Pen. As for the cap and barrel, choose from 24 different colours and finishes, from earthy to jewel tones, to complement the image of your choice. This service was launched in India in December 2016. Starts from $10,000.
Tag Heuer
Whatever you’re in the mood for, the Connected Modular 45mm can always be the watch you reach for: change the strap/bracelet, lugs, buckle and module (head) at any time, with a single click. Choose from a mechanical module and a tourbillon mechanical module; it can also switch between watch cases from an Android Wear 2.0 model, to a standard Swiss-made certified mechanical watch body. It comes with multiple strap choices, including calfskin and rubber, titanium, and ceramic straps. Starting at $1650.
Movado
Elegance merges with technology, in this new smartwatch collection that will run on Android Wear 2.0. The Movado Connect features five customisable dials inspired by the iconic Movado Museum dial. Each dial design also includes customisable elements, such as an array of complications, backgrounds, and watch hands. It will support Android Pay, Google Assistant and fitness tracking. The watches, which will have a display that’s always on instead of going dark when passive, will be able to access all Android apps. $495 onwards.
