Au Revoir Luxury.
We had twenty years of magic, mayhem, and memorable moments; what a journey it has been.
Thank you for letting me recruit the creme de la creme of talent for your most coveted and shiniest brands.
Their allure, like honey, attracted the most intelligent and busiest bees.
I treasure every character in this story:
The passionate perfectionists whose conviction in their craft sometimes reached cosmic proportions - after all, they were part of writing new chapters in 200-year-old legacies.
They were devoted guardians who preserved traditions with quiet pride, knowing they were part of something greater than themselves.
And the wide-eyed enthusiasts who roam through fashion-like candy stores.
You were - are - an industry of dreams. Where creativity flowed with craftsmanship, and every season brought new possibilities.
Yet something shifted when the fairytales began featuring more dollar signs than emotions.
The rush for more - more products, more profits, more pressure - changed the rhythm of our dance.
Is it normal for Italian factories to run 24/7 to chase margins at all costs?
Or CEOs admitting to excessive price increases?
Season after season, a new story tainted the taste of luxury.
It isn't a tale of villains - just the story of another industry whose numbers grew faster than its humanity could adapt.
My heart has a soft spot for those who work to bring luxury to life - from the craftspeople walking the tightrope between demand and desire to the leaders juggling art and teams while racing on performance treadmills.
Yet, the last time I searched for talent, I found myself reading out loud the fine print about the realities of burnout: "We're not just looking for skills. You'll need the resilience and mental game of an Olympic athlete. The role demands both virtuosity and endurance.”
Sustainability starts with the people.
Finding coaching allowed me to discover that excellence doesn't require exhaustion and creativity flows better from more joy than pressure.
So let us imagine a future for the luxury industry where together we keep the rigeur of the craft and bring back the playfulness to our community.
Are you game?
Agathe
CEO ARTful Communication/OMAGGIO STUDIO - Products that create emotional attachment between customers and brands Honored as One of The Top 25 Women to Watch in Luxury
1moYes, I'm in.
Luxury Fashion Leader/ passionate about creating transformational customer experiences
1modear Agathe Lerolle, our magical, visionary, forever leader…. merci!!
Human Resources Manager
1moI love your article and your insights. You are putting into words everything I have felt for the past 5 years at least - and yes, luxury is not the fun and magic it used to be - salaries my be high but demands are higher and often inhuman. Yes there is a need for resetting.....
Writer/Creative Lead, former Global ECD (Publicis, FCB)
1moBeautiful.
President/CEO at Estelle Leeds Artists Management
1mobeautifully executed. Miss you xx