Do social classes make a difference to Luxury?

Working class citizens in England are usually individuals earning minimum wage, and do not have a great deal of disposable income at the end of every month. Presumptions about luxury being equated to money can put lower class people off the idea of a ‘luxury’ product or service. This relates back to the importance that luxury can be considered as simple things or items which you already take for granted. For poorer households within our society you would expect the largest percentage of income and financial outgoings to be spent on food products, as eating healthy is usually the most important priority for a family.

However there are many lower class people who believe that luxury does take a part in their life. Human behaviour is motivated by passion and pleasure, and there is a defining boundary between luxury and necessity. Surely poorer individuals though, have personal luxuries. Family experiences constantly take place at home and ‘the physical environment communicate[s] in a non verbal way, and non verbal communication, often powerful and important to the people [and the family] connected.’

Effortlessly some working class people would straight away jump to the conclusion that they in fact have no personal luxuries at all. Lower class families do not usually have the best social and financial background according to statistics, and this could be a factor in their disbelief and discontentment in ‘luxury’.

The middle class in England falls between both lower and upper class under social economic terms. In the United Kingdom it is usually implied that the middle class citizens would have their own family home, have good educational backgrounds, and work high up within the working sector, either as part of the managerial team or perhaps even the director of a company. The widespread trade in consumer goods sales coincides with a civility in middling and upper classes; this can be conveyed in new ways of eating, socialising and via public pleasure and leisure. In the seventieth and eighteenth centuries you would be limited where to go, for example there was basically a theatre some public gardens, but these days there is no excuse to not adventure out, socialise and explore.

Economic expansion and social redistribution of wealth means that a middle class citizen could afford to purchase ‘luxury’ branded products if they wish to do so with their monthly income – although most ‘luxury’ products and services could not be considered a part of everyday life, other than the occasional impulse purchase.

 

There are obvious pre-conceptions that the upper class have the most luxurious possessions, and obviously purchase the expensive up-to-date luxury goods on offer in today’s society. The upper class are at the top of social hierarchy, they have a much higher disposable income than the middle and lower class. Though surprisingly, most of the higher earning people I questioned on ‘luxury’ believed the more simple things in life to be of more importance to them than their material possessions.

Nicolas Barbon (1690) stated that –

The wants of the Mind are infinite, Man naturally Aspires, and as his Mind is elevated, his Senses grow more refined, and more capable of Delight; his Desires are enlarged, and his Wants increase with his Wishes, which is for everything that is rare, can gratify his Senses, adorn his Body and promote the Ease, Pleasure and Pomp of Life.

 

Equality and being treated the same is a factor in which now the social classes boundaries are becoming less and less obvious. The upper class are just like everybody else, most are grateful for the things they cannot pay for – Grateful for the situations and circumstances that they cannot control. Luxury to them can be when the uncontrollable goes well. There are many well-known phrases surrounding money, for example, “money cannot buy you love” –money cannot manipulate passion or get you your own way. Then there is the saying, “money isn’t everything, but I’d like to see you live without it,” clearly you could have a life without money, but it would not be very appealing to most. Money clearly takes up a huge part in everybody’s lives whether they wish for it to or not.

The well-off society can afford all that they desire and most already own all they desire. The comfort of being financially stable, can possibly lead to the upper class focusing on the smaller, uncontrollable things within their daily lives. It is more important to have freedom, time, family and health. Though no person is likely to want (or admit to wanting) a luxury product more than a healthy family member.

City Versus Country

A town or city is not just a group of buildings but usually a large community and worthy experience; urbanized environments have been described as ‘places in which new ideas and new ways of life are first introduced’ and many towns are said to have ‘encourage[d] displays of wealth and status’.

Our capital city, London, has been identified as a city which has huge prestige and significance within our society. This is unsurprising as it is the heart of the country, and provides us with more than sufficient businesses, communal areas, features and transport links. London provides us as individuals with greater access, and new experiences. ‘Harrods’ in London has a reputation of being the ‘world’s most famous, luxury department store.’ Having such a reputation and prestige makes it a very attractive place to shop and the overall experience of shopping there can become a luxury, just because of the location, status and interior characteristics.

‘Town life has been seen as intrinsically different from life in the country; our image of urban life is that it is aesthetically, psychologically, and economically more advanced than life in the country. [...] Towns are often taking to have played a crucial role in modifications to consumer behaviour throughout the pre-industrial era, acting as electric transformers on national or regional economics’

‘Luxury’ and ‘Designer’ are becoming more and more entwined in •Advertising •

‘Luxury’ and ‘Designer’ are becoming more and more entwined within the design industry, the meanings of both words are almost emerging together to equate to the same thing. People are keen to purchase ‘designer’ and ‘luxury’ products because of the status it can create, even more so if the products are affordable to them. 

Luxury goods today have a new significance as marks of esteem, and acquiring them has become essentially easy. Luxury has formed in our evolution; we crave beautiful surroundings and possessions, and yearn beyond the basics of life. Patrizia Pressimone, director of architecture at the Paris department store ‘Printemps’, stated, 'Luxury is not measured in dollars - it is measured in details.'

Perfume is a product which is increasingly forever popular, and the television advertisements are becoming more eccentric and sensual. Perfume provides us with pleasing scents and appealing aromas, which equate to a luxurious sensation. Perfumes have been forever linked with luxury. ‘Pretty glass bottles were prisms through which everyday consumers could glimpse a life of luxury’. Perfumes link back to the Ancient Egyptians Era, where they discovered glass to protect their perfumes and scents. These products are not necessarily a necessity in our lives; there are much cheaper alternatives and other beauty products available on the high street. Yet most high end, successful and ever-popular ‘eau de parfum’ designer’s such as Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Tom Ford, include a designer price tag to match their reputations.

Luxury is a cultural phenomenon...

Luxury is a cultural phenomenon; there is a long-standing consumer culture worldwide, connecting many trades, groups, individuals and even countries together. It is clear there is a natural evolution of society progressing. ‘From the earliest times the concept of luxury was associated with ‘foreignness’, archaeologists and anthropologists have explored the connection between luxuries and foreign goods and their traders in ancient and primitive societies’ extensively.’ Rare and valued objects were the incentive of long-distance business in the ancient world. Countries like Asia provided us with certain materials like muslins, porcelain and lacquer which are becoming an ever increasing imported luxury within Europe’s market. ‘Eastern and Oriental imports were part of the classical, western definition of luxury’ and China today is still thought to be further advanced in technology than Britain. If it wasn’t for a strong evolved contact with other cultures a lot of materials and goods we have today would not exist and strong transport links nowadays makes this possible, by providing and making available new goods distributed evenly.

Understanding the importance of personal ‘luxury’ in other cultures is important so not to cause offense, or appear naive. View points from across the world are completely different and will always contradict. All countries have a different cost of living, different laws and a different way of life. A person from Zimbabwe for example, would have completely different expectations of a ‘luxury’ than somebody from the heart of the capital city of England. A ‘luxury’ to a British individual for example, ‘Sky HD’ would not be a comfort to poverty-stricken Africans and is likely to represent gluttony. Children in third world countries are lucky to make their teenage years. A daily achievement can become making it through the day alive, or being able to afford food. Effortless tasks and everyday occurrences we (as reasonably wealthy Westerners) take for granted, become a ‘luxury’.

A number of third world countries depend on tourism as an income for their families. As a result children are typically made to take-up native hand-made arts and crafts to enable an income for their family. Unobtainable luxuries are something which unprivileged people have to deal with everyday. All thought of ‘luxury’ would seem beyond their reach, or non-existent. Most under-privileged communities are oblivious to a better-quality way of life. This results in them being content with their lives – despite the rest of the world living in much safer, comfortable and richer societies.

Tourism is seen to be in some people’s eyes an ‘un-sustainable luxury’. Holidays abroad, and weekends away came up frequently in questionnaire (one I created on the topic of luxury) results. Scientists and environmental activists believe that the tourism industry is flawed, mainly because of the global warming produced, as well as other ways worldwide travel causes major harm to our natural environment. Nine hundred million international trips took place in 2008 and these trips seem to be ever-increasing by the year. ‘Tourism can damage coral reefs, pollute beaches and destroy the habitats of wildlife’ and ironically, there is no luxury associated with that. If the tourism boom did stop however, poorer countries that rely on tourism for their livelihood would become worse off. Once a balance of self-control takes place regarding travel within our lifestyles, all countries could then foresee a benefit.

Luxury Fashion and Design Trends

‘New trade in luxuries [in eighteenth century] was to stimulate innovation in technologies, products, marketing strategies and commercial and financial institutions’ these factors incorporate within trade today more than ever. 

Today it isn’t unusual to find ‘luxury’ related within fashion and trends, within the aesthetics, comfort, enjoyment or marketing of the product. Everyone dresses to impress, and first impressions count more than ever. We are becoming ever increasingly obsessed with image, whether that is in fashion, photography or film. It’s not uncommon nowadays to be within a group of strangers, and individually be awarded honour and status merely according to the clothes you are wearing.

Today, luxury can be linked with beauty, as opposed to abnormality which is not considered idealistic in today’s society. Beauty, style and fashion can also be inter-linked, just take a look at the models dressed in the clothing and posing in advertisements. ‘People identify strongly with cultural icons and often rely on these symbols in their everyday lives’ using nationally known models like David Beckham, and Kate Moss provides customers with satisfaction and assurance in the product.

Luxury trends can include everything, and a variety of designers, patterns and styles. Purchasing a dress from the designer brand Chanel for example, would be sure to ooze luxuriousness with Chanel’s huge world renowned superiority and status; it would come with guaranteed excellence, but also expense. 

A luxury brands status is a major triumph, as recent reports show Christian Dior’s Fashion house in France have sacked John Galliano, the haute couture house’s creative director of over fifteen years. He was accused of numerous racist drunken comments, and is now facing possible jail terms. The company, Dior, have a massive reputation to retain, and confirmed they have ‘zero tolerance for anti-Semitism’.

Luxury retailers have only recently given in to the internet as ‘the majority of luxury companies were initially reluctant to adopt the internet until they realised that the wealthy segment of the consumer population was mostly online.’ This is most likely because luxury is down to refinement, and rarity. ‘On a medium such as the internet, which thrives on mass access and mass appeal, is logically paradoxical.’ Luxury products are supposedly unique, and ‘most luxury companies were built on the foundations of skill and craftsmanship,’ the internet seemed to contradict their brand values and name. A ricochet of thoughts ‘we don’t need the internet, the internet is not a luxury’ took place, but upon reflection, most brands proved the internet a success within their company.

‘Luxury businesses are small; but they are respected and have impressive reputation. Dior Fashion has annual sales of approximately $800 million, while the Peugeot Group [unbelievably] has annual sales of $56 billion.’

Working as a style advisor part-time for the UK’s largest privately owned clothing retailer ‘Arcadia Group Limited’ whom own over 2,500 of the high street’s best known fashion outlets, including Topshop, Miss Selfridge and Evans, it is easy to become aware of passing trends and popular fashions which we as individuals possess. The matching and grouping of clothing, accessories, colour and style name promotes retail of over one item per transaction, therefore providing the company with more sales and increased ATV (average transaction value). The future AW13 trends are now appearing in the major fashion stores throughout the world. These clothing designs and fashion crazes are also being plastered graphically in the pages of admired style magazines like Vogue. 

Vogue advertises fashion and promotes fashion awareness. Vogue expresses by means of print all significant shapes, form, pattern and colour which have came from the ‘catwalk’ which are expected to be popular in the coming season. Nowadays by wearing the latest fashion, your image fundamentally expresses recognition of charisma and charm. Just the appeal of shopping for, as well as purchasing fashion products can be thought of as luxurious.

Most fashion is mass-produced abroad, but it is not rare to discover limited edition pieces and bespoke items from boutique sections or concessions in high street stores. It is not unusual to purchase from the ‘boutique’ section because of its higher status – the clothing is usually limited edition and therefore it is unlikely for anyone else to wear the same item, making it more exclusive to whoever purchases a ‘boutique’ item.

For better or for worse, fashions sells.

Fabric is everywhere in today’s world, be it the textiles in furniture, bedding, clothing, cars or carpets. The UK’s clothing and shoe market alone had an estimated value of approximately £46.05bn in 2009. ‘Luxury’ fabric is something that most people would more than likely expect to have a particular level of quality, exclusivity and durability. As well as meeting the public’s biased opinions on what a luxury product must entail it is important for the fabric maker to take responsibility and incorporate all fire safety regulations and a care label which is nowadays essential and requested by law. Textiles within design schemes prove easy options to combine colour and texture, as well as providing sculptural qualities.

Today there is an abundance of features in fabrics which are available for us to purchase and utilise. It is important to choose the right materials, particularly if creating an interior with a luxurious element attached. With an unlimited budget it would be obtuse to use a dull, second rate fabric such as muslin. By getting material choice right it will contribute to controlling an impressive finished interior.

Wedding dresses are a particular and obvious item of clothing/fashion/fabric a woman would equate to a luxury product. A ‘luxury’ wedding dress nowadays will cost considerable amounts of money and will generally be the priciest garment a woman will wear in her lifetime. There is a Designer Wedding Show held once a year at Battersea Park in London that claims they will ‘share your passion for design, style and luxury’. A luxurious wedding dress is usually an important component for any bride-to-be, and needs to attain individuality as well as being fit for purpose and beautiful to make the bride herself feel ‘luxurious’ for her big day. By carefully grouping embellishments to the fabric and adding little delightful details to a lower priced wedding dress an exceptional romantic boutique style dress can be created. Brides are continuously looking out for ‘the perfect dresses’, and handmade bespoke luxury wedding creations.

However particular individuals would consider ‘vintage’ to be a luxury. It is believed to be eco-friendly and luxurious in some people’s view to reclaim old material and rediscover old vintage fabric and clothing. They bring to life, dated and old fashioned designs to create customized frivolous pieces. The website, ‘Luxury Vintage’ proves just this, and classes their products as ‘previously owned treasures’. Purchasing products like vintage fabric would mean the end user will be wearing unique garments no one else is likely to own. This links back to how luxury is related to rarity in recent time. Therefore the stimulation of recovering old possessions and making new use out of them can become a luxury – making old clothes or fabric breathe a new breath of life provides a fusion of style between a miss-match of modern fashion trends and vintage flea market finds. Similarly in modern interiors, if you add an antique item within a modern set environment it will become an inconspicuous yet a complementary sensitive detail.

‘Fabrics [today] are produced by the piece, which usually ranges from 30 to 80 yards of fabric depending on the weight and difficulty in production of the goods. It is most common to purchase fabric by the metre. If you purchase handmade luxury fabric which isn’t mass produced, you are more likely to be able to find suitable sizes to predominantly fit your particular needs especially if the fabric is handmade or hand printed. It would be important for designers to source perfect, fit for purpose materials from further afield if working with a client’s high luxury budget, or even unlimited funds.

Fashion arguably is the most important factor and component considered within textiles design and production. Fashion sells and selling equals money, it’s that simple. There is reasonable evidence to suggest that designer’s will do whatever it takes to up their companies’ (and therefore themselves) reputation. In society these days it’s important for any kind of designer to work relentlessly to retain high standards just as closely within the production of their products as it is to please the end users.

There is also a vital balance which can help ethical production within the industry regarding the country of fabrics’ origins. People and craftsmen of the world would not have jobs abroad in third world countries. It’s important that they are employed by large European retailers for their fabric production process. However designer’s can be seen to be unethical by not using fabric production locally, this is an obvious way to save air miles, carbon footprints and generally support local green production.

The price and production of fabrics in some cases can be ethically justified, but in certain cases cannot. By focusing on individual designer’s there are considerable differences between the way each company is focusing on being responsible, both ethically and otherwise. What does seem definite however is that fashion is the way forward within the textiles industry because, for better or for worse, fashions sells.

Brief History of 'Luxury'

The history of ‘luxury’ begins back in roman times in 400 AD. In 476 AD there was thriving pleasure and luxury that drove the dissolution of the Roman Empire. The pleasures of food and sex reflect the civilization and economy development of a society. For example, Roman bathing spas were an innovative way of displaying pure luxury. ‘Amber, ivory, incense, pepper and silk were the priorities of the Roman trade’[vi] owning a luxury product like these provided the owner with state of power. In 1453 Europeans began having contact with the Muslim world, and had acquired a taste for the spices, silks and other luxury goods of Asia. In 1912 the luxury liner Titanic set sail from South Hampton, England.

Looking back at the Ancient Egyptian tombs’ is a clear indicator of how luxury dates back to expressing personal prosperity and prominence. Egyptian’s were buried wearing and surrounded by their most precious jewels and luxurious belongings – to symbolise their power and importance. Clearly, the Ancient Egyptian’s lives showed hierarchy and a highly sophisticated society and culture. Royal tombs contained magical objects to assist the kings and queens in their new life, the increased belief of an ‘after life’ insisted on them including ritualistic objects[vii], as well as numerous regular items within the burial chambers – this enabled the Egyptians to take their wealth with them into the after-world.

‘Luxury as we know it today is rooted in old Europe’s Royal Courts.’ And today, designers are attempting to bring back luxury from the past by renovating Victorian and Edwardian buildings to their original grand designs. For example Bloemfontein’s most prestigious four star luxury hotel which was renovated in 2004. The Victoria and Albert museums in London show objects previously owned by the wealthier members of society and have re-constructed interiors in place. It is possible that revamping old buildings to their classic graceful decoration could subsequently bring back a particular energy or old memories of the era and equate to a luxurious stay at the hotel. Older buildings attain character and traditional charm. By respecting the original architecture designer’s can bring revived former luxurious buildings back to life. By accentuating an interiors original charm it is possibly to create a ‘luxurious’ feeling within.

People throughout history have in some cases tried to discourage ‘luxury’ within our society, religious and moral campaigners for example. However there was a declaration of historical materialism, which was believed to allow ‘all forms and contents of culture to emerge out of the prevailing economic revelations.'

Preconceptions of 'Luxury'

Understandably people have commandeered a number of preconceptions of luxury, the main and reoccurring one being in relation to money, which is becoming a dominating cliché.

Luxury’s context as the years have gone by has become to a great extent indescribable. There is a fixed and limited idea that you need to part with a great deal of money to purchase a luxury product or service. Along with the thought that you need to be particularly wealthy to even contemplate purchasing a product characterized as luxurious. Luxury in general is very subjective, yet in my opinion a very important and integrated component of today’s modern world especially for us as designers.

However, there are numerous products at discount stores like ‘Poundland’ who sell ‘luxury’ branded boxes of chocolate for merely One UK British Sterling Pound. The chocolate could be cheap but packaged differently to appear of more value, or they are indisputably rare, authentic branded chocolates, which are more expensive elsewhere making them a bargain?! By using exclusive gift wrapping services and packaging in shops worldwide, this gives the opportunity for the shop keeper, company managing director or product designer to give their products a special ‘status’. This then has the concept to majestically make their products become more appealing to a wider target group. By concealing products in boxes with countless ribbons, gift tags, assortments of tissue paper and other embellishments particularly fabricates and increases a product’s image and intensity to appear more ‘luxurious’ than it actually may be.

The high street retailer, La Senza is a good example of this. Their well-established gift-wrapping services are probably one of the best complimentary services any person can receive these days in the mass-produced fast-pace retail and fashion sector, making their products appear to be more of a boutique or high end status, even though La Senza is extremely reasonably priced and affordable to virtually every working person. The luxury gift-wrapping service they offer really sets them apart from other stores, making the luxury of purchasing their products to be more of an enriched experience and appearance, rather than just plain ‘designer’ merchandise. 

‘An increased awareness of how people process visual information can help designers to create meaningful messages that are understood on both a cognitive and emotional level.’ Designers need to be aware of everyone’s opinions, beliefs and preconceptions – otherwise we cannot provide clients with what is required emotionally and psychically, let alone technically. Designers could consider that ‘luxury’ needs not be an expensive product, but could just be part of the vital services offered. By exceeding expectations and providing a satisfying and enriching experience for all cliental a designer’s services’ will heighten ‘luxuriousness’.

'Luxury' Within Design.

In a world that is becoming increasingly obsessed with celebrities, money and image itself, ‘luxury’ is no doubt a topic worthy of investigation. The word ‘luxury’ can be considered in a variety of ways. It is not always materialistic, or acquisitive; it can also be considered to be mere comfort, time, security and contentment. Comfort is luxurious to many as it can imply well-being and peace. Time can be thought of as a luxury from the perspectives of an array of people as our time is numbered and continuously shortening; therefore it is something that, although we do not necessarily realise it, is worth more than money or material possessions. The language of ‘luxury’ is endlessly evolving, and our thoughts are being developed to redefine ‘gluttony’ to ‘addition’ and ‘egotism’ to ‘elegance’. There is an irregular divide between ‘need’ and ‘want’, and ‘necessity’ and ‘luxury’ within our culture. Now, in the twentieth century lower priced items have put ‘luxury’ products and services temptingly within our reach, and luxury ‘flexes easily with the times’ while we as individuals are in pursuit of the ‘ideal’ and owning more possessions and iconic brands than ever.

Luxury is extremely varied, based on not only social standing but also race, religion or even gender. For example, we as fairly well off Westerners take for granted elements such as the security and safety which we feel within our communities and everyday lives; is to someone of a poorer background an unobtainable luxury. A feeling of contentment is something which to many is an invaluable feeling and after a stressful day, one that not many would like to go without. Everyone in our society has their own individual luxuries which are exclusive to themselves, as well as their own perspectives on the meaning and significance of the word ‘luxury’. Luxury in general might seem to imply ‘exclusiveness’ and in some cases, refinement and sophistication. The phrase luxury is used extensively in everyday life and advertising; you have the chance to purchase a ‘luxury yacht’, ‘luxury car’ or ‘luxury bedding’ etc. The universal definition and characterization of the phrase ‘luxury’ typically gives the impression of money and wealth. In my blog the label ‘luxury’ will be used in the loosest of terms, owing to the difficulty of defining the word as a whole to suit everyone’s personal opinion of ‘luxury’. Overall there is an elusive, as well as somewhat ambiguous meaning, to the word.

The dictionary defines ‘luxury’ as an ‘Abundance, [and] sumptuous enjoyment. [...] A choice of costly surroundings, possessions, food, etc. A means or source of luxurious enjoyment, something desirable for comfort or engagement but not dispensable.’ All definitions equate ‘luxury’ to lavishness and extravagance. This, however, is not necessarily true based upon the previous opinions as well as those which resulted from my questionnaires (a detailed and thorough analysis of which will be featured later in this blog). In order to provide a definition in layman’s terms, I have also provided a definition from the online ‘Urban Dictionary’. Written by any one, the ‘Urban Dictionary’ provides a more realistic break down of the opinions of the public (or at least the internet using public) of the ways in which they personally define words as opposed to the actual official definition. I am sure you are aware the public have the opportunity to vote on the words definition with either a ‘thumbs-up’ or ‘thumbs-down’ in order to best determine the most appropriate contemporary definition. Another reason for my doing this is that often a word will be used by one social or ethnic group to mean something completely different to that of its original or technical definition. For ‘luxury’ there were three answers in total, confirming luxury nowadays means; [ii]‘To be on top of the world, an indulgence, something rare and difficult to obtain, easy-living’ or ‘something that is very expensive and brings great ease and comfort.’ All three of these meanings seem much more realistic given the modern world, compared with the official dictionary definition.

One aim of my blog is to determine whether designer’s ‘luxury’ products and services are linked in to essentially make you feel good, or ‘luxurious’. Can designers impose luxury into our everyday lives? Which designer’s represent luxury? Coco Chanel famously said, “Luxury is a necessity that begins where necessity ends”. Does where, and how you have been bought up intensify the meaning of the word luxury? Every individual’s background may signify a personal development of what they believe luxury to be. Yet some individuals do rarely have synonymous personal definitions of luxury.

Mandeville (1670-1733) a Dutch philosopher who wrote the famous and controversial poem ‘The Rumbling Hive’ , believed all men and women to be by nature self-interested, satisfaction seeking and vain, and believed that they search for luxury to fill in these psychological attributes.

It is important for us as designers to be aware of people’s preconceptions of ‘luxury’ as it has such a wide ranging meaning, people already have presumptions of what to expect of a luxurious product or service. Furthermore, it is important for us as designer’s to deliver and exceed people’s and client’s expectations. Many designers claim their designs, creations and adornments are luxurious, but their products surely do not equate to luxury in everyone’s eyes. More commonly and recently luxury has been tied in with the word ‘designer’. A product designer either wants to create a genuine luxury product that pleases the end user, or wants to class their product as ‘luxurious’ within advertising whether it is or isn’t in order to make more money and therefore capital gain and personal success.

Fabric throughout history has always comprised a certain reputation, for example delicate silks, satin, angora and crushed velvet usually represent indulgence and ‘luxury’ yet cotton, muslin and Hessian appear to represent standard and plain. By using silk curtains it could produce a tailored luxurious impression within an interior, as well as having the effect to soften the ambience of a hard-edged space. Each material in existence can have a principle purpose within a design scheme, hence if chosen rightly a textile can undoubtedly contribute to the enjoyment of any interior. As Tricia Guild founder of Designers Guild states, ‘the layering of pattern adds to the air of romantic luxury’.

Later in future posts I intend to take a deeper look into certain Designers themselves and their companies, and take a more detailed look of people’s personal reflections and opinions of the phrase ‘luxury’.