From millennials to minimalism: 4 trends in design and luxury that you should know about

Feb 16 , 2019

From refugee to runway role model, Muslim Halima Aden has strong appeal for Generation M, which refers to millennials and Muslims and is a key segment for brands wanting to expand their market share. Photo: Instagram @halim

The luxury industry is preparing for a paradigm shift next year, as politics, the growing number of millennials and Muslims, and technology shape trends in everything from fashion to hospitality

Altagamma, Italy’s luxury association, amasses the country’s cultural and creative institutions in various sectors. Its members include power players in fashion, design, jewellery, food and beverage, hospitality, automotive, yachts and wellness. To explore the future of Italian excellence in lifestyle, the organisation launched its first creative thinking forum, “Next Design Perspectives”, at its headquarters in Milan.

The event, in collaboration with WGSN, aimed to discuss the macro trends in design and creativity and present the blueprint on how they are set to change our lives.

The first edition was attended by some of the world’s most innovative business and creative minds, including Marco Bizzarri, president and CEO of Gucci, and design guru Philippe Starck.

It examines the year 2020, deemed by many as a threshold that will reshape the future. Here are four key observations from the seminars.

1. Politics is the challenge

Andrea Illy, chairman of illycaffè and chairman of Altagamma, says that political instability the biggest challenge facing the luxury industry.

The US-China trade war will have lasting effects beyond 2020.

“In the long term, the biggest challenge for the luxury industry is political instability,” said Andrea Illy, chairman of illycaffè and chairman of Altagamma.

From Brexit in the UK to Trumpism in the US and the US-China trade war, the current political landscape will have lasting effects beyond 2020.