Conference Library

In the closing session of the first day, Karl Lagerfeld discussed his 50 years at Fendi, being Coco Chanel, his vision for KL – and why he never, ever looked back.

This discussion explored the evolution of the luxury industry, global consumer behaviours, and the different roles of various digital channels in brand communications.

Johnny Coca described how he reinterprets quintessentially English house codes at Mulberry – but with a Spanish twist.

In the opening session of the conference, the dynamic and technologically-minded Alexandre Arnault shared his vision of luxury for a new generation.

In this discussion, designer Tope Edu, retailer Reni Folawiyo, and business leader Tope Edu explored the evolution, practicalities and future of retail in Africa.

Jony Ive and Marc Newson are modern-day Renaissance men. In this exclusive conversation with Suzy Menkes they shared their thoughts on luxury, technology and artistry, and how the digital universe is turning traditional luxury in new twenty- first century directions.

Online retail visionary Federico Marchetti discussed how he is shaping the future of luxury retail.

The Ethical Fashion Initiative develops ethical supply chains in the global fashion and luxury industry, bringing together artisans and craftspeople with international brands. Simone Cipriani talked about his work, investment in social capital, and the true nature of luxury today.

A Korean inventor at CHANEL, Kim Young-Seong worked with Karl Lagerfeld for 20 years. Responsible for pushing boundaries and limits of the technical capabilities of fabrics, she discussed with Suzy Menkes how her work complemented Lagerfeld’s visions.

Huda Kattan is a global phenomenon. From personal passion to blogger and vlogger, and now an exceptional influencer, Huda discussed with Suzy Menkes how technology, beauty and social media have united to create the power of digital beauty.

The shift in traditional gender roles across the jewellery industry played a large part in the conference agenda, with discussions exploring the role of women jewellery designers and business leaders. In this session Suzy Menkes explored feminist sentiments, and showed how women are putting their needs and desires at the forefront of a new generation of modern jewellery creation.

In this keynote session, Mark Shapiro discussed the power of imagination.

The romantic and poetic couturier Giambattista Valli discussed with Suzy Menkes his relationship with his clients, his business plans with the Pinault family, and the varied sources
of his creative inspiration.

Hermès balances heritage and fashion, with a business built on trust, craftsmanship and a very specifc set of values. Axel Dumas shared the company’s product strategy for both soft and hard luxury, including watches.

The first woman to lead Christian Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri explained her personal language of design and her powerful vision of feminism.

As part of the mighty LVMH luxury world and its dynasty, Antoine Arnault shared his thoughts about luxury now and in the future. Having built Berluti into a powerful menswear brand, he explored the male luxury market and discussed where overall opportunities for growth may lie.

With her attitudes of cute, curious and couture, the digital influencer Noonoouri is fast-becoming a fixture on fashion’s front row. Her creator, Joerg Zuber, showed how pixels and creativity unite, and what this means for the luxury industry.

What actions should the luxury and fashion industry take to reduce its environmental impact? How can business growth be reconciled with sustainability at the top of the agenda? Designer Christopher Raeburn, Environmentalist Jochen Zeitz and LVMH insider Sylvie Bénard discussed what different fashion and luxury stakeholders can bring to the table.

Couturier to America’s First Ladies – including Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Melania Trump, Hervé Pierre has built a business out of power dressing. In this session, Suzy Menkes examined how clothes can be used to express languages and beliefs, as well as discussing Hervé Pierre’s future plans.

Social media, and Instagram in particular, has changed the way the fashion and luxury world operates, and how it is experienced. In the opening session of “Future Luxury,” social media pioneer, Eva Chen, and King of Fashion Instagram, Olivier Balmain, shared their thoughts on the relationship between social media, technology, fashion and creativity, and what this means for modern luxury.

Greg Williams turned the future-oriented gaze of WIRED magazine on to the luxury industry. He outlined the direction of digital and technological development – and how it impacts luxury and fashion.

With one of the youngest populations, the African continent provides the global luxury and fashion industry with a tremendous market opportunity. But Afrocentric luxury also includes the wider African diaspora. How can global luxury brands be part of this? And how is luxury and creativity from Africa going global?

Elie Saab is the Lebanese designer who has built a global empire over the last 35 year, blazing a trail from the Middle East to Paris. In this conversation at the 2017 conference in Muscat, he shared with Suzy Menkes how he has grown his business, his views on design and craftsmanship, and his thoughts on the future.

In an extremely rare on-stage interview, Laurence Graff discussed with Suzy Menkes Graff’s work in Africa, his philanthropic initiatives, and his passion for art, as well as sharing insights into a life in diamonds.

At the 2019 edition of the Condé Nast Luxury Conference in Cape Town, Salvatore Ferragamo CEO Micaela le Divelec Lemmi discussed her approach to the reinvention of Florentine luxury.

In his keynote session, David Lauren discussed how the Ralph Lauren brand is embracing technology, and his personal vision for how the brand is connecting with new and existing consumers.

In Cape Town, Bruce Cleaver, Chief Executive Officer, De Beers Group, spoke about the meaning of luxury and why social and environmental sustainability sits at the heart of ‘A Diamond Is Forever’.

Celebrating 25 years in fashion, Christian Louboutin shared with Suzy Menkes the many sources of his inspiration. He spoke of his feeling for Portugal, and how different languages and cultures motivate him.

The Baobab Tree is a symbol of Africa – discover its magical properties, its journey to global superfood status, and its potential for delivering transformation across the continent.

Linked to aspirations and desire, beauty and cosmetics have a deep significance to consumers across the world. Combining inclusivity and diversity with commercial insights, Susan Akkad shared her view of a multi-ethnic world of beauty.

Famed for his use of colour, craft and humour, Manish Arora has a business that spans Delhi to Paris. He shared his worldview with Suzy Menkes, as well as his thoughts on India’s position in the global fashion industry and along the new Silk Routes.

A rare designer who embraces technology and is creating visionary style from the laboratory and cyber space, Iris van Herpen has already proved that she can create fashion futurism. In this session at the 2015 conference in Florence, Suzy Menkes explored the sources of Iris’s inspiration, her vision of luxury and the beliefs at the heart of her work.

Combining heritage with modernity, Laduma Ngxokolo shared how he uses colour, dynamism and energy to bring traditional Xhosa culture to the world stage.

One of the biggest beauty influences, Korean skincare is redefining what luxury beauty means,
through hyper-speed innovation, development and investment. In this session at the 2016 conference, Christine Chang of Glow Recipe explored how K-Beauty, fuelled by technology, is excelling in bringing to market new concepts, textures and products.

While business is at the heart of the conference, so is responsibility. In this session, speakers discussed everything they are doing to look beyond immediate profit and reward, and how they are making their varied business more conscious of the world around them.

Overseeing both the business and creative sides of the high jewellery house, Nicolas Bos discussed how Van Cleef & Arpels has become synonymous with nature, and explored the evolving jewellery buyer.

2017-2018 saw a variety of China-related activity in the luxury space – from mergers and acquisitions to evolving brand strategies. Vogue Editor Angelica Cheung helped make sense of China’s unique language of luxury.

The global market for luxury childrenswear is estimated to be worth over €6 billion, with growth outstripping that of the men’s and womenswear sectors. Driven by technology, changing demographics, and increasingly aspirational consumers, this market presents numerous opportunities to the luxury industry. Industry insider Raffaello Napoleone shed light onto this market sector at the 2017 conference in Muscat.

Committed to luxury from the African continent, Hanneli Rupert combines her work for her own brand, Okapi, with her retail activities at Merchants on Long, guided by craftsmanship, ethics and sustainability.

The future of luxury fashion in Africa lies in moving the conversation beyond the beauty of craftsmanship to the significant role it can play in creating more value within the gradually evolving ecosystem. In Cape Town, Omoyemi Akerele explained how collaborative working can help build a network of thriving luxury businesses that positively impact Africa’s economy through creative
exchange, knowledge transfer, skills development, and wealth creation.

Hilary Swank, two-time Oscar-winning actress, entrepreneur and designer, is writing her own language of luxury with a new luxe leisure clothing line. In this highlight session, she and Suzy Menkes explored how luxury balances with fashion, comfort and performance.

In this witty, thoughtful and humorous session, Alber Elbaz described what being a fashion designer is really like.

Alessandro Bogliolo spoke with Suzy Menkes about combining New York glamour with a modern sensibility, consumer transparency, the company’s activities in Africa, and how a 182-year-old jewellery house can appeal to tomorrow’s customers.

Despite the current slowdown, Chinese consumers are still critical to the global luxury industry. But do brands really understand the subtleties, nuances and stratifications of this market? In this session, Erwan Rambourg explored the motivations and evolving behaviour of Chinese consumers.

SeeMe jewellery bridges the worlds of luxury, design, sustainability and fair trade with hand-crafted products from Northern Africa. SeeMe’s Founder and CEO, Caterina Occhio, explained the company’s ongoing mission.

The Florentine house of Pucci has long taken inspiration from Africa for its prints and fabrics, as
well as promoting diversity on the runway starting well over 50 years ago. In Cape Town, Laudomia Pucci spoke about how Africa motivates the house today.

Entrepreneur, craftsman and creative genius, Stephen Webster wears a number of hats in his role as jeweller to the stars and the super-rich. Hailed by artist Tracey Emin as someone who can “work with magic and make it become real,” Stephen has spent over 40 years bringing beauty and humour to his clients. In this session at the 2016 conference in Seoul, he shared his thoughts on the Asian jewellery market, and living a life shaped by jewellery.

For many consumers, luxury is not about objects but experiences. What does this mean for the fashion and luxury industry? Condé Nast Traveller’s Rhea Saran told us more.

The man behind some of the fashion world’s headline-grabbing hats, Stephen Jones brings wit, thoughtfulness and fun to his creations. A radical collaborator with some of the world’s leading fashion names, he interprets a variety of brand DNAs into legendary headwear. In this entertaining conversation, he shared with Suzy Menkes his approach to design, and what really goes into making some of the world’s most fabulous hats.

Suzy Menkes interviewed American dream maker Tory Burch. They discussed entrepreneurship, how technology and fashion are converging, and Tory’s plans for the future and continued growth of her brand.

Rupert Sanderson has built a modern shoe empire from Asia outwards. Suzy Menkes discussed how he has harnessed the Asian passion for accessories, and what the future holds for his house of high heels.

In this conversation, designer Alber Elbaz and perfumer Frédéric Malle talked about their new fragrance collaboration, “Superstitious,” and the role of fragrance in the luxury industry.

Suzy hears how the heritage brand, Tiffany & Co., is successfully winning the hearts of the younger generation with its enduring style, commitment to an ethical supply chain – and a new restaurant at its Manhattan flagship store. Filmed on the sidelines of the 2019 conference in Cape Town.

Ahead of his appearance at the fourth Condé Nast International Luxury Conference in Lisbon, Christian Louboutin invited Suzy Menkes into his home in Lisbon, to talk shoe business.

Before her on-stage session at the 2015 conference in Florence, Nadja Swarovski gave Suzy an inside view into running a 120-year old family business, and how Swarovski has become synonymous with sparkle, design, and fashion.

Suzy Menkes invited designer Hervé Pierre to speak at the fourth annual Condé Nast International Conference in Lisbon (18-19 April 2018) where he shared his many experiences of dressing First Ladies.

Leading the charge of millennials across social media, Bordeaux-born Olivier Rousteing shared with Suzy Menkes at the 2016 Condé Nast International Luxury Conference in Seoul how he has attracted millions of Instagram followers and built his “Balmain Army”.

On the sidelines of the 2019 conference, British designer Christopher Raeburn described how he is bringing his own brand’s upcycling philosophy to his collaboration with American giant Timberland.

In preparation for the 2016 conference in Seoul, Suzy Menkes interviewed the world’s leading milliner, Stephen Jones, on his inspirations, designer collaborations, and his enviable fashion following in Asia.

Hanneli Rupert was one of the first retailers to champion African design talent at her Cape Town concept store, Merchants on Long. On the eve of the 2019 conference, she introduced Suzy to some of her designers and described the motivation behind her luxury leather accessories brand, Okapi.

In preparation for the 2016 Condé Nast International Luxury Conference in Seoul, Suzy Menkes met British “bag lady” Anya Hindmarch in her London studio, where the accessories designer revealed her inspirations, motivations, and why her company is flourishing in Asia.

In Cape Town, Simone Cipriani, the founder and manager of the International Trade Centre’s Ethical Fashion Initiative – a joint agency of the United Nations and the WTO – explained to Suzy why he believes the future of the fashion industry lies in Africa.

Backstage at the 2015 Condé Nast International Luxury Conference in Florence, Suzy spoke with designer Jeremy Scott and Editor Anna Dello Russo about creativity, inspiration and colour.

On the sidelines of the 2018 Condé Nast International Luxury Conference in Lisbon, Suzy Menkes asked RIMOWA’s Alexandre Arnault about the brand’s collaboration with Supreme.

The Creative Director of Diesel and Lady Gaga’s super stylist, Nicola Formichetti, tells Suzy why Asia is the place to be and about the launch of his Nicopanda label. This was filmed at the 2016 conference in Seoul.

On the eve of her talk at the fifth Condé Nast International Luxury Conference in Cape Town, Naomi Campbell told Suzy about her role supporting the international and regional luxury industry in Africa.

The powerful YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP speaks the language of online sales. But how can Federico Marchetti reshape our vision of on-screen luxury? Does the company’s new tech hub in London’s White City mean that the language of digital coding is the future of shopping? Mr. Marchetti spoke with Suzy Menkes backstage at the 2018 Condé Nast International Luxury Conference in Lisbon.

On the sidelines of the 2015 conference, and before his Day Two Opening Keynote Session, David Lauren, Executive Vice President of Global Advertising, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Ralph Lauren Corporation, discussed with Suzy Menkes how the Ralph Lauren brand is embracing technology, and his personal vision for how the brand is connecting with new and existing consumers.

From a list of 1,700 applicants, South African designer Thebe Magugu was crowned the winner of the prestigious LVMH Prize in September 2019. A few months before this, Suzy caught up with him in Cape Town during the Condé Nast International Luxury Conference.

In an exclusive interview from the second Condé Nast International Luxury Conference in Seoul, 2016, Suzy spoke to Stuart Vevers, the Executive Creative Director of American brand Coach, on introducing fashion to an accessories brand, Asian markets, and more…

At the Luxury Conference in Seoul, Instagram’s Head of Fashion Partnerships, Eva Chen, told Suzy why fashion retail means conquering social media.