Luxury Briefing.

Founded in 1766 and now owned by François Pinault’s PPR, Christie’s is the world’s leading art business, a glamorous showcase for some of the world’s most interesting – and unique – artworks. Christie’s holds over 450 sales annually in categories including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine and cars. Its global auction and private sales in 2009 totalled $3.3bn, including those made through its real-time online bidding service, Christie’s Live. It has 57 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world, including cities in emerging markets. Edward Dolman is the company’s first CEO to have been a specialist, having joined as a history of art graduate porter in the furniture department in London, from which he worked his way up to become furniture specialist, auctioneer and MD Christie’s Europe. Now based in New York, he talks to Luxury Briefing about the changes in taste, technology and wealth patterns that are currently driving this powerful business

Hogan was founded by Tod’s owner Diego Della Valle in the mid-1980s as a hipper, younger, sportier shoe brand, yet which bene?tted from the same philosophy applied at Tod’s: elegance, functionality, craftsmanship and a certain style which could transcend seasons, geographical locations, times of day and the whims of fashion. It’s been remarkable successful, leading to expansion into leather goods, ready-to-wear and eyewear, all enthusiastically embraced by style leaders. Hogan’s General Manager, NICOLA GIORGI, tells us about the Hogan identity

In the eight years since he gave up a career in advertising and went into designing and manufacturing shoes, RUPERT SANDERSON has developed a thriving and award-winning niche business with stores and distribution in all the key markets – including recently-opened boutiques in Paris and Hong Kong – and a devoted following of sophisticated women shoppers and celebrities too. He tells Luxury Brie?ng how taking things steadily and combining integrity with some well thought-out business decisions is now paying dividends

This year Pringle of Scotland celebrates its 195th anniversary. In the past 20 years the brand has undergone a number of radical changes in identity – moving from its traditional roots as a purveyor of stylish knitwear to a sportswear brand, then into the high fashion sphere. Having joined the brand in 2008, CEO Mary-Adair Macaire is now piecing together the jigsaw and embracing both classic knitwear and newer, fashion-forward lines. Recently the brand has moved its womenswear shows back to London, produced an advertising campaign featuring Tilda Swinton and collaborated with British artists to create a celebration of craft at The Serpentine Gallery. She explains how she is tying the threads together...

ADAM D TIHANY is recognised as a founding father of the modern restaurant design movement, having started working in the field in New York in the early 1980s, before expanding his range to include hotel interiors. Since then he has been responsible for some of the most famous restaurants in the US – including Per Se, Le Cirque 2000 and Jean Georges – which in turn went on to influence design in the sector across the world. He is currently working on the new Daniel Boulud and Heston Blumenthal restaurants at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in London and has recently completed projects at the Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas, One & Only in Cape Town and Thomas Keller in Beverley Hills. He shares with us the benefit of his wisdom and experience

Having founded Dazed & Confused in 1992, JEFFERSON HACK then moved on to launch Another Magazine, a bi-annual style and culture manual, in 2001 – now also supplemented with regularly updated web content. Since then he has worked with Colette and a selection of some of the world’s most exciting young creatives to conceive the Another Editions range of products and artworks. Another is also about to unveil a book of photographic portraits in collaboration with RED to raise money for African charities. He explains to Luxury Briefing how independent publishing is evolving in the 21st century

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Thompson Hotel Group is one of the independent hotel brands that has helped to change the face of the industry. Founded by Jason Pomeranc, a former lawyer working with his two brothers, the brand now has nine properties in New York, Los Angeles and Washington DC and there are plans for international expansion, starting with Toronto in 2010. He tells us about the artistic influences and sense of individuality that makes each Thompson hotel unique and has led to the success of the group...

Britain may traditionally lose out to France and Italy in the luxury brand stakes, but its top car marques have never looked better. The JAGUAR brand is a powerful one, carrying long associations of both glamour and sporting success. During the last 20 years, whilst owned by Ford, the company was put back on its feet and in 2008 it was acquired – along with Land Rover – by Indian industrial conglomerate Tata. Ian Callum, the company’s Design Director since 1999, has overseen the gradual rejuvenation of the brand, culminating in the just-unveiled XJ saloon, which enters production in 2010. Callum describes this process of reinvention, which is fascinating for its connection with many aspects of the wider luxury industry

Aveda, founded 30 years ago by beauty pioneer Horst Rechelbacher, is a Minnesota-based manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer of personal care products and services that are predicated on the fruits of Mother Nature. Acquired by Estée Lauder in 1997, the company is now headed up by DOMINIQUE CONSEIL, a native Frenchman who believes that beauty is holistic – influencing self-esteem and success, healing and curing – but should not be achieved at the expense of people’s health or or the planet’s well-being. It’s a philosophy that has served the company well

Laurent-Perrier was founded in 1812 and operated as a small Champagne house until 1949 when control of the label passed to Bernard de Nonancourt. He relaunched the brand, and by taking a new approach to both production processes and marketing he was instrumental in changing both the face of the company and also the Champagne industry. The Laurent-Perrier house is still under family control and continues to innovate under the next generation, Alexandra and Stéphanie de Nonancourt, as Alexandra explains...