Author: Philippe Mihailovich & Caroline Taylor
Publication Date: 2025
Amazon Rating: 4
The WLCC Luxury Library is a vital hub for luxury professionals and enthusiasts, offering a curated collection of insights, trends, and knowledge in the luxury sector. Tailored for members of the World Luxury Chamber of Commerce, it offers up-to-date resources on branding, marketing, and high-end consumer behavior. Through a focus on learning and collaboration, the Luxury Library seeks to inspire innovation and raise the bar within the luxury sector.
What truly separates a luxury brand from a haute luxury maison? Haute Luxury Branding by Philippe Mihailovich, Caroline Taylor, and Alane Brunschweiger addresses this question with clarity and depth, providing readers with a structured framework for understanding the pinnacle of brand positioning. Written by Philippe Mihailovich and Caroline Taylor, and adapted to American English by Alane Brunschweiger, the book introduces the HAUTeLUXE Pyramid, a model used in French business schools and now applied worldwide by academics and industry leaders.
Core Lessons
- Luxury vs. Haute Luxury: Explains the differences between elite maisons such as Hermès, Chanel, and JAR compared with broader luxury labels like Louis Vuitton and Gucci.
- Maison vs. Brand: Shows how heritage, artistry, and mythology distinguish a maison from commercial brand tactics.
- HAUTeLUXE Pyramid: Provides a framework covering pillars such as myth creation, symbolic masterpieces, and strategies that reinforce exclusivity.
- Case Studies: Presents real-world examples of how leading companies maintain global desirability.
- Cultural Perspectives: Contrasts the French and European traditions with the Anglo-American approach to brand building.
- Contemporary Issues: Addresses sustainability, digital transformation, and shifting consumer behavior as they impact the luxury sector.
The book is especially valuable for strategists and brand leaders seeking long-term positioning strategies grounded in culture, storytelling, and selective exclusivity. Whether you’re building a brand, reviving a heritage house, or studying luxury marketing, this guide gives you both theory and practical insight into how the world’s most exclusive maisons endure.
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To learn more about The Luxury Library, view the 21 must-read books.