Luxury Is Quality Multiplied By Time
A short essay.
There is a lot of joy in buying cool stuff. The agitation of yearning for an item. The excitement of making a purchase. The thrill of unpacking. The pleasure of the very first try-on.
But as much as it is fun, it’s kinda too easy as well. Sure, you have to do your research. But still, for any imaginable item out there, there is someone on the ‘gram who’s already flexed it. It’s a race you can never win.
Think of a Louis Vuitton monogram bag, for example. Anyone with money may walk into a store and buy one, no biggie. Well, except for the luxury of having to wait in line to be let in. What you get is a rigid bag with rose nude leather details. It's almost confusing to go out with for the first few months. While possessing one might feel good on the inside, on the outside, it screams nothing but money and hype.
What makes a Louis Vuitton bag luxury is how it ages. Look at the old bags worn by elderly ladies in European capitals. Like 20–30 years old bags. The coated canvas became somewhat softer. The nude leather has turned dark caramel. Such bags look better than new ones. What’s even more beautiful, they signify years of commitment and hold memories, both sweet and bitter, unique to their owners.
You just can’t buy that. You have to go through that journey yourself. Worry about the first greasy spots, get mad about scratches, send in for repairs. These quotidian responsibilities bond together the item and its owner. There is nothing poetic about such bonds to outsiders. But just like with humans, the most routine experiences build the strongest relationships. Bonding and aging together is a luxury in itself. You may try to fake it or even pay somebody for the looks. But the one person you won’t be able to fool is yourself.
Quality is an obligatory component of luxury. Сheap, mass-produced products rarely stand the test of time. But quality alone isn’t enough. You have to multiply it by time and experiences of your own to achieve a true luxury.
What are your thoughts on quality, aging, and luxury? Share your opinion in the comments section on the blog.
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