In Pursuit of Luxury
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Overview
In Pursuit of Luxury (IPOL) is an international academic platform that critically explores the concept of luxury through interdisciplinary research, events, and scholarly publication. IPOL fosters collaboration between academia and industry to examine luxury in both historical and contemporary contexts with project partners that have included Politecnico di Milano, Yale School of Management, MIT, The New School / Parsons and Brooklyn College.
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In Pursuit of Luxury 2025 Event Logo
Project details
IPOL is best known for its peer-reviewed journal, Luxury Studies: The In Pursuit of Luxury Journal, published by Intellect Books. The journal aims to deepen understanding of luxury as a cultural, aesthetic, and economic phenomenon and invites contributions from scholars and practitioners across disciplines. These include fashion, business, design, media, technology, philosophy, and cultural studies. The publication explores a range of topics including the origins and history of luxury, the evolution of craftsmanship, luxury branding, technological innovation, sustainability, ethical consumption, the supply chain, labour practice and the future of luxury industries. It emphasises a critical and reflective approach, acknowledging luxury's role in contemporary social and environmental challenges.
IPOL addresses the shifting meanings and practices of luxury in light of globalisation, digital innovation, and evolving consumer values. Central to its mission is rethinking traditional associations of luxury with exclusivity and excess. Through its work, IPOL considers whether new interpretations such as sustainable, ethical, and accessible forms of luxury can exist within or beyond current commercial models.
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What distinguishes IPOL in the academic space is its interdisciplinary and international approach. It brings together knowledge from different domains and geographies, encouraging meaningful dialogue between theory and practice.”
Events and conferences
In addition to its academic publishing, IPOL organises international conferences that bring together academics, creative and business leaders. These events provide a platform for rigorous discussion on the state and future of luxury. A key example is the 2025 IPOL Conference titled ‘Honest Luxury,’ which focused on sustainability, transparency, labour practices, and traceability in luxury production. The goal is to question and redefine what luxury means in a world increasingly concerned with ethical responsibility and environmental impact. Past conferences have explored themes like technological disruption, the evolving nature of craftsmanship, and the impact of artificial intelligence and digital platforms on luxury branding and experience.
What distinguishes IPOL in the academic space is its interdisciplinary and international approach. It brings together knowledge from different domains and geographies, encouraging meaningful dialogue between theory and practice. By engaging with contemporary debates around ethics, sustainability, technology, and global commerce, IPOL positions luxury studies as an emergent and important academic field supported by a global research network. It provides space for critical thought, encourages the redefinition of luxury in the 21st century, and advocates for responsible, inclusive, and forward-thinking approaches to the impact of globalisation, mass production and consumption around the world.
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