Why Rolls-Royce Says The New Luxury Age Is Post-Opulence

"We’re referring to it as the age of post-opulence". This is the message I get when I ask Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to arrange a digital interview with Alex Innes. As head of the very pinnacle of luxury design at Coachbuild for the last three years and at the marque for eleven, I feel he is the best person to discuss what the post-coronavirus luxury landscape may look and feel like. And so, a Zoom interview is promptly arranged.

Just before I log-on, I pop down to the local independent café for a quick macchiato. With some easing of the pandemic lockdown, the place has tentatively re-opened its doors for takeaway drinks. As I patiently wait in the orderly line, it occurs to me that the luxury of a professionally brewed coffee by a barista using the house dark-roast, slightly zesty natural coffee beans, far outweighs the time I have to invest. In fact, it adds value to the occasion.

"We’re referring to it as the age of post-opulence". This is the message I get when I ask Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to arrange a digital interview with Alex Innes. As head of the very pinnacle of luxury design at Coachbuild for the last three years and at the marque for eleven, I feel he is the best person to discuss what the post-coronavirus luxury landscape may look and feel like. And so, a Zoom interview is promptly arranged.

Just before I log-on, I pop down to the local independent café for a quick macchiato. With some easing of the pandemic lockdown, the place has tentatively re-opened its doors for takeaway drinks. As I patiently wait in the orderly line, it occurs to me that the luxury of a professionally brewed coffee by a barista using the house dark-roast, slightly zesty natural coffee beans, far outweighs the time I have to invest. In fact, it adds value to the occasion.

"We’re referring to it as the age of post-opulence". This is the message I get when I ask Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to arrange a digital interview with Alex Innes. As head of the very pinnacle of luxury design at Coachbuild for the last three years and at the marque for eleven, I feel he is the best person to discuss what the post-coronavirus luxury landscape may look and feel like. And so, a Zoom interview is promptly arranged.

Just before I log-on, I pop down to the local independent café for a quick macchiato. With some easing of the pandemic lockdown, the place has tentatively re-opened its doors for takeaway drinks. As I patiently wait in the orderly line, it occurs to me that the luxury of a professionally brewed coffee by a barista using the house dark-roast, slightly zesty natural coffee beans, far outweighs the time I have to invest. In fact, it adds value to the occasion.

"I absolutely agree," says Innes, animated on my laptop screen as I describe the scene. "The little things we’ve taken for granted have become the rarities and the luxuries. Dare-I-say, there is some positivity to having been given this extra time to be with our families - for me to spend time with my daughter," he continues. "The trend was already shifting, but still, this coronavirus has been a real drive for change. So much that we took for granted is now out of our direct reach. When things begin to ease and we go back into the swing of things, it will be good to access these memories and not take things for granted again."

Can Self-Driving Scooters End Sidewalk Clutter?

Next to achieving profitability, the hardest part about operating a dockless scooter start-up is keeping them charged and out of the middle of sidewalk. But one start-up is using self-driving technology and tele-operation to make the process of managing a free-floating scooter fleet easier.

Go X is an electric scooter company that has licensed technology from automated positioning technology company Tortoise. It retrofitted its scooters with training wheels of sorts and an automated self-righting kickstand that enables them to operate autonomously. These self-driving scooters are now part of a six month pilot program at Curiosity Labs in Peachtree City, Georgia that will real-world test a new mobility service where riders hail scooters that autonomously go to them.

The typical dockless bike or scooter service requires a bit luck finding a free and charged scooter close by. Go X aims to end the scooter hunt. Any visitor or employee on the 500-acre technology campus can download GoX’s app and hail a scooter similar to on-demand ridesharing programs like Uber  and Lyft. However, rather than a car, a scooter navigates on its own to your location. At that point, the navigating is up to the rider to get to their destination. But after ride is completed and the scooter parked, it returns on its own to the depot for recharging and complete sanitization to ensure they’re clean and fully-charged for the next person.

Mother's Day Gift Guide 2020: The Best In Cannabis Fashion

With cannabis breaking into the mainstream fashion industry it should come as no surprise that moms want to represent mother nature’s gift as stylishly as they can. After all, moms like to dress up and toke, too!

That being said, cannabis fashion is pretty new to the mainstream, which is why I created this guide to the finest cannabis fashion out there for this Mother’s Day. Whether you’re seeking something for breakfast in bed, morning yoga afterwards, frolicking in the sun or even for after dark, consider this your guide to the best canna-fashion gifts that any mom would love.

Let’s be honest here: 90% of us have probably been wearing some form of leggings on repeat for the last few months. And since you’re wearing it all day long it’s likely to get frayed or so stretched out that it loses its elasticity.

These Teal Leaf leggings from Tokeativity, however, are designed to never lose their stretch. That’s because they’re made of a comfortable microfiber yarn designed to hold its shape. Precision-cut and hand-sewn after printing, they also have a built in, comfortable elastic waistband. The end result is something that’s comfortable but stunningly cute even from afar. You may even want to buy two...just in case.

A Travel Insider's View Of Business In Italy Right Now

Luxe designer Sarah Flint is the "Queen Of Comfortable Shoes," and is frequently termed "The Shoe Whisperer" for her Italian footwear that is engineered to be super-comfortable. (Yes, even stilettos and pumps, which are a huge hit with celebrities and travel-goers. ) Ms. Flint granted me an interview two weeks ago, to tell me all about her frequent high-end travels to Italy, where her company has factories. But in light of the current pandemic, she followed up with me about the status of manufacturing in Italy right now, and the state of her luxury shoe business, in this exclusive interview for Forbes.com. At a later time I will published my original travel-inspired story, in which Ms. Flint tells me all about her love of Relais & Chateaux properties, and Emirates Air.  To provide context, Ms. Flint  has gained media attention as one of Forbes' "30 Under 30" and WWD's "Ten of Tomorrow." Among her most well-known friends and supporters are such inspiring women (and frequent travelers) as Meghan Markle, Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, Lady Gaga, Jane Fonda, Karlie Kloss,  and Gayle King.

Furthermore, when you purchase a pair of Sarah Flint shoes, each box comes with a personalized, handwritten note from the artisan in Italy who crafted the shoes — to bring you all a superb little slice of Italy at home. Now. doesn't that making being quarantined just a little bit better for travelers?

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A New Label That Could Be The One-Stop Shop For Sustainable Fashion

Veronica Chou grew up in fashion, working with some of the biggest names in the business. As a teenager living in China, she was immersed in the world of manufacturing, seeing garments for the world's most notable labels being made — Tommy Hilfiger, Karl Lagerfield, Pepe Jeans, Badgley Mischka. As an adult, she delved into that world running Iconix China Group and Novel Fashion Holdings — two fashion companies that manage distribution of global brands and oversee manufacturing.

For years, she admits she didn't question the process. But six years ago, the young entrepreneur started to dig deeper, understanding the impact of all this manufacturing. “I realized how polluting it was,” she says in an interview from her London office.

That compelled her to launch Everybody & Everyone, a new sustainable fashion brand, which aims to bring in all aspects of a sustainability under one room: from pieces that can be worn a variety of ways to carbon-offsets to using primarily certified fabrics. Plus, they're available in sizes from to 00 to 24 to reach as many consumers as possible. While the prices are not exactly high-street cheap, they're not luxury either, fitting into the category of what could be defined as “affordable premium.” The goal is to keep these pieces for a long time.

As a mother of two kids, Chou says that parenthood helped her gravitate to more eco-friendly options in the market. Couple that with her knowledge of the fashion industry, she started looking at how to build a more sustainable brand several years back. Though it took longer than she anticipated, she's learned more during that process, honing in on small details and bringing all the tentacles of sustainability under one roof.

Tencel appears a lot in the collection. But she's also keen on new materials. As an investor in Modern Meadow, a biofabrication company that's making leather in labs, Chou wants to not only fund the latest in textile innovation but eventually put it into practice. Having her own brand will make that easier.

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Beauty and Style Staples For Your Next Quick Getaway

A quick getaway, especially after the war also known as the holidays, is always a most welcome idea. Powering through the rush and chaos of the season can take its toll. There are non stop parties that entail binge eating and drinking. And while it's all fun and merriment during back-to-back festivities, a little peace, quiet and escape could just as well be the best holiday gift you can give mind, body and soul.

Your holiday escape doesn't necessarily mean that you have to cross oceans or adjust time zones. A short drive for a weekend of fresh mountain breeze, or a short flight that leads to immaculate shores is more than enough to get you reinvigorated and revitalized for a new year ahead.

Just as crucial as your destination, are the essentials you want to take with you. When it comes packing for short getaways, precision, functionality and efficiency are key. It pays to have a list of staples in your carry on, regardless of where you're headed. Here, an easy and practical guide to traveling light—and in style!

The Aviator Carry On Plus from Paravel utilizes recycled materials such as zippers and plastic water bottles in building a chic yet durable polycarbonate exterior. Roomy compartments bring ease in organizing and packing items for a trip. While in transit, double spinner wheels ensure effortless maneuvering regardless of terrain. I particularly love sleek design details such as vegan leather trims, steel handles and textured finish.

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It's Time For Education To Become Data Literate

It’s no secret that data is pervading every aspect of our work and home lives. Data is at the center of many global conversations, touching everything from elections to the nature of privacy and the shape of work.

As with most topics, there are multiple sides. On one hand, fears of automation about AI and machines have prompted many thought-provoking articles and books such as Only Humans Need Apply, while documentaries such as The Great Hack focus on how data pervades our lives via social media.

From the other perspective, data for good is a real movement, bringing the public and private sectors together through efforts like the Private Sector Roundtable and NGOs like C40 Cities, which is using data to help the mayors of the world’s largest cities address climate change issues.


The one constant is a sense of inevitability. IDC is forecasting a tenfold increase in worldwide data by 2025, and data is now regularly discussed as the driver of the fourth industrial revolution and referred to by some as the second language of business.

The underlying thread I see in all these areas is the need to increase data literacy.

As defined by MIT, data literacy is "the ability to read, work with, analyze and argue with data." As the nature of work changes, our skills need to continually evolve to keep pace. Communities like the Data Literacy Project, which my company is a founding member of, have emerged to offer free courses and resources to help anyone start or make progress on their data literacy journey. Gartner and others are heavily discussing the role of data literacy’s measurable impact on corporate performance. And the need to close the data literacy gap is now on the radar of C-level executives like never before, with market leaders like Amazon announcing upskilling pledges. This is all encouraging to see.

                                                                       

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