— AUCTIONS —
Luxury Used is the New New! — How impressed was I when I opened the parcel? The first Next Luxury Auction
greeting was in the form of a large black card with the words
Tues 5 Apr, 6pm
‘Thank You’ printed in white on a black background. The
MELBOURNE
inner box was wrapped in quality white paper secured by a pink sticker with the caption ‘Used is the New New!’. This got me thinking about the sustainability of pre-owned luxury
ABOVE: John D'Agata's Hermès
goods and the importance of this market. Then a question:
Sellier Change Tray
‘Does a Birkin ever end up in landfill?’ Probably not, along
RIGHT: A Crocodile Kelly Handbag
by Hermès Sold for $45,000
with a whole array of luxury goods that are loved, used,
BELOW: An Enamel Bangle by Hermès Sold for $620
best thing about luxury items. They are chic, stylish, generally
traded, updated, and passed on to new owners. This is the well made, and may tell a story through imperfections. When you make a pre-owned purchase, it continues the narrative as you consciously, or unconsciously, stop the waste in the production of disposable fashion goods and contribute to eco-friendliness. My gift to me this Christmas was a Hermès Sellier change
I have run the Luxury department at Leonard Joel for over
tray. I have longed for one for years and since none were
ten years and have witnessed the recycling of high-end
forthcoming, even after a few significant birthdays, I decided
goods from person to person and generation to generation
to take the plunge and treat myself to this special purchase.
firsthand. It’s a wonderful thing and I am glad that in this
Like a lot of luxury goods today, this item was unfortunately
disposable world, a new trend and mindset of informed
not available through a Hermès store, so I went online and
purchases is emerging.
secured the purchase through another online platform.
As for my purchase, for an ‘old-school’ boy I realized that
Although I missed out on the always wonderful Hermès
perhaps some of the new ways of buying can also have their
store experience, the parcel arrived in a flash - four days, all
merit. I love my purchase, was mindful of my carbon footprint,
the way from Los Angeles.
and enjoyed my shopping experience, just in a different way. JOHN D'AGATA / Head of Luxury
22 | leonardjoel.com.au
