The un-news of the year:
KARL LAGERFELD is helping to design his own island - the Isla Moda. The designer has teamed up with Miami-based architecture firm Oppenheim and the KOR hotel group to create the manmade island, situated 20km off the coast of Dubai.
The resort complex will comprise three luxury hotels, 150 residential villas and a host of chic boutiques. Inspired by the floating palaces of India and cruise ships, Karl's new venture will be the first ever fashion island.
The project will be completed by 2014.
Source
These news raise associations of newly-rich russians in green Versace plastic jogging-suits in me! Entire Dubai is a place filled with luxury hotels and luxury boutiques - what is Lagerfeld`s input supposed to be? He is selling his good name and "air of exclusivity" to a project without class, attracting people without class...this all sounds like "luxury without sense" to me...If I want to "experience fashion" I`ll go to Milan and Paris - both are filled with exclusive luxury boutiques and luxury hotels who have class AND HISTORY!
Such attempts to "quickly build luxury with money" (but without sense or history) disgust me beyond words! True luxury and class can only grow SLOWLY and naturally. Things need time to grow and become good. Luxury is only what prevails and finds it`s place in history (just think of Chanel`s part in fashion history!).