Luxury has never had a universal definition. Its meaning shifts across cultures, generations, and personal values, and the World Luxury Chamber of Commerce (WLCC) has addressed that reality with the inaugural World Luxury Manifesto, initiated in honour of World Luxury Day. Developed and published by WLCC, with selected contributions from the global luxury community, the Manifesto offers a shared professional reference point. Rather than impose a single answer, it gathers shared principles alongside independent perspectives from across the industry, and describes itself as a living declaration designed to evolve with the people who shape luxury.
The idea for World Luxury Day began with Alexander Chetchikov, President of the WLCC. Having worked in luxury since 2008, he saw the need for a shared professional celebration recognizing the people behind the industry, from artisans and designers to hoteliers and makers.
The Manifesto carries that purpose onto the page. In his introductory remarks, Chetchikov writes: “Luxury has always carried influence far beyond the products and experiences associated with it. It preserves cultural knowledge, sustains exceptional craftsmanship, advances creativity, and establishes standards recognised across industries.” The document sets out ten core principles, among them excellence, authenticity, craftsmanship, heritage, responsibility, trust, and legacy. It then opens its pages to the industry itself. Founders, designers, artisans, hoteliers, educators, and members of the media were invited to complete a single sentence: “For me, luxury is…” Hundreds of people from across the global luxury community took part. WLCC selected around 200 contributions for inclusion in the Manifesto, with excerpts presented in the authors’ own words across seven themes, from meaning beyond price to responsibility and impact.
The Day Behind the Document
October 8 was chosen to commemorate the founding of the WLCC, a global network for leading luxury brands that fosters collaboration and business growth. Introduced in 2025, World Luxury Day offers a sector that spans fashion, hospitality, real estate, and culinary arts a single date on which to stand together.
The celebration invites brands and professionals to recognize their teams, connect with clients, and share the stories behind their work. As Chetchikov explains, “World Luxury Day gives our industry a shared occasion to celebrate its people and connect with the communities it serves.”
A Platform for Craft and Conscience
Craftsmanship and heritage remain central to that purpose, alongside responsibility for the industry’s future. Chetchikov highlights the importance of passing skills between generations: “When experienced artisans pass their knowledge to a new generation, they are not simply protecting the past. They are giving that knowledge a future.”
As technology advances, Chetchikov also emphasizes the human qualities that distinguish luxury: “Luxury, however, will be able to preserve human attention, expert judgement, emotional connection and personal responsibility.”
What the Industry Says
A shared thread runs through the contributions: luxury is measured by how it is felt. Luxury experience expert Neen James writes, “Luxury is a mindset. It is how you make people feel seen, heard, and valued.” Bob Kharazmi, Founder and CEO of Global Hotel Advisors, carries the thought into the guest room: “Ultimately, luxury hospitality is not simply what we offer — it is how deeply we make the guest feel recognised, cared for, and remembered.”
Voices from this year’s World Luxury Day celebration turn to the people at the heart of the industry. Alberto Menegatti, Senior Brand, Marketing, and Omnichannel Leader at Gucci, observes, “For me, luxury has always been first and foremost about people. Behind every exceptional product, brand or experience, there are individuals who bring together creativity, craftsmanship, knowledge and passion to create something that goes beyond its functional value.” Jeremie Bernheim, Chief Marketing Officer of RAYMOND WEIL, adds, “We often define luxury by what we see: a product, an experience, a brand. But ultimately, its value comes from the people behind it: those who imagine, create, craft, innovate and pass on exceptional savoir-faire.”
The Ecoluxury View
I write this from Vancouver, BC, Canada, as Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Folio.YVR, and I am grateful to say that the Manifesto includes my voice in two of its sections. My contribution opens the theme of Responsibility, Wellbeing, and Impact: “Craftsmanship, provenance, and conscience are not adjacent to beauty. They are the material beauty is made of.” Folio.YVR is also quoted within the theme What Cannot Be Replicated: Craft, Heritage, and the Human Hand: “It taught me that luxury is not a transaction. It is a relationship between an object, a story, and time.”
Both statements come from the path that led me here. I began in corporate, working within a mindset of “more, more, more,” until a twist of fate led me to vintage rare finds. I scoured thrift stores, charity shops, and online forums for the thrill of it, researched the history each piece carried, and then sold the item to someone who appreciated that legacy. That work taught me to value the story behind an object over the object itself.
The Manifesto echoes this in its principle of responsibility: “The future of luxury requires a responsible approach to people, natural resources, the environment, and cultural heritage.” Folio.YVR was built on the same conviction, and it guides what we publish. Our culinary features are plant-based, our fashion and furnishings favour responsible materials, and the vehicles we celebrate are hybrid or electric. Our luxury fashion content advocates for resale and the circular economy, and our travel is created only with agencies that seek out eco-friendly and sustainable resorts and adventures. Our philanthropy coverage always includes organizations with proven track records of giving back. We seek out artisans who hold to their values, and we celebrate the brands that keep craftsmanship at the centre of their philosophy.
Looking Ahead
In his closing declaration, Chetchikov writes, “This inaugural edition marks the beginning of an ongoing international dialogue.” He also points to the industry’s responsibility to shape its direction: “Luxury has always reflected the values of its time. Today, the industry must decide which values it wants to represent in the future.”
For an industry as varied as luxury, a shared reference point of this kind is rare, and it invites every maker, hotelier, and publisher to consider what their own work will leave behind. Published in 2026 in honour of World Luxury Day, the Manifesto is a conversation that Folio.YVR is honoured to join. As Chetchikov reminds the industry, “October 8 marks the beginning. Let your voice, your craft, and your vision be part of it.”
Get Your Copy of the World Luxury Manifesto HERE.
Author Profile
- Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Communications & Marketing Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury and luxury lifestyle niches. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read business magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and is an EIC for Hire. Connect with her here: [email protected].
Latest entries
FoF ☆ CommunityNovember 2, 2026Resale Queen Courtney Watkins Celebrates Thirteen Years with One Runway, and One Very Special Guest
FoF ☆ Global LuxuryNovember 1, 2026The World Luxury Manifesto Gives Luxury Its Collective Voice
FoF ☆ Fashion & LifestyleOctober 28, 2026Joe Zee, John Legend, and The Front Row at Oakridge Park
FoF ☆ VIP EventsOctober 28, 2026The Front Row to After-Party: A Night at Oakridge Park [PHOTOS]
