INTERNATIONAL. Hit by the global economic slowdown, the luxury goods industry went through a period of decline in 2008-2009 but by 2010 the recovery had already begun, with most developed countries recording positive growth.

At the same time the luxury goods market has witnessed a new wave of newly middle class consumers from China, India, Russia and Brazil beginning to sample the delights of luxury goods, with China’s hunger for luxury in particular proving to be unstoppable.
 
Benefitting from a fast-growing middle class and a fast-developing luxury distribution network, sales of luxury goods in China have consistently outperformed the global market and the country will overtake France and the UK by 2015, making China the fourth biggest luxury market in the world. Click to tweet!

The opening of Harvey Nichols’s second outlet in Hong Kong in October 2011 was a move that is directly linked to China's growing appetite for luxury goods. Whilst Prada's decision last year to instigate an IPO in Hong Kong was evidence that emerging Asia, and China in particular, is the new beacon of opportunity for designer goods.
 
Globally, China is expected to be the fastest growing market for many leading luxury brands. US accessories company Coach, for example, is the latest luxury label to sell shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and is looking to raise its brand profile in China by opening up to 30 new outlets.

Whilst UK luxury brand Mulberry, will be a key driver of trendsetting affordable luxury fashion along with Prada who, following its IPO, announced plans to open outlet stores in China over the next three years to target China's second- and third- tier cities and the millions of middle-income consumers who inhabit them.
 
Another interesting observation about the structure of China’s burgeoning luxury goods market and the opportunities it offers is the comparisons across gender-specific categories.  The fact that men are increasingly turning their attention to luxury goods across a number of product categories is testimony to how this growth is a universal trend in the country.

Male-specific luxury goods account for half of overall sales in 2010 with revenue generated by men’s clothing from Giorgio Armani, footwear and man-bags from Gucci and Rolex watches outstripping  that of women’s specific categories.

Cashing in on this trend, many global luxury brands such as Burberry, Hermes and Louis Vuitton have introduced more men’s designer wear into their China based stores at the expense of women’s designer wear, a trend which is likely to intensify in the short to medium term.
 
Chinese consumers without doubt will be major drivers of incremental value growth across all luxury goods categories. Whilst the US market it set to remain the largest luxury goods market in the short to medium term, China and the growing wealth of the Chinese luxury consumer is set to firmly be in the driving seat in determining the future outlook for global luxury goods.

Note: Fflur Roberts is  Head of Global Luxury Goods Research at Euromonitor International.

About Euromonitor International

Euromonitor International is the world's leading provider of global business intelligence and strategic market analysis. The company has more than 38 years experience of publishing market reports, business reference books, online databases as well as a large Consulting division. Euromonitor research offers insight into industries, countries and consumers, delivering quality information solutions to support strategic business planning.

Euromonitor International is headquartered in London, with regional offices in Chicago, Singapore, Shanghai, Vilnius , Santiago, Dubai, Cape Town, Tokyo and Sydney, and has a network of over 600 analysts worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.euromonitor.com.

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