Desirability: The Real Currency of Luxury
According to Business of Fashion (back in March 2026), brands are increasingly prioritising desirability as a leading indicator of performance because by the time revenue shows up, the demand has already been created… or lost. So what is desirability? Well, It’s actually quite simple. Desirability is the gap between how much people want a product and how easily they can get it. The bigger the gap, the stronger the brand. Let me show you what that looks like. Good desirability: let's Look at Hermès. Like it or not, those waiting lists for Birkin and Kelly bags constrain supply and set strict distribution. So customers don’t just buy the product. They genuinely pursue it. Some, quite rabidly. Another great example is Rolex. At times, there are years-long waiting lists for certain models. And the secondary market premiums above retail. That’s not just demand by the way. This is proper controlled scarcity converting into pricing power. Even if we look at modern examples like Jacquemus we can learn something. From their viral shows to highly shareable campaigns to limited product drops, Jacquemus is able to create cultural heat first then convert it commercially. That is proper desirability engineered for the digital era. Now, let’s consider what bad desirability looks like. Think: overexposure. Overdistribution. Permanent discounting. Products are always available. Always on sale. And always visible. This kind of brand behaviour destroys consumer desire because simply put, if everyone can have it (instantly) no one needs it. So it's important to distinguish that desirability is not a marketing output. It’s a geniune system. You've got product, price, distribution and communication all working together to create controlled demand. And if you get that system right then you don’t have to worry about chasing customers anymore because they'll be chasing you.