What The Luxe

In this episode, we sit down with Maria Grachvogel, the celebrated British fashion designer known for her distinctive approach to craft, creativity and conscious luxury. Maria shares her journey building a brand that has always prioritised artistic integrity, timeless design, and thoughtful production over fleeting trends. Spanning her early career, the evolution of her business, and her pioneering circular stock model, Maria offers a candid view on what it means to design sustainably without sacrificing soul. With host Fred Moore, the two explore how technology is reshaping creativity, why true luxury lies beyond price tags, and the challenges of staying timeless in a world addicted to speed.

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of superyachts with Anders Kurtén, CEO of Fraser—the world's leading luxury yacht service provider. Anders shares why the core of yacht ownership isn't just about luxury—it's about a human desire for freedom, adventure, and, simply, messing about in boats. Spanning Fraser's evolution—from a post-war brokerage to a full-service powerhouse—to the staggering diversity of yacht owners, crews, and designs, Anders lifts the curtain on a world that's both wildly ambitious and surprisingly grounded. With host Fred Moore, the two also cover how the industry is racing ahead with tech-driven sustainability and how the soul of the experience often comes from the people behind the service. This one is a rare glimpse into an industry balancing heritage, ambition, and a greener future—all wrapped up in a timeless spirit of adventure.

As CEO of Walpole, Helen Brocklebank leads the official body for British luxury, representing over 250 of the UK's most iconic and innovative brands. In this episode, Helen shares her perspective on how craftsmanship, heritage and storytelling converge to create a form of ‘quantifiable soft power' shaping how British culture is perceived around the world. We discuss the current state of the industry, from the complexities of the UK's investment climate to Walpole's commitment to nurturing the next generation through its Brands of Tomorrow programme. She also reflects on her own path from luxury publishing to leading one of the sector's most influential institutions, offering thoughtful insights into leadership as a creative practice, the value of coaching, and the enduring sense of community that defines British luxury.

In this episode, we sit down with Rudi Schreiner, Co-Founder, Co-Owner and President of AmaWaterways, to explore his extraordinary journey from adventurer to entrepreneur. Rudi shares how his early travels - from Afghanistan to the Amazon - shaped his passion for exploration and led to the creation of AmaWaterways, redefining luxury travel on rivers. We delve into Rudi's innovative approach to river cruising, his focus on sustainability, and the cultural immersion that makes these journeys so unique. From designing groundbreaking itineraries to preserving the essence of travel, Rudi offers a fascinating glimpse into how adventure and entrepreneurship can transform the way we experience the world.

In an exploration of innovation that honours tradition, we welcome one of the co-founders of Maeving, Seb Inglis-Jones to What The Luxe. Their journey from a shared concern about climate change to creating electric motorcycles that capture the soul of classic British design reveals the delicate art of evolution in the world of mobility. Seb navigates us through Maeving's distinctive approach—drawing inspiration from China's electric revolution while remaining steadfast to design heritage that motorcyclists revere. The conversation unfolds to reveal not just a business strategy centred on direct-to-consumer relationships, but a philosophy that transforms the mundane act of commuting into "the most joyous time of the day." What emerges is a vision beyond mere transportation—a sensory experience where the absence of engine rumble creates a new form of connection between rider, machine, and environment.

In an exploration of a different kind of luxury—the luxury of a thriving, abundant natural world—we welcome Ben Goldsmith, a visionary conservationist, to What The Luxe. His journey from the world of finance to the forefront of global rewilding is a testament to a profound passion for restoring ecological balance and creating a lasting legacy.

With a truly international career in hospitality, Franck Arnold brings his story and expertise to What The Luxe, telling all about London's original luxury hotel—”the place of firsts”—and its singularities; its long legacy and modern renaissance; and the thousands of guest interactions that make The Savoy so sought-after, even after 130+ years.

For two decades, VistaJet has flown passengers to over 2,400 airports in 96% of the world's countries, making it the first and only global aviation company. Sitting down with What The Luxe, VistaJet's Global CMO Matteo Atti pulls back the curtain on one of the world's most fascinating and talked-about industries, speaking to changing notions of luxury, the diversity of the UHNW audience and the future of private aviation. 

From a startup in his spare room to an established and sought-after media brand, Harry Jarman and his team have built something truly exceptional with Gentlemen's Journal. In the latest episode of What The Luxe, Jarman speaks on subjects like the platform's evolution, the demand for print and the changing face of influence today.

In conversation with What The Luxe, David Burke, Chief Executive of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), delves into the history, mission and evolving role of orchestras in contemporary culture. Shifting perceptions from luxury to legacy, Burke shares how LPO is helping to keep the arts alive by democratising access to live performances and breaking barriers to musical education. 

Kicking off the fourth series of What The Luxe, we welcome Director of the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, Melodie Leung, as she reflects on her remarkable nineteen-year journey with the firm. Through her story, Melodie offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of one of the world's most innovative and influential architecture practices, sharing the passion, craft and forward-thinking that define the Zaha Hadid legacy.

For over a century, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts has redefined what luxury means to affluent guests time and time again. Sitting down with What The Luxe, Guiseppe De Martino, General Manager of The St. Regis Rome, walks us through what it takes to conduct not just a luxury hotel but a legendary one, and why it's perhaps one of the most difficult art forms to master.

For the last seventeen years, Anthea Peers has experienced everything Christie's is and stands for, from the drama of the auction to the stories behind the art world's most famous pieces. Bringing her best anecdotes to life, Anthea and Anant go behind the gavel – talking everything from Christie's impressive history and how the heritage brand maintains relevance today to the face of the new collector, the part scarcity plays in modern luxury and so much more.

Wayne Bruce, known as ManBat to some and Bentley's Chief Comms and D&I Officer to many, has had an illustrious career in automotive – one he unpacks in the latest episode of What The Luxe, along with everything that makes Bentley Motors what it is today, from the strategic trifecta that turned the business around following their biggest loss in 2018 to values of craft, tech, sustainability and their category-defining diversity initiatives.

From Blackpool to the Maldives, Paul Jones has lived a fascinating career to say the least. Sitting down with What The Luxe, Paul takes us back to the beginning, before weaving the tale of his life in hospitality to date, unveiling secrets of the trade along the way.

In 2005, Tim Butcher and Lizzie Deshayes founded Fromental, establishing their reputation with hand-painted, hand-embroidered silk wall coverings. Twenty years later, they've carved out a singular space in the interiors market. Sitting down with What The Luxe, Lizzie and Tim illuminate listeners on the innate fun of creation, the nuances of taste in designing for designers and how crafting beautiful things is a compulsive and human act. 

Always armed with a pen and something sharp to say, James was the perfect victim for What The Luxe's first video episode. He and Anant begin by debunking innovation myths and misconceptions surrounding the U/HNW cohort before moving through the subjects of status, digital assets, healthy friction in the customer experience, the importance of rewarding behaviours, creating ritual and the industry's tendency to conflate observation with insight – punctuated with subtle innovation anecdotes and valuable case studies. 

For nearly two decades, Black Tomato has been lighting the way for curious travellers, providing bespoke experiences designed to inspire, challenge and connect. Sitting down with What The Luxe, co-founder Tom Marchant taps into the brand's driving forces as well as the need for a symbiotic relationship between traveller and place.

All-round streetwear icon, founder of STAPLE and creator of the Pigeon SB Dunk, Jeff Staple, joins the podcast to kick off What The Luxe's coolest series yet – talking everything from 1980s/90s NYC to self-expression, individuality and why streetwear has become synonymous with the world of luxury. Plus we get the story behind the legendary “NYC Pigeon”, its five-figure value and more.

Wrapping up What The Luxe's second series, Fred is joined by Geordie Mackay-Lewis; a former soldier turned co-founder of bespoke experience group Pelorus, who design and lead transformative travel experiences for those who desire something different. Covering the big subjects like sustainability, diversifying luxury audiences and market gaps, Fred and Geordie also touch on the question of AI, whether it's a threat or benefit to Pelorus' premise and why experiences should be designed destination-last, not first.

Our first team host and Head of Marketing Juliet Watkin-Rees sits down with Perla Bloom, Global Strategy Lead at Electronic Arts, to enlighten forward-thinking luxury brands on the gaming opportunity, clarify widespread misconceptions and demystify the space for those who have yet to get to grips with it – underpinned by a call for brands to value players just as much as they value traditional media audiences.

As a provocateur who stands against the hype, Tom Goodwin doesn't mince words. It's a candour he brings to What The Luxe's latest episode as, alongside Anant, the two journey through topics like the philosophy of superfakes, death of longform, whether AI hype is warranted, loyalty myths and more. All underpinned by the necessity of nuance and context in a noisy, hype-driven world.

With over seventeen years of experience in the luxury space, Rosie Shephard is a font of knowledge for brands who wish to be first-movers. In the episode, she sits down with Fred to talk everything from luxury's ever-evolving landscape and ongoing market shifts to new definitions and their role in the wider world, ultimately calling for industry ‘pearl-clutchers' to kick away the heritage crutch and instead use the influence and privilege of luxury brands to push culture forward.

As the digitisation partner for world-leading brands like Pangaia, Mulberry, Coach, Chloé and many more, EON uses proprietary digital ID technology to make every product traceable, intelligent and valuable. Fred sits down with EON's founder, Natasha Franck, to tap into the tech's revolutionary potential and how it adds modern luxury value by heightening craft, deepening story and extending lifecycles.

In 2007, Mike and Alison Battle founded Lapland UK – an immersive, festive experience for every kind of family. As clients of Matter Of Form, we invited Mike to sit down with Fred to illuminate the complexities of the immersive experience business model, the importance of integrity when working with an open IP and how everything that can be considered luxury starts and ends with craft.

From Wall Street to luxury fashion to the wild world of nightclub ownership and now to Chief Brand Officer of citizenM, Robin Chadha's career has been a vibrant one. As he and Anant talk everything innovation, tech and a shared, permanent fascination with hospitality, Robin reveals the story of citizenM, the lightbulb moment behind the concept and the brand's distinctive take on luxury.

Chris Sanderson is the co-founder of The Future Laboratory, one of the world's most renowned futures consultancies, and the best guest to kick off the second series of this podcast. A clear authority in what makes timeless brands, Chris and Anant tap into the science behind trends, sources of newness and the intricacies in the cycle of innovation; unpicking the trajectory of luxury as they go — all the way from antiquity to tomorrow.

A long-time friend of Matter Of Form and all-round luxury industry ace, Julia Perowne gives What The Luxe a glimpse of her innate sense of what makes a hotel special, some guidelines on what an exquisite hotel proposition looks like and why she is another hater of the term ‘luxury'.

With an intuitive understanding of people, Adam Blackwood, Founder & Creative Director of Private Drama Events, illuminates Fred on the power of complete immersion in one-of-a-kind experiences and creating the mystery of a lifetime on Belmond's legendary British Pullman.

Continuing our channel-wide deep dive into fine jewellery, Fred is joined by world-renowned designer, jeweller & CEO of Ming Jewellery, Ming Lampson — whose love for gemstones has spanned both decades and continents — to mine her philosophy for crafting one-of-a-kind pieces, the story behind the stones and where fine jewellery is headed.

Keith Vincent, CEO of Wilderness, a world-leading conservation and hospitality company, fascinates and entertains Fred with his tales from the wild — both in nature and the unpredictable landscape of business & ecotourism.  A total legend in the industry, he leads Wilderness' 3000-strong collective with over 60 camps across 8 countries, acting as a force behind their mission to preserve the world's ultimate, untamed places no matter where they may be.

Everyone knows about Dishoom, the decade-defining success story of London's restaurant scene. To dive deeper, Fred is joined by Kavi Thakrar, Dishoom's formidable and admirably humble Co-Founder & Head Babu.  Weaving truly fascinating tales of both his life and business, Kavi tells Fred all about Bombay's beautiful melting pot of culture, the challenge of replicating that in the UK restaurant industry, the secret to success in hospitality (answer: soul) and the importance of deepening a brand with storytelling, rather than diluting it. 

Fred & Anant are joined by Charlotte Shaw, CMO of BlockBar — the world's first DTC NFT marketplace for luxury wines and spirits — talking everything from their blockchain business model, the benefit for both brands and buyers as well as Web3's potential to revolutionise luxury. Disclaimer: You will find yourself googling how to buy shares in BlockBar after listening. 

Throwing up a middle finger to conventional notions of luxury travel, Fred is joined by Sam Highley, Founder of All Roads North – an unpretentious luxury travel company that custom designs unforgettable American road trips. Tune in as these two old friends tap into All Roads North's ‘unpretentious luxury' ethos, the many faces of the luxury road tripper and whether tech has the potential to displace the bespoke travel advisor.

Covering everything from the blanding phenomenon and eccentric brand ambassadors to NFTs and Anant's hypothetical life as a DJ, What The Luxe's first episode is a one-on-one between MOF co-founders as Fred dissects Anant's distaste for the term ‘luxury' despite their line of work, complimented by some light-hearted jabs and the acknowledgement of a decidedly small audience. For now.