Don’t judge me. I bought a pair of $1,500 sunglasses. YES, ridiculous I know. Something about the lore of Jacque Marie Mage being handmade, limited edition, and numbered won me over. 

They’re more expensive than my Meta Quests which makes the whole premise even more outrageous given what’s possible with the latter. I achieve nothing with my JMMs save for an ego boost amongst other wankers.

Will function and fashion overlap in our world of Mixed Reality – particularly within (quiet) luxury circles?

The obvious parallel would be the Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses but it’s full of compromise. Not quite luxury, and not as useful as say – the new Samsung Galaxy XR.

I dug a little deeper to get an understanding of co-labs between Luxury Houses reimagining Mixed Reality as an experience.

• Gucci debuted an intimate, switchable MR/VR journey through a dreamlike atelier, where users "wear" digital garments in their own space in 2024
• Chanel integrated a mobile AR tool for virtual makeup trials, scanning lips in real-time for real-time lip shading
  • On a quick aside, this did actually drive a 30% conversion uplift 
• The world’s oldest watch manufacturer – Vacheron Constantin opened a one-person-at-a-time mixed-reality atelier where you’d sit at a real desk while a master watchmaker’s hologram guides you through assembling a bespoke minute repeater
  • Downsides… you needed to purchase a $200,000+ watch to gain access to this. LOL

So, what am I trying to say here in the most clunky of ways – luxury, to the wearer is about feel. Whether internal (ego) or external (silk and cashmere literally feel nice). Mixed Reality is all about experience. Currently – they all externally feel the same, but internally – your experience is as luxurious as you want it be. It’s the great democratisation of luxury.

P.s. Have some money to burn? Check out the Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition, which comes in about double the Apple Vision Pro.

Yours Virtually, 

The Squid

Engage VR provides VR and AR powered rehabilitation programs for patients recovering from neurological and physical conditions. Their services support recovery from a variety of ailments, including stroke rehabilitation, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, concussion management, and dementia. The company blends these immersive technologies with traditional allied health practices.

Engage VR primarily serves patients dealing with complex and chronic health issues who require innovative rehabilitation techniques. They also cater to allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists.

Engage VR's mission is to pioneer a new era of rehabilitation, one where technology and healthcare converge to deliver more engaging, effective, and personalized rehabilitation experiences. By using VR and AR, they seek to provide a holistic recovery process that not only addresses physical needs but also enhances emotional and cognitive wellbeing.