In today’s hyper-connected globe, the meaning of national identity is no longer rigid, and we’re seeing a dissolution of cultural borders as we travel through our devices. This shift in mentality is happening against a turbulent geopolitical backdrop as countries prioritise regional allies.

Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

People are taking a patchwork approach to self-expression to feel like they have control over how their identity is generated. Yet as individual expression becomes more mutable and mistrust in social systems abounds, there’s one place above all that people are seeking integrity and guidance: brands.

For a quiet luxury brand, Bottega Veneta (BV) dares to take risks through different strategies to engage young Chinese luxury lovers. In its new creative era, BV’s endorsement strategies with local celebrities, unique theme pop-up stores, and social media stunts help it transcend ‘guochao’ gimmicks.

Prada has released a Chinese New Year campaign that harks back to the olden days of Shanghai. With visual references to Wong Kar-wai, the ad is capitalising on people’s renewed interest in Shanghainese history while also speaking to luxury brands' growing efforts to court cinephiles.

Following efforts to champion Chinese ceramics, Loewe's Lunar New Year 2024 campaign pays homage to the ancient art of jade carving. Tapping into 'guochao' sentiments, it demonstrates how to nail cultural appreciation at a time when people have grown tired of trite attempts at localising luxury.