Would you pay 450€ for a pair of tongs?

As a Luxury multi-brand buyer, I am often required to prove the company I work for is good enough for the brand we'd like to sell. In other words, it is my duty to prove are worthy of the brand! I often take it as an insult that they would think I didn't evaluate their value and that I didn't make any research before contacting them but I guess that attitude from people who can barely afford the goods they sell comes as a consolation lot to their own ignorance and poor salary
One recurrent argument is that, because of their exclusivity, they don't want their products to spread too much but when asked why they sell to Net-a-porter or on the discounter YOOX, they usually come up with a rather poorly prepared answer.

Rarity, selective distribution are very dear concepts to the luxury brands often dreaming to be consolidated in one of the luxury groups that force them to sell more and do better margins, thus cutting costs which often reflects poorly in the quality, in both the products and staff...  but one has to understand that luxury brands are masters in justifying their own contradctions. Let's just say that rarity and selective distribution rather than volumes in sales are concepts which are dear to luxury houses - at least in their speach- and, Pinel & Pinel didn't disappoint.

One doesn't need to introduce Havaianas anymore. One of the most common footwear brands around. In revanche, not everyone knows the luxury leather trunk maker Fred Pinel, founder of Pinel & Pinel, a very discreet luxury company. Their collaboration with the plebeian Havaianas must  have been such an extravaganza, designing a series of tongs and succeeded in making the rubber sole flip flop a luxurious item by dressing the strap in crocodile.  

These tongs cost  450€ . Mind you, they're hand made (!!!)  and "customized": i.e. one can choose between a selection of tasteful colours for the sole an for the straps. How so ... personnalised...

I wonder if there will be a waiting list...

Anyway, it should be available - no irony- on the website of Pinel & Pinel in December. 

But Pinel&Pinel, in high Luxury house is true to their motto: Selling is not their priority! But get talked about is very important and, for that, they don't need to acquaint themselves with la Creme de la creme, rubbing with rubber is enough.