The luxury sector is set to post double-digit growth this year to 191 billion euros driven by the appetite of Chinese consumers for top-quality goods, according to a study by Bain & Company released on Monday.

While “the global economic situation is difficult” the luxury sector “is in good health and is growing above all in Asian markets,” said Santo Versace, head of the Italian fashion house and the Altagamma Foundation of Italian luxury companies.

The growth forecast was revised up to 10 percent from 8 percent, but still falls short of the 13-percent growth the sector recorded last year.

While the Western markets are faltering, luxury retailers are searching for the next location to sell their high-end goods, and it looks like India might just be the place.

While India makes up just 0.4 percent of global luxury good sales, the market is growing at 25 percent a year, according to a recent Bain & Co. study.

There are 1.5 million households in India who could afford luxury goods, compared with 1.6 million households in China, according to McKinsey.

Do you guys know CBC Television Show called FORTUNE HUNTERS (which is all about Canadian entrepreneurs) ?

They’ve just launched their second season, and you should watch their upcoming luxury-themed episode.

They’re featuring two stories : one about an entrepreneur who is starting up a caviar business and the other one is about an entrepreneur that has made it big with a jet-sharing company.

The whole episode is streamed on their website.

With luxury brands maturing in their home markets, Luxury Interactive taking place March 16-18, 2009 at Le Meridien Piccadilly in London is dedicating an entire day to international expansion opportunities.

Especially now that traditional markets such as Europe and North America have slowed down and several emerging markets showing continued growth in the luxury tier, it is becoming increasingly interesting for luxury brands to explore new markets.

During the Emerging Luxury Markets Summit on Monday, 16 March 2009, we take a closer look at the practical challenges luxury companies encounter when positioning their brands in Russia, the Middle East, China and India.

This isn’t a piano you can allow your kids to flounder with! As it is, Schimmel is the brand that is behind its creation; therefore, until your tot becomes an expert pianist, you dare not allow him/her touch it. Dubbed the K213, Schimmel chooses one of the most brittle yet elegant material; glass, to enclose the exterior of the instrument.

The K213 isn’t just elegant for its design as the quality of music it rendered is equally classy. The only place where you would find iron is beneath strings that produce the magical symphony. This piano is definitely not for the space drenched halls but has pride of place in rich homes and gatherings. It just soaks in the party atmosphere while on display.

In order to add that extra bit of shimmer to the dazzlingly opulent parties, it would cost the one an estimated $124,780 to own this glamorous piano.

One of the things that impressed us most of Bottega Veneta in recent years was the addition of their home collection, which is always a great pleasure for the eye. Now, with the colder months in sight, their new fuss-free design leather desk is a perfect addition to any study. The size is just right and the leather details are fantastic and timeless.

The unambiguous shaped desk has room for three drawers placed under the tabletop. Each of these drawers can be pulled out with flat leather handles. One can move this desk around by simply pulling the stiff leather handles fitted to both sides of the desk. Every inch of this desk is made of leather except for the matte metal trimmings. This masculine yet chic desk comes in five shades and retails for $19,700 at Bottega Veneta Store.