Luxury and designer brands rely on delivering curated, high-touch experiences for their customers.
Shoppers expect the same seamless convenience they get from top-tier apps like Net-A-Porter or Farfetch. But most brands don’t have the resources (or time) to build a custom app from scratch.
MobiLoud offers a faster, simpler way forward. We transform your existing website into premium iOS and Android apps in just 30 days, combining your brand’s unique digital experience with native mobile features like push notifications, one-tap checkout, and home screen presence.
The result? A polished, on-brand app that drives repeat purchases and keeps your most valuable customers close. Without the cost or complexity of a traditional build.
Why Luxury & Designer Brands Need Mobile Apps
Mobile commerce is no longer an afterthought, especially for luxury and designer brands. It’s the primary way customers discover, browse, and buy.
Mobile-First Shopping
Over 70% of online traffic in luxury retail now comes from mobile devices. Those shoppers expect fast, frictionless, and highly personalized experiences.
Brands that fail to deliver risk losing their best customers to competitors with superior mobile experiences.
Direct Access To Your Best Customers
A dedicated mobile app gives you more than just a better shopping channel. It puts your brand directly on your customers’ home screens, strengthening brand loyalty and engagement.
Push notifications allow you to reach VIP customers instantly with private sales, early access to new collections, or limited-edition drops; something email or paid ads can’t match.
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A VIP Customer Experience
For luxury shoppers, exclusivity and experience matter.
An app gives your most valuable customers a space to browse curated look-books, check out effortlessly with Apple Pay or Google Pay, and engage with your brand on their terms.
It’s the modern way to deliver the white-glove digital experience that luxury customers demand.
Luxury & Designer Mobile App Development: 3 Options, Compared
When luxury and designer brands consider creating a mobile app, there are three paths to choose from:
- Building a fully custom native app
- Using a template-based app builder
- Leveraging a service like MobiLoud that converts your website into a premium mobile app
Each option has pros and cons. And understanding them will save time, money, and potential headaches.
1. Custom Native App Development
The traditional path is to hire an app development agency or internal dev team to build fully native apps for iOS and Android from the ground up.
The agency designs and codes a bespoke app, builds an API layer to sync product and order data, and handles initial App Store submissions. Future updates and maintenance fall on your team or the same agency.
This route works well for flagship apps where cost is not a concern. But even for highly successful brands, it’s overkill.
Pros:
- Complete creative freedom, with the ability to implement unique features, immersive animations, and deep hardware integrations (AR try-on, store locators, in-app concierge).
Cons:
- Price tag around $300k–$1M+ upfront (plus ongoing support contracts).
- Timelines stretch to 6-12 months, which delays ROI and risks the app being outdated by the time it launches.
- Every change to your site (products, UX, or branding) must also be manually replicated for the app, creating operational overhead.
2. Template-Based App Builders
Template or drag-and-drop app builders make it quick and inexpensive to launch an app.
You choose a pre-set theme, connect your product catalog, and use a visual editor to style it.
The result? A fast app build. But limited branding flexibility, and compatibility issues with many of your site features.
Pros:
- Low initial cost and rapid setup. Often a few thousand dollars and 2-4 weeks to launch.
- Control over app UI with drag-and-drop tools.
Cons:
- Rigid templates with limited branding flexibility, making it difficult to deliver the high-end experience luxury shoppers expect.
- Many builders take a revenue share on app sales, eroding margins.
- Double the workload. You manage your catalog and content separately for web and app.
- Likely compatibility issues with some features working in the app.
- Support is often minimal and reactive.
3. MobiLoud: Website-to-App Conversion
MobiLoud offers a unique approach. It’s built specifically for established ecommerce brands that want the benefits of an app without the burden of building and maintaining a separate platform.
How It Works: We convert your existing mobile website – complete with all its functionality, editorial content, custom design, and checkout flows – into fully native iOS and Android apps.
Native navigation, onboarding flows, and push notifications are added to enhance the experience. While all website changes sync instantly to the app.
Pros:
- Launch in as little as 30 days
- Avoid rebuilding from scratch
- Keep everything you’ve already invested in your site.
- Fully managed service, including configuration, quality assurance, App Store submission, and ongoing updates.
- No revenue share
- Easy maintenance. No duplicate content management, and no need for technical expertise on your side.
It’s the best fit for luxury and designer brands with strong websites that want a fast, low-risk way to give loyal customers a premium mobile app experience (without the million-dollar price tag or operational headaches).
Want to see how it works? Get a free preview of your app now.
Why MobiLoud is the Best Mobile App Builder for Luxury Brands
Luxury and designer brands live and die by their customer experience.
Every interaction needs to feel elevated, frictionless, and true to the brand’s identity. That’s why MobiLoud is the best way for these brands to build a mobile app.
MobiLoud combines speed and simplicity with a service model that ensures quality and attention to detail.
Speed and Certainty
Building a native app traditionally takes 6-12 months, but with MobiLoud, you can launch fully branded iOS and Android apps in just 30 days.
Our process is designed for speed without sacrificing polish. We handle configuration, testing, and App Store submissions, using our tried and tested processes to get you live fast, and free to focus on growth.
No Re-platforming or Rebuilding
Your website is already your best digital storefront, built to showcase your brand and drive sales.
MobiLoud turns that existing investment into a premium app. There’s no need to start over or maintain a separate codebase.
When you update your site (new collections, editorial campaigns, product imagery) the app updates automatically.
White-Glove Service
We’re not a DIY tool. We’re your partner.
Every MobiLoud project is led by a dedicated team, available on Slack and calls, who handle the heavy lifting from kickoff to launch.
Post-launch, we continue to support your growth, with proactive strategy sessions on push notifications, app promotions, and analytics optimization.
Transparent Pricing and Proven ROI
Custom apps can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars upfront. Many DIY builders come with the hidden cost of 10+ hours of work per week to manage – adding potentially $2K+ to the monthly price tag.
MobiLoud offers transparent, flat-rate pricing that scales with your business, with no cut of your margins, and minimal staff hours required to manage.
The result is a predictable investment that often pays for itself within the first quarter through increased engagement, repeat purchases, and customer loyalty.
For luxury and designer brands that value quality, speed, and partnership, MobiLoud is the clear choice.
Step-by-Step Luxury-App Development Process with MobiLoud
Launching a premium mobile app doesn’t have to take months of development or drain your resources.
MobiLoud’s process is designed for speed, simplicity, and quality. So you can focus on running your brand while we handle the entire app build from start to finish.
Step 1: Kickoff & Setup
We start with a short kickoff call to align on goals and understand your vision.
If you have any special requirements for the app, you let us know and we’ll let you know if it can be done.
When you’re ready to move forward, we just get a few details about your site and start putting it all together.
Step 2: App Configuration
Our team configures your app, adding native navigation (tab bars, menus), a branded launch screen, and native functionality like push notifications.
The app mirrors your website design and UX. This ensures full brand consistency, and full compatibility for your web features.
Step 3: Live Testing & QA
You receive a working preview of your app via TestFlight (iOS) and an APK (Android) for hands-on testing.
This lets you explore every feature and share feedback with our team, ensuring the app feels polished and on-brand before launch.
We also run your app through rigorous QA on multiple devices and operating systems.
From checkout flows to content-heavy pages, we test everything to make sure it performs perfectly for your customers.
Step 4: App Store Submission
Our team prepares and submits all the required assets for the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. We take care of the often time-consuming review and approval process on your behalf.
Once approved, we implement any final refinements, configure push notifications, and set up best-practice app banners, smart download links, and other growth tools to maximize installs from day one.
Step 5: Launch & Growth Support
Your app goes live. But our work doesn’t stop there.
We provide ongoing support, quarterly growth check-ins, and strategic guidance on push campaigns, app store optimization, and app engagement to help you generate long-term ROI.
With MobiLoud, you don’t just get an app. You get a partner invested in making it a core driver of your ecommerce growth.
Ready to get the process started? Any questions you need to ask? Book a free consultation now.
Essential Mobile App Features for Luxury & Designer Brands
Luxury shoppers expect more than just a functional app. They expect an experience that matches the sophistication and exclusivity of your brand.
With MobiLoud, your app inherits all the best elements of your existing site and adds powerful native features designed to drive loyalty, conversions, and lifetime value.
High-Resolution Visual Storytelling
Your product images, campaign videos, and look-books remain crisp and immersive, optimized for mobile.
Luxury customers expect to see every detail before they buy, and your app ensures they experience your collections exactly as intended.
Push Notifications for VIP Engagement
Push notifications give you a direct channel to your most valuable customers.
Use them for private sale announcements, early access to new collections, limited-edition drops, and exclusive invitations.
Push open rates average 3-4x higher than email, making them a critical tool for driving repeat purchases and creating a sense of exclusivity.
Seamless One-Tap Checkout
Integration with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal provides a frictionless checkout experience. This convenience is essential for high-ticket items, where any extra step risks losing a sale.
Loyalty & Membership Hub
With MobiLoud, all your integrations (such as loyalty apps) work out of the box.
Highlight your existing loyalty programs or VIP memberships within the app. Offer points tracking, special tiers, and personalized perks that reinforce customer affinity and keep your top spenders engaged.
Personalized Collections & Recommendations
Your app can dynamically showcase curated collections (New Arrivals, Seasonal Edits, or Runway Exclusives) tailored to individual user preferences.
This level of personalization builds stronger relationships and increases basket size.
Global Reach & Multi-language Support
If your brand serves international markets, you can deliver a localized experience with language and currency support, as well as geo-targeted push notifications to segment campaigns by region or store location.
MobiLoud can support all kinds of stores, including global brands with complex, multi-store configurations.
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With these features, your app becomes more than just a mobile storefront. It’s a branded destination that enhances every touchpoint in your customer’s journey.
Popular Luxury & Designer Mobile Apps
Looking at leaders in the luxury and designer space shows how mobile apps can elevate brand experience and drive growth. Here are three standout examples for inspiration:
John Varvatos (Built with MobiLoud)
John Varvatos, a globally recognized menswear brand, partnered with MobiLoud to bring its high-end ecommerce site to iOS and Android quickly.
The result? A sleek, polished app mirroring their distinctive style, with fast browsing and seamless checkout. The metrics?
- 10x revenue per user in the app
- 12x more sessions per app user
- 3.6x longer average session duration
- 10% higher AOV
Best of all, there’s basically no work required on their end to keep the app smooth and up to date.
Learn more about John Varvatos’ mobile app
Tadashi Shoji (Built with MobiLoud)
Tadashi Shoji, known for its elegant eveningwear and bridal collections, used MobiLoud to deliver a premium mobile experience without rebuilding from scratch.
The app delivers rich imagery and an editorial browsing experience while supporting features like one-tap checkout and push notifications for VIP events and product launches.
This approach keeps their brand experience consistent while making it more accessible to mobile-first shoppers.
They’re seeing incredible results through the app:
- 18% of total online revenue (30% of mobile revenue) from the app
- 10x revenue per app user vs mobile web
- 8.3x higher conversion rate in the app vs mobile web
- 3.8x session frequency for app users vs mobile web
- 2x average session duration in app vs web
Learn more about Tadashi Shoji’s mobile app
Farfetch (Custom-Built Flagship App)
Farfetch, a global platform for luxury fashion, invested in a fully custom native app designed to deliver a marketplace experience at scale.
The app showcases personalized collections, curated editorial content, and location-based features for connecting shoppers to boutiques worldwide.
While the Farfetch app required a multi-million-dollar custom build and ongoing in-house development, it demonstrates the level of engagement and loyalty a strong mobile app can generate in luxury fashion.
Want to see what MobiLoud's capable of? Check out these brand case studies.
Luxury & Designer Mobile App Development FAQs
Will an app cannibalize my website sales?
No. Apps complement your website, not compete with it.
Most brands see their apps serve their most loyal, high-value customers who already engage frequently. These shoppers convert at 3-10x the rate of mobile web users and often increase their order frequency once an app is installed.
Do we need to rebuild our website for the app?
Not with MobiLoud. Our approach leverages your existing website, preserving your custom design, checkout flows, and integrations. Updates made to your site automatically sync to the app, so there’s no duplicate maintenance or redesign required.
Can we maintain editorial storytelling and branded experiences?
Absolutely. Your look-books, seasonal campaigns, and editorial content appear exactly as they do on your site, enhanced with native app navigation and faster loading times. Luxury is about storytelling, and your app will continue to deliver it beautifully.
How do returns and customer support work in the app?
The app mirrors your website’s existing flows. Customers can initiate returns, contact support, and access their order history seamlessly. No new processes or training required for your team.
Can we include loyalty programs or membership features?
Yes. If your website already supports loyalty programs or memberships, these features carry over directly to the app. We can also integrate push notifications and in-app banners to promote VIP perks and encourage loyalty signups.
Is Shopify required to use MobiLoud?
No. MobiLoud works with any web platform or tech stack. That includes Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, headless builds, as well as completely custom ecommerce stacks. If your site runs on the web, we can convert it into premium iOS and Android apps.
How long does it take to launch?
Typical app development can take 6-12 months. With MobiLoud, most luxury and designer brands launch their apps in just 30 days from kickoff, including app store approvals.
Final Thoughts & Next Steps
A mobile app is no longer a nice-to-have for luxury and designer brands. It’s a key channel for brands to deliver premium shopping experiences, and drive repeat revenue.
Apps put your brand on the home screen of your most loyal customers and give you a direct, high-converting engagement channel through push notifications and one-tap checkout.
The challenge has always been time, cost, and complexity. That’s where MobiLoud changes the game.
We turn your existing website into fully native iOS and Android apps in just 30 days. No need for a costly rebuild or duplicate maintenance.
Our team handles everything, from configuration and testing to App Store approvals and ongoing support. So you can focus on your brand and your customers.
See your app in action before you commit. Book a free app preview, and we’ll show you what your luxury storefront looks like as a live iOS and Android app.
