India – The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School in Rajasthan is opening to support women and girls through education – with an added dose of craft skills.

Known as the Gyaan Centre, the school runs a state-based curriculum in a bid to close the education gap for girls living below the poverty line in the Thar Desert region of Jaisalmer District. Beyond traditional schooling, however, the initiative is also working with local artisans to teach women weaving and embroidery techniques. While this element will preserve local craft, it will also stimulate the local economy through designs that can be offered and sold via the global marketplaces.

‘I realised that through an economic avenue, I could entice these communities to send their girls to school. I decided to build a girls’ school and a women’s economic development centre focused on educating girls and preserving the dying handicrafts,’ explains Michael Daube, artist and founder of Citta, the non-profit organisation behind the Gyaan Centre.

Globally, Young Nativists are reconnecting with their indigenous roots, seeking experiences, communities and education that preserve ancestral knowledge.

UK – Shopping centre Westfield London is hosting a Christmas-themed pop-up that lets people rent their holiday décor.

A Very Rental Christmas has been curated by television presenter Laura Whitmore and promotes the sustainable side of renting items at a consumption-centric time of year. Stocking products like eco-friendly potted Christmas trees, decorative lighting and seasonal tableware, the store offers click-and-collect service as well as virtual consultation with a home stylist. It also has a philanthropic facet, by donating all proceeds from rented items to Save The Children.

‘This Christmas, creating the perfect festive atmosphere at home will be more important than ever as more people celebrate at home,’ says Whitmore. 'I love the idea of renting things we only use once a year – it’s more sustainable and also means you can try out new styles of decorations each year.’

For more on the changing attitudes to furniture and homeware ownership, explore our Furniture as a Service.

Research by student marketing agency Dig-In reveals how marketing behaviours change among young Britons when they go to university.

According to the study, 81% of first-year students – also known as freshers – are willing to try new brands, compared with only 63% of university graduates. What’s more, all students are seeking real-life brand engagements, with 80% of participants saying they miss tangible brand experiences.

Highlighting how young Britons are at their most open-minded in this new life stage, the survey offers guidance for brands looking to attract this generation. The study suggests that even as students continue to bear the brunt of the pandemic, the financial freedom that university offers makes them more open to discovering new brands and in-person connections with brands.

Read more on the changing attitudes and expectations of young people via our Youth Series.