News 11.03.2020

Need to Know

Sweden’s backpack for the elevated outdoors, a cyclical approach to baby nappies, and positive leaps for women’s representation in advertising.

Swedish Design Museum’s exhibition in a backpack

Exhibition in a backpack by Swedish Design Museum, Sweden

Sweden – Swedish Design Museum has launched a virtual exhibition that consists of a backpack filled with Swedish design items.

Created to be a ‘true insider’s guide to Sweden’, members of the public can buy the Sandqvist bags – dubbed Swedish Design Museum To Go – based on choosing north, south, west or east versions of the bag. Each iteration is filled with objects relating to Sweden’s various regions, with personal tips from each bag’s curator. With a focus on encouraging purchasers to venture into its great outdoors, the backpacks feature Sweden-designed blankets, trainers, headphones as well as wood-carving sets.

Jennie Skogsborn Missuna, CEO at Visit Sweden, says: ‘Swedish design is made to be used, not to be put on a pedestal or locked behind glass, and we want our visitors to truly get a chance to experience this when coming to Sweden.’

With consumers continuing to embrace the Elevated Outdoors, they’re looking to brands and organisations that enable new experiences. For more, sign up for our Trend Briefing, where we’ll explore the evolution of experience in the coming decade.

Ora offers express acupuncture treatments

Acupuncture clinic by Ora, US Acupuncture clinic by Ora, US
Acupuncture clinic by Ora, US Acupuncture clinic by Ora, US

New York – Ora is bringing quick, convenient versions of the ancient wellbeing practice to urban citizens.

Customers can receive 30- or 50-minute express acupuncture services to target their holistic wellbeing, with treatments priced from £38 ($50, €44). Focusing on areas such as pain, sexual health, digestion and emotional health, the services aim to optimise wellness, with additional services such as cupping and gua sha skin massage. It also houses a tea and tonic bar.

Through the space, Ora aims to make acupuncture accessible for consumers from a range of backgrounds, and for those who might not have explored the practice before. ‘The big thing around the space was focusing on acupuncture as an experience. You can come in and have a tea or tonic post-treatment, or if you want to just experience Ora,' explains Kimberly Ross, founder of Ora.

With ancient health and beauty practices merging with Modern Med Spas, Ora is offering consumers the best of both worlds.

ReDyper is a circular approach to nappies

ReDyper subscription service by Dyper, US

US – Dyper is a subscription service that allows parents to return used nappies for more sustainable disposal.

The company has teamed up with TerraCycle to launch its ReDyper initiative, providing bags and specially designed boxes for families that meet UN Hazmat shipping standards. When Dyper boxes are full, parents can download a prepaid shipping label from the TerraCycle website and ship the box to a dedicated processing centre.

With 20bn disposable nappies tossed into household waste in the US annually, this is the first national nappy composting programme to be launched. ‘Diapers are an unavoidable thing... and they are a phenomenal waste stream, so I think it’s important for parents to acknowledge that there’s an issue,' notes Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle.

ReDyper is just one of a series of new innovations in parenting emerging to offer convenient solutions that support the daily demands of raising children, alongside the more sustainable mindsets of Millennial and Generation Z parents.

Stat: Female representation in ads is improving

YouGov has released a study showing that half of British women (48%) think female representation in advertising has become more positive over the past five years. This compares to only 8% who say it has got worse in this time.

British women also report noticing a rise in representation of women from ethnic minority backgrounds in advertising, with nearly two-thirds (65%) saying they’ve noticed an increase since 2015, while only 3% say they’ve seen less. While more women might be present in advertising, according to YouGov just under four in 10 (36%) of females think objectification of women in advertising has decreased. Meanwhile, 48% think it’s unchanged.

Across advertising, the depiction of women, and in particular beauty, remains continually in flux. In response, brands such as Dove are launching campaigns to rewrite the rules of beauty standards and break down global stereotypes.

Previous News Articles
Shopify partners with Roblox to boost in-game commerce

News

Shopify partners with Roblox to boost in-game commerce

Shopify has announced a new partnership with gaming platform Roblox, marking its first commercial integration.
Retail : Technology : Roblox
Neko Health launches body scanning service in the UK

News

Neko Health launches body scanning service in the UK

Swedish health-tech company Neko Health, co-founded by Hjalmar Nilsonne and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, has introduced its preventive-health body scans ...
Health : Wellness : Technology
Foresight Friday: Seyi Oduwole, foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Seyi Oduwole, foresight analyst

Every Friday, The Future Laboratory team offers an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, ...
Foresight : Australia : France
Stat: Luxury sales decline in China as structural weaknesses emerge

News

Stat: Luxury sales decline in China as structural weaknesses emerge

Barclays has issued a concerning report on the luxury goods market in China, revealing a decline in summer sales by 10 to 50% across many...
Luxury : Retail : Fashion
Collina Strada S/S 25 encourages reconnection with nature

News

Collina Strada S/S 25 encourages reconnection with nature

Collina Strada’s spring/summer 2025 showcase delivered a colourful and climate-conscious reminder to ‘touch grass’, inviting attendees to reconnect...
Fashion : Luxury : Touching Grass
Eckhaus Latta trades classic fashion show for a dinner party

News

Eckhaus Latta trades classic fashion show for a dinner party

In an era when the relevance of fashion shows is being questioned, American brand Eckhaus Latta delivered an alternative that felt refreshingly per...
Food : Drink : Fashion
Pieter Mulier explores American beauty for Alaïa

News

Pieter Mulier explores American beauty for Alaïa

For Alaïa’s spring 2025 collection, creative director Pieter Mulier delved into the essence of American beauty, exploring the lore and culture of A...
Fashion : Design : Architecture
Willy Chavarría honours American workers

News

Willy Chavarría honours American workers

Willy Chavarría’s spring 2025 show took over Wall Street, bringing powerful cultural and political themes to the fore.
Fashion : Luxury : Identities
Tesco expands homeware brand with fashion-forward campaign

News

Tesco expands homeware brand with fashion-forward campaign

Just in time for fashion month, Tesco has launched a revamped F&F Home range with a couture-inspired campaign created by BBH London.
Retail : Fashion : Home
Fenty Hair’s immersive Mane Street experience arrives at Selfridges

News

Fenty Hair’s immersive Mane Street experience arrives at Selfridges

StudioXAG has crafted an immersive experience for the launch of Rihanna’s latest venture, Fenty Hair, at Selfridges’ iconic Corner Shop.
Retail : Beauty : Technology
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN