News 12.10.2020

Need to Know

Black men’s haircare for Generation Z, kitchenware for socially conscious consumers and curious shoppers turn to subscription boxes.

A virtual gallery space for phygital healing

 AORA in partnership with Sook, London
 AORA in partnership with Sook, London
 AORA in partnership with Sook, London

London – With Covid-19 reducing access to the arts, AORA is using digital exhibitions to create a sense of calm and wellbeing.

AORA provides a virtual opportunity to view a series of global exhibitions from emerging artists. The platform is accessible online and seeks to encourage introspective serenity, using art, architecture and music. Building on its virtual offering, AORA is also giving people a physical experience with a recent three-day physical installation.

The platform focuses on four main tenets. Providing an avenue to access art, architecture and music is the first, as well as encouraging sales via its e-shop. The platform also aims to utilise the therapeutic properties of art to encourage reflective healing for those affected by Covid-19, bringing visitors together to establish a digital community.

Discover more about how cultural spaces can improve wellbeing, with the rise of Meditative Museums encouraging calmer mindsets.

Ghetto Gastro’s socially conscious kitchenware

Ghetto Gastro in collaboration with CRUX, New York Ghetto Gastro in collaboration with CRUX, New York
Ghetto Gastro in collaboration with CRUX, New York Ghetto Gastro in collaboration with CRUX, New York

New York – US culinary collective Ghetto Gastro is expanding its socially conscious food initiatives with kitchenware brand CRUX.

The appliance line, which includes a blender, coffee maker and toaster, uses bold design cues to reflect Ghetto Gastro’s ethos of empowering communities and advancing social justice, with matte black and red tones a nod to the pan-African flag. Designed by black chefs and creatives, the products aim to further ignite conversation about race, class and inclusion.

‘Food, for us, is always a vehicle for storytelling, whether it’s the consuming of food, the preparation, the politics around access or lack of access. But it’s really about nourishment at the end of the day,' explains Jon Gray, co-founder of Ghetto Gastro. 'Breaking bread and breaking barriers through community,'

As we identify in Kindred Diners, communities are emerging to make eating a convivial and thoughtful experience, centred around shared values.

KingCurls cuts into men’s afro hair market

US ­– A 17-year-old male beauty influencer aims to close the gender gap between male and female haircare.

KingCurls was launched by TikTok star Khalil to tackle the market for textured hair for young men. The brand’s first product, a Curl Styling Cream, promises to ‘define, hydrate and style unruly curls’.

Khalil hopes the brand will normalise self-care for black male members of Generation Z, which he considers an often-overlooked demographic in the haircare market. KingCurls aims to represent the entrepreneurial spirit of Generation Z, and their desire for greater representation.

As beauty and self-care for men becomes less taboo, men of colour are set to disrupt the space with personal care brands that reframe masculinity. For more, read our conversation with founders of skincare brand Ceylon.

KingCurls, US

Stat: British shoppers use subscriptions for discovery

Bscly, US Bscly, US

Subscription boxes have been gaining in popularity in the past year, with many British consumers appreciating their convenience and potential for discovery.

According to a recent study by YouGov, about one in seven (14%) of British people have bought from a subscription box in the past year, with snacks and drinks, meal-in-a-box ingredient services and make-up and beauty products the most popular types. Expanding on this, while a third (33%) sign up to subscription services to treat themselves, about three in 10 (31%) do it to try new products.

Many consumers have changed their shopping habits as a result of the pandemic, moving towards online alternatives and sign-up services. During Covid-19, we’ve identified innovative discovery boxes such as the Wanda Box for experiential dining and Ikea’s imagination travel kits.

Previous News Articles
Cannes Lions 2025: Unshittifying the customer experience and the future of Duolingo

News

Cannes Lions 2025: Unshittifying the customer experience and the future of Duolingo

The 72nd edition of Cannes Lions marks a return to the French Riviera with a programme featuring major names in marketing and branding. LS:N Global...
Pop Culture & Media : Global Events : Cannes Lion 2025
Gen Z reverse the gender pay gap

News

Gen Z reverse the gender pay gap

A subtle but significant shift is emerging among young men and women in the UK.
Gen Z : Gender : Gender Pay Gap
Stat: US gamers turn to esports to boost athletic performance

News

Stat: US gamers turn to esports to boost athletic performance

New findings from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) reveal that 205.1m Americans aged 5–90 are regular gamers, with 60% of US adults eng...
Gaming : Stat : Statistic
Brazil pilots world-first data wallet to let citizens profit from digital footprint

News

Brazil pilots world-first data wallet to let citizens profit from digital footprint

Brazil is launching a groundbreaking pilot that could transform personal data into a national asset. The dWallet initiative means that citizens can...
Technology : Data : FinTech
Stat: Gen Z is prioritising climate-conscious careers

News

Stat: Gen Z is prioritising climate-conscious careers

A new survey by Capgemini and UNICEF reveals the extent to which climate concerns are shaping young people’s career ambitions.
Nature : Work : Sustainability
Viva Technology 2025: AI client relationships, algorithmic dating futures and the new creator economy

News

Viva Technology 2025: AI client relationships, algorithmic dating futures and the new creator economy

On day three of Viva Technology in Paris, brand leaders gathered at the CMO Summit to explore how human insight and intelligent technology are resh...
Technology : Global Events : Viva Tech 2025
Viva Technology 2025: Personalised agency, circular retail and regulatory momentum

News

Viva Technology 2025: Personalised agency, circular retail and regulatory momentum

On day two of Viva Technology in Paris, the spotlight turned to the potential of personalised health data and the policies driving circular innovat...
Technology : Global Events : Viva Tech 2025
Foresight Friday: Alice Crossley, senior foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Alice Crossley, senior foresight analyst

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, senior foresight ana...
Foresight Friday : Time : Friction
Stat: Beauty industry faces slower growth amid shifting consumer landscape

News

Stat: Beauty industry faces slower growth amid shifting consumer landscape

The global beauty industry, valued at £325bn ($441bn, €382bn), is entering a period of slower growth and is projected to expand by 5% annually unti...
Beauty : Luxury : Economy
Viva Technology 2025: AI in healthcare, building resilient cities and phygital fashion experiences

News

Viva Technology 2025: AI in healthcare, building resilient cities and phygital fashion experiences

As Viva Technology 2025 opened in Paris, speakers explored how technology can be used to address and help solve global challenges in healthcare, tr...
Technology : Global Events : Viva Tech 2025
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