News 30.09.2022

Need to Know

A new report examines the Chinese male luxurian, anti-beauty magazine releases its latest issue, and China’s economic slowdown

What’s next for the Chinese male luxurian?

Chinese Male Luxury Consumer 2023 report by The Future Laboratory and Hot Pot China

Hot off the heels of our recent Guilded Luxury macrotrend, The Future Laboratory has released a new report about the Chinese male luxury consumer in partnership with market research company Hot Pot China. The report provides deep insight into the Chinese luxury market, with a focus on the male consumer.

Through quantitative research and analysis, the report identifies six consumer typographies in the region, including novices on the beginning of their luxury journey to more initiated luxury veterans. The report examines what informs the desires and preferences of each consumer group, breaking down the motivations that lead them to purchase luxury products and experiences.

The report is free to read and can be downloaded today from The Future Laboratory’s website. Readers who download the report will uncover the shifting needs, aspirations and tastes of a rapidly evolving region.

Download the report

Readers can download the report today for free from our website for a chance to learn more about the lesser-covered Chinese male consumer.

Circus magazine, a subversive take on beauty

Circus, UK Circus, UK
Circus, UK Circus, UK

London – Founded by Jackson Bowley, a London-based beauty photographer, Circus magazine looks at beauty through a grotesque lens. The latest issue features an array of talented artists and creatives, who share their take on pushing the boundaries of body image and the current rigid paradigms dictated by the industry. In what can only be described as beauty on acid, you can expect to find saturated colours and wacky looking creatures.

Jackson wanted the magazine, which stemmed from lockdown boredom and his frustrations with the beauty industry, to ‘embody the energy, absurdity, noise and stimulations of a circus’.

Taking a very broad approach to the magazine, he briefed the contributors to avoid being too beautiful and polished. This is highly pervasive throughout the magazine; there’s an air of chaos and ugliness to its overall aesthetic. Jackson represents a growing shift among industry creatives and consumers towards the rejection of beauty norms and an embracing of all things imperfect.

Strategic opportunity

Try to think of ways you can impactfully use language in a way that strives for body neutrality. Go against the grain and collaborate with creatives who are front and centre in the anti- beauty movement.

Human composting is now legal in California

US – California has joined other states like Colorado and Vermont in legalising the controversial ‘human composting’ burial process.

The burial method consists of placing human remains in re-usable steel vessels together with biodegradable materials like wood chips to decompose for 30–45 days. The obtained nutrient-rich soil is either given to loved ones or donated to land conservation organisations.

Advocates of human composting argue that the method can help reduce the carbon footprint of funerals. ‘With climate change and sea level rise very real threats to our environment, this is an alternative method of final disposition that won’t contribute emissions into our atmosphere,’ said the legislation’s author Cristina Garcia in a statement.

Human composting burials pose moral issues for some religious groups, however, and others expressed concerns about the use of soil containing human remains, particularly in public spaces or for growing food.

From soil-enhancing biodegradable mycelium coffins becoming available through mainstream insurers to another American state legalising human composting, the Death Positivity Market is one to watch.

Loop Living Cocoon, The Netherlands

Strategic opportunity

The way we think about death is changing, and while some controversy remains, people are becoming more open to alternative and more eco-friendly burial methods and rituals

Stat: China’s economic growth slumps for the first time in three decades

The Chuan Malt Whisky Distillery by Pernod Ricard, China The Chuan Malt Whisky Distillery by Pernod Ricard, China

China – The World Bank has revised its growth estimate for China’s economy. In April, it predicted the country’s GDP would grow by 4–5% in 2022, marking a three-decade low, but it has since lowered its forecast to 2.8%.

‘China, which was leading the recovery from the pandemic, and largely shrugged off the Delta [Covid variant] difficulties, is now paying the economic cost of containing the disease in its most infectious manifestation,’ explains Aaditya Mattoo, the World Bank’s chief economist for east Asia and the Pacific.

By contrast, other economies in east Asia are expected to continue growing rapidly in 2022 with lower inflation rates. Excluding China, the APAC region’s economy is set to increase by a healthy 5.3%, up from 2.6% last year, thanks to high commodity prices and a rise in domestic consumption after the pandemic.

We reported on the decline of China’s property market earlier this year, and economic growth appears to have followed course. Although not unduly alarming, China’s predicted economic slowdown will surely be followed closely in the coming months.

Strategic opportunity

In times of global economic and social turmoil, brands can double down on existing customer loyalty efforts to maintain a presence and future-proof post-rebound strategies

Previous News Articles
NFL and Crocs launch fandom footwear as part of new multiyear licensing agreement

News

NFL and Crocs launch fandom footwear as part of new multiyear licensing agreement

The National Football League (NFL) and Crocs have teamed up to create NFL-themed shoes, available in the US and at select global retailers, as part...
Fashion : Sports : Collaborations
Foresight Friday: Seyi Oduwole, foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Seyi Oduwole, 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, foresight analyst Seyi Od...
Foresight Friday : TikTok : Scottish
Stat: Record number of Americans consider even one or two drinks a day to be unhealthy

News

Stat: Record number of Americans consider even one or two drinks a day to be unhealthy

The belief that even moderate consumption (one or two drinks a day) is bad for health has risen to a high of 53%, compared with just 27% in the ear...
Alcohol : Health : Sobriety
Grind and Beauty Pie launch limited-edition morning ritual bundle

News

Grind and Beauty Pie launch limited-edition morning ritual bundle

Cult coffee brand Grind has teamed up with beauty subscription service Beauty Pie on a limited-edition collaboration designed to elevate the everyd...
Beauty : Beauty Pie : Grind
Stat: Gen Z and Millennials intentionally miss major social events due to cost

News

Stat: Gen Z and Millennials intentionally miss major social events due to cost

In a report entitled The Friendship Tab, research commissioned by Ally Bank found that young adults in the US frequently miss out on social events ...
Gen Z : Millenials : Finance
Byredo bottles up Brazilian culture with new Alto Astral scent

News

Byredo bottles up Brazilian culture with new Alto Astral scent

Fragrance house Byredo is tapping into the emotional power of place with its latest scent, Alto Astral.
Beauty : Fragrance : Culture
Canva’s Gampang di Canva campaign sees grandma drive small business success

News

Canva’s Gampang di Canva campaign sees grandma drive small business success

Canva has launched its Gampang di Canva (Easy on Canva) campaign in Indonesia to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Design : Humour : Technology
Nail bar offers free manicures and HIV advice

News

Nail bar offers free manicures and HIV advice

The London HIV Prevention Programme (LHPP) is teaming up with smart sexual health technology app Zults to host a pop-up nail bar offering free...
Nail Bar : HIV Awareness : Peckham
Stat: Soft clubbing signals the future of going out

News

Stat: Soft clubbing signals the future of going out

Eventbrite data shows a 92% rise in sober-curious gatherings, with formats such as coffee clubbing, morning dance parties and thermal gatherings ga...
Socialising : Soft Clubbing : Health And Wellness
Zara unveils new high tech concept store in Manchester

News

Zara unveils new high tech concept store in Manchester

Zara has revealed its new high tech concept store in Manchester Trafford Centre in August 2025.
Retail : Technology : Zara
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