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Selfridges spotlights digital products in its windows

Selfridge's Windows of the Future, London

London – For the first time, digitally rendered products are directly shoppable from the department store’s windows.

The new window displays, which are part of Selfridges’ AW19 creative campaign, The New Order, allow shoppers to scan QR codes to purchase items featured on screens. Merging the physical and digital worlds, new-season products have been 3D-scanned and digitally rendered to appear in otherworldly, animated landscapes. To create virtual displays, the store’s window design team collaborated with Digi-Gals, an all-female 3D image-making community, and motion graphic designer Christina Worner.

‘Windows used to be an advertising tool for products, but customers expect more now,’ says Emily Outhwaite, assistant styling manager ‘We’ve moved away from using traditional mannequins; instead focusing on alternative fashion forms and innovative new ways to showcase products.’

As such, the campaign reflects the extent to which digitisation offers a new route for consumers to engage with fashion brands.

These luxury apartments come with a live-in chef

475 Clermont and Resident, photography by Kyle Knodell

Brooklyn – The developer of 475 Clermont has partnered with supper club startup Resident to offer social dining experiences.

Inhabitants gain access to chefs Brownen Kinzler-Britton and Meryl Feinstein, who live in the building and cook one six-course dinner with wine pairings per month. In addition, Resident also puts on ticketed dinners and events that can be attended by the general public. Those living in the building gain exclusive access to these events at a reduced cost.

The partnership allows the chefs to forge relationships with their neighbours, opening up their home and inviting a level of engagement they would not typically experience at work in a high end restaurant, while also encouraging interactions between the rest of the building’s inhabitants.

Over the world, co-living developments are considering how to move beyond glorified halls of residences, integrating luxurious services into their offering while confronting urban challenges such as loneliness.

Oxfam’s inaugural superstore signals the rise of resale

Oxford – The international charity has opened its first-ever superstore, which is 12 times the size of the average Oxfam shop.

Building on the growth of the resale market, the superstore will sell both donated items and the ‘Sourced By Oxfam’ range of brand new ethically sourced gifts and homewares. The 18,500 ft²space will also double as a community hub, with community groups and social enterprises able to use dedicated meeting spaces for workshops, activities and talks, which will take place regularly in-store.

‘Oxfam’s first ever superstore is an exciting new venture for us,’ says Danny Sriskandarajah, chief executive of Oxfam GB. ‘The huge treasure trove of items on offer make it a destination shopping experience but it is so much more than a shop. It will be a social hub at the heart of the community which we hope will give people a greater sense of the incredible difference they can make by shopping, donating or volunteering at Oxfam.’

To learn how brands and retailers are embracing second-hand goods, read our Fashion Recommerce Market.

Oxfam superstore, Oxford

Stat: Baby Boomers are embracing eco-escapes

While the younger generation are considered to be more socially and environmentally conscious, a study by Booking.com has found that it is actually the Baby Boomers who are leading the eco-friendly travel movement. The study found that while 81% of Generation Z plan to stay in green accommodation, this rises to 86% for the Baby Boomers.

Baby Boomers are also more likely to consider not visiting a destination threatened by over-tourism and are choosing more sustainable travel options such as electric rental cars, public transport and walking compared to their Generation Z and Millennial counterparts. While the survey does not specify the impetus behind this mindset, it does demonstrate the need for eco-conscious brands to consider Baby Boomers when marketing their offering.

In response, the hospitality industry is seeing an Eco-tel Evolution, as sustainable accommodation options become increasingly design-led to cater for more travellers than ever more.