News 04.05.2020

Need to Know

Les Garçons imagines a virtual dinner party, PornHub’s cleanest porn ever and young people use apps to stay connected with family.

This fashion brand has created ‘living’ couture

Auroboros Couture Collection with Sarabande Foundation, London

London – Auroboros has created a couture collection that grows on the body.

The luxury fashion brand has developed one-of-a-kind pieces using biomimicry. Created with crystals that grow and change colour over time due to oxidisation, and eventually fall off, the designers hope that the growth process and evolution of garments will prompt wearers to think about fashion in a new light.

Offering unusual sustainability credentials, the undergarments in the collection are also biodegradable, but Auroboros hopes wearers will keep them after the crystals have fallen off. Paula Sello, one of the brand's founders and a designer in residence at London's Sarabande, the Alexander McQueen foundation which supports emerging artists and creatives, says: ‘It’s quite an exciting new way of creating couture because these pieces really live — and then fall apart, which means the wearer can really cherish that moment.’

For more on how the industries such as fashion and luxury are focusing on transformative materials in order to reduce ecological damage, explore our Material Far Futures report.

Covid-19: Digital dining for virtually connected foodies

Distant Dinner by Les Garçons, L'Éloi Distant Dinner by Les Garçons, L'Éloi
Distant Dinner by Les Garçons, L'Éloi Distant Dinner by Les Garçons, L'Éloi

Canada – Photography and director team Les Garçons has created a photographic series inspired by virtual dining.

Capturing the sensation of new conviviality and screen-based connectivity, the Distant Dinner series is centred around the common family gathering of an Easter meal. Presenting a long dinner table with central food items and screen-based diners positioned in place of each diner, the outcome stylises the often awkward and chaotic experience of digital dining.

Imagined as a way to document the new mealtime moments that are being shared via screens, Les Garçons provides an artistic documentation of the current reality of home-based dining – and a potential future for socially distant dinners.

Technology and dining are set to be increasingly entwined in future, as the food and drinks industry begins to embrace Home Eatertainment.

Covid-19: PornHub launches its cleanest porn ever

Global – PornHub has partnered with artists on a parody platform dedicated entirely to people washing their hands.

In collaboration with artists Ani Acopian and Suzy Shinn, ScrubHub uses the same interface as the original PornHub site, and features thousands of videos of people washing their hands, as well as numerous adult entertainers. While it is visually inoffensive, the platform uses typical pornography categories such as 'BDSM', 'bear' and 'feet'.

Humorously highlighting the important task of handwashing, ScrubHub also helps to spread awareness and raise money for Covid-19 relief. Corey Price, vice president of PornHub, explains: ‘We thought this presented a unique opportunity for Pornhub to bring some joy to something that has become so mundane and repetitive.’

Many digital platforms are finding ways to subtly raise awareness of newly important rituals. Quarantine Together, for example, prompts users with a handwashing reminder before they can use the app.

ScrubHub by PornHub in partnership with artists Ani Acopian and Suzy Shinn ScrubHub by PornHub in partnership with artists Ani Acopian and Suzy Shinn

Stat: Young adults turn to apps to keep family connections

According to the Youth in Pandemic study of 9,000 young adults conducted by Vice, young people globally are turning to new digital platforms to help them stay connected with friends, family and loved-ones during the pandemic.

As a result, 47% have increased their social media use, while 14% have downloaded a new app to stay in touch with family. As well as social connection, young people are also feeling informed and empowered by the apps that they’re using. In turn, 78% of them want to consume coronavirus-related content online to keep themselves and their loved ones informed.

With so many young people currently prioritising staying in touch with family over having glossy digital personas, we can anticipate a rise in Anti-Social Networks focused on more exclusive social groups.

Previous News Articles
AirCar readies for launch, ushering in an era of casual air mobility

News

AirCar readies for launch, ushering in an era of casual air mobility

Slovakia’s Klein Vision has announced that its AirCar – a road-legal vehicle that converts into a certified aircraft in under two minutes – will be...
Mobility : Air Travel : Transport
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 Friday : Gen Z : Gen Beta
British Gen Alphas are listening to CDs and vinyl

News

British Gen Alphas are listening to CDs and vinyl

Nearly half of Generation Alpha are turning to physical music formats, according to new research from Key Production.
Gen Alpha : Music : Media
Social media star Kai Cenat launches Streamer University

News

Social media star Kai Cenat launches Streamer University

Twitch sensation Kai Cenat has launched Streamer University, a weekend-long experience for aspiring creators to collaborate, learn and produce cont...
Media : Entertainment : Education
De Beers to close its lab-grown diamond jewellery brand

News

De Beers to close its lab-grown diamond jewellery brand

De Beers Group has announced the closure of Lightbox, its lab-grown diamond jewellery brand, signalling a strategic retreat from the synthetic jewe...
Luxury : Sustainability : Jewellery
Financial mansplaining endures for a majority of British women

News

Financial mansplaining endures for a majority of British women

Gender bias in money matters is pushing British women out of financial conversations, according to new research commissioned by digital wealth mana...
Finance : Diversity : Inclusion
Avanade Intelligent Garden gives trees a voice at Chelsea Flower Show

News

Avanade Intelligent Garden gives trees a voice at Chelsea Flower Show

This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show invites visitors to interact with AI-enabled trees in the Avanade Intelligent Garden.
Technology : Nature : Sustainability
ITV launches deaf-led drama with BSL and silent ad break

News

ITV launches deaf-led drama with BSL and silent ad break

ITV is pushing the boundaries of inclusive storytelling with the launch of its new prime time drama Code of Silence, starring BAFTA-winning actor a...
Media : Diversity : Inclusion
Stat: Boomerang generation return home due to cost of living crisis

News

Stat: Boomerang generation return home due to cost of living crisis

The rising cost of living and unaffordable housing are fuelling a surge in adult children returning to the family home.
Family : Home : Youth
Manchester City brings grassroots spirit to kit launch

News

Manchester City brings grassroots spirit to kit launch

Manchester City Football Club has marked the launch of its 2025/2026 home kit with a short film that playfully blends football fandom, nostalgia an...
Sports : Design : Creative
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