Need to Know
23 : 07 : 20

By Savannah Scott, Sophie Boldog and Abi Buller

An eco-first Indian school, sexcare meets skincare in an inclusive lubricant line, and affluent Chinese consumers are optimistic about spending.

In today's news:

A forest school focused on the environment

Cake delivers sexual pleasure without labels

An energy bar for Covid-wary commuters

Stat: China’s HNWIs power through the pandemic

A forest school focused on the environment

Forest by Nudes, Pune, India

Mumbai – Architecture firm Nudes' nature-inspired construction aims to provide a healthy school environment for children from nursery age to 18 years.

Given the name Forest, it is the winning entry in a design competition for a new educational facility in Pune, India. The school will provide hands-on learning for children that highlights the interdependency of health and wellness and the surrounding environment.

It features two cylindrical towers wrapped in greenery, an infinity-shaped cycling track on the roof, and a swimming pool and tennis courts in the basement. Set to be built in 2021, the design is a response to the environmental problems associated with urbanisation in India. ‘The green live skin serves to purify the air from pollutants and related challenges affecting the health of the inhabitants of a city,’ says Nuru Karim, founder and principal of Nudes.

In response to a growing understanding of nature’s therapeutic effects, architects and designers are rewilding urban spaces. For more, read our Enlightened States macrotrend.

Cake delivers sexual pleasure without labels

Cake, Los Angeles

Los Angeles – Cake’s line of lubricants are inspired by skincare and take a fluid view of gender and sexuality.

Positioned as a wellness brand for the bedroom, its product line focuses on anatomy and sexual preferences, rather than traditional gender labels, as a way to respond to people’s sense of pleasure and curiosity. Cake’s playful tone of voice and design cues refer to pleasure in a no-nonsense way; products include a Let’s Do It All kit that encourages exploration for couples, individuals and group experiences.

Hunter Morris, CEO and co-founder of Cake, explains: ‘Regardless of gender or sexuality, we want to offer specialised products that enhance your sexual experiences – especially those open to trying something new in the bedroom, but not exactly sure where to start.’

With conversations about pleasure becoming increasingly inclusive, sexual wellness brands should remain aware of the importance of creating genderless products.

An energy bar for Covid-wary commuters

London – Sports marketing agency Dark Horses has launched Home Run, a plant-based energy bar aimed at physically active yet Covid-conscious commuters.

Designed for those who want to avoid public transport during the pandemic by running or cycling their commutes instead, the energy bar is positioned as a nutritious snack to fuel their journeys.

At part of the launch, Dark Horses has created a buddy scheme for first-time runners or cyclists called Home Run Commuter Routers, helping to ease people into their new routines.

‘We understand that people may be apprehensive about taking public transport again, but also worried about running or cycling in the city for the first time,’ says Steve Howell, creative partner at Dark Horses. ‘Our Home Run Commuter Routers will take all of that stress away.’

In our Food & Drink Tribes collection, we explore the Fastronomic Foodies, who use food as fuel to navigate their daily lives. Discover what drives them and three other food and drink Tribes by downloading the report here.

Home Run by Dark Horses, London

Stat: China’s HNWIs power through the pandemic

Zalando Sneakers FW19, Superimpose

Luxury consumer confidence has been tried by Covid-19 – yet a study by Agility Research & Strategy reveals that HNWIs in Asia continue to feel positive about their financial prospects.

Despite short-term worries about the economy, many affluent consumers – including 54% of Chinese HNWIs – expect their disposable income to increase in the next year. This mindset around disposable income is also apparent among other Asian consumers, and is echoed by 30% of affluent South Koreans.

According to the report, many respondents said that luxury purchases are helping to provide a sense of normalcy as the pandemic evolves, and in particular since they are unable to undertake activities they normally enjoy, such as travelling the world.

As we have previously identified in The State of Luxury: China, local HNWIs are increasingly nuanced in their spending. Look out for a Chinese Luxury Market update soon.