News 10.05.2021

Need To Know

Black Tomato is bringing back the magic of travel, Lidl takes civic action against period poverty and the global sex education gap grows.

Black Tomato is curating fairytale travel experiences

Take Me On a Story campaign by Black Tomato

New York – Bespoke travel platform Black Tomato is inviting families to immerse themselves in getaways inspired by children’s stories.

The luxury travel brand’s Take Me On a Story programme is targeted at families seeking new experiences, offering them bespoke trips based around popular children’s books. It was launched with travel experiences in the US, the UK, the British Virgin Islands, Morocco and Iceland. Each region aligns with different fairytale settings, such as a trip to Oxfordshire inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

The trips will include activities such as mountain climbing and camping to fully immerse families in the fairytale-inspired worlds. According to Tom Marchant, co-founder of Black Tomato:After the hardships of last year, being able to transport both children and adults into these rich, whimsical worlds feels like the ultimate joyful way to reconnect with family and welcome back the magic of travel.

As the Millennial Family Travel market matures, this demographic is seeking bespoke forms of travel that allow them to be totally immersed in new worlds.

Prabal Gurung and Etsy spotlight homeware artisans

Etsy and Prabal Gurung collaboration. Photography by Anisha Sisodia Etsy and Prabal Gurung collaboration. Photography by Anisha Sisodia
Etsy and Prabal Gurung collaboration. Photography by Anisha Sisodia Etsy and Prabal Gurung collaboration. Photography by Anisha Sisodia

US – Fashion designer Prabal Gurung has partnered with online marketplace Etsy to create a home décor collection in collaboration with global artisans.

The homeware line takes inspiration from Prabal Gurung’s nomadic lifestyle, leaning on Etsy’s global community of makers to create a diverse range of products. Designed with 11 Etsy artisans based all over the world – including the US, India, Germany and the UK – each piece reflects the creator’s unique aesthetic and background. The collection features a range of table linen, hand-painted dinnerware and hand-made candles.

Gurung’s limited-edition collection is available to buy on the Etsy shopping platform, with accessible prices that start at just £20 ($28, 23). ‘This collection welcomes you to take a seat at the table and celebrate the art of living, with a worldly sensibility that shines a light on the diverse independent makers in the global Etsy community,’ explains Gurung.

Luxury brands such as Prabal Gurung are recognising the benefits of artisanal retail. For more, discover how ethical fashion and homeware brands have been supporting artisan suppliers throughout the pandemic.

Lidl is fighting period poverty with free products

Ireland – Supermarket chain Lidl Ireland is improving access to sanitary products for those in period poverty.

The initiative, which marks a first for the retail sector, will enable women to freely access products without financial barriers. Making use of the Lidl app, the supermarket is allowing its customers to claim a dedicated coupon in order to access one free box of sanitary pads or tampons each month.

The guiding principle of this initiative is the inherent respect for the dignity of all those concerned, and it is our hope that it will have an impact on those who would otherwise have to use less suitable materials or none at all,' explains Aoife Clarke, head of communications for Lidl Ireland. As part of the initiative, the retailer is also pledging to give quarterly donations of period products to homeless people.

By going beyond tokenistic efforts and overcoming financial barriers, Lidl sets an example of how Civic Brands can work towards eradicating period poverty.

Blume, US Blume, US

Stat: Women across the globe are lacking sex education

Sexual wellness company Smile Makers has released a global study revealing the lack of sex education prevalent across the world.

The research shows that 28% of women globally did not receive any formal sex education, with the most significant lack of access in Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia (32%) and Singapore (29%). Among those who did receive sex education, 75% say that it did not prepare them to understand their own pleasure.

The report also identifies that 63% of women who use a vibrator say that they are sexually satisfied, compared to 43% who don’t use the sex toys. Building on this disparity, those who have taken pleasure into their own hands were found to be more aware of their sexual wellbeing, with 80% of vibrator users considering sexual wellness to be important, versus 58% of people who don’t use vibrators.

With this in mind, health and wellness brands have an opportunity to reframe conversations around sex education to offer more realistic perspectives that centre on self-pleasure.

Previous News Articles
Arabian Travel Market 2025: The power of human and spiritual connection

News

Arabian Travel Market 2025: The power of human and spiritual connection

Day two of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 continued to spotlight the future of global tourism with a strong focus on human, cultural and spir...
Travel : Travel & Hospitality : Global Events
ChatGPT expands into e-commerce

News

ChatGPT expands into e-commerce

OpenAI has announced the launch of new shopping features within ChatGPT.
Technology : Retail : AI
Stat: American Gen Z are more optimistic about finances than their elders

News

Stat: American Gen Z are more optimistic about finances than their elders

Young people are surprisingly optimistic about their personal finances, reveals new data from the NBC News Stay Tuned Poll, powered by SurveyMonkey.
Politics : Finance : Economy
Arabian Travel Market 2025: AI and accessible tourism

News

Arabian Travel Market 2025: AI and accessible tourism

LS:N Global reviews the most innovative discussions, impactful presentations and new product showcases seen at The Arabian Travel Market 2025 ...
Travel : Travel & Hospitality : Global Events
Stat: Consumers are willing to pay more for brands they trust

News

Stat: Consumers are willing to pay more for brands they trust

More than two-thirds of consumers in the US, the UK and Australia are willing to pay an average of 25% more for their favourite brands, according t...
Retail : Advertising And Branding : Value
Heineken launches innovation studio to supercharge social drinking

News

Heineken launches innovation studio to supercharge social drinking

Brewing company Heineken has launched Heineken Studio, a new experimental platform designed to redefine the social drinking experience.
Hospitality : Food And Drink : Beer
BritBox reveals 14-hour one-shot film tribute to British tv

News

BritBox reveals 14-hour one-shot film tribute to British tv

In a bold stand against CGI and AI imagery, BritBox’s latest campaign See It Differently brings back the magic of real-time filmmaking.
Britbox : Storytelling : Interactive Storytelling
Stat: Construction workers outpace financiers in crypto ownership 

News

Stat: Construction workers outpace financiers in crypto ownership 

Cryptocurrency is gaining surprising traction in sectors beyond Silicon Valley and Wall Street. According to the 2025 State of Crypto Holders Repor...
Stat : Stats : Cryptocurrency
Owen Nowhere brings kids’ tv to the blockchain

News

Owen Nowhere brings kids’ tv to the blockchain

We Ghosted Media has announced Owen Nowhere, a new animated kids’ series that bypasses tv and streaming in favour of a decentralised platform built...
Cryptocurrency : Cryptic Currencies : Cryptic Consumers
Jameel Motorsport turns Fortnite into environmental wake-up call

News

Jameel Motorsport turns Fortnite into environmental wake-up call

Jameel Motorsport and Serviceplan Arabia have launched The Treeless Map, a Fortnite experience designed to raise environmental awareness by removin...
Gaming : Sustainability : Technology
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