Need to Know
29 : 09 : 21

Global – Luxury label Gucci is diversifying its digital retail offering with experimental concept store Vault. Immersing audiences in the brand’s past, present and future guises, the site stocks vintage Gucci garments alongside pieces from emerging designers such as Collina Strada and Ahluwalia. Vault also prioritises a sense of discovery through playful editorial features such as ASMR videos and outfit style guides.

Here, the brand is redefining the luxury landscape by fusing its traditional identity with the fresh voices of up-and-coming names in the fashion sector. ‘[Vault is] a time machine, an archive, a library, a laboratory and a meeting place,’ explains a statement on its website. ‘It is in a state of continuous evolution, reflecting the creative director’s passion for experimentation, showcasing restored and customised archive pieces alongside the creations of emerging designers through a poetic and coherent editorial format.’

By spotlighting younger brands that would typically be considered its competition, Gucci is showing how prestigious fashion houses can embrace collaboration as part of a symbiotic luxury strategy.

US – Multinational organisation Virgin is expanding its tourism portfolio with the launch of a youth-focused cruise ship, Scarlet Lady. Arriving as part of its Virgin Voyages cruise line, the adults-only experience reframes conventional associations with cruise ships, to instead offer alternative entertainment, an on-board tattoo parlour, boutique-sized restaurants and drag shows. It also places a focus on sustainability by converting heat waste into electricity and shunning single-use plastics.

Operating in an industry associated with Baby Boomers, Virgin is tapping into the passions of young people in order to design an experience that future-proofs the cruise tourism sector. ‘Before I started Virgin Atlantic, I didn't fancy flying on other people's airlines because they were stuffy, not fun,’ explains Richard Branson, founder of Virgin. ‘That's the perfect time to go into business and [ask] could we create the kind of cruise company that myself, my family and friends would love to go on?’

The experience reflects a desire for Togetherness Travel, as next-gen cruise ships can provide an environment for connecting friends and families after prolonged time spent apart.

Young people across the world are displaying growing levels of climate anxiety, with many feeling that their governments aren’t doing enough to protect the planet. Indeed, in a global study of 10,000 people aged 16–25, conducted by the University of Bath, more than half think that humanity is doomed.

Meanwhile, three-quarters of those surveyed said that the future is frightening. Worryingly, this sense of anxiety is further being fuelled by the sense of dismissal from those in positions of power. Among the 81% of respondents who said they talked to people about their concerns, nearly half said they were ignored or dismissed. ‘This study paints a horrific picture of widespread climate anxiety in our children and young people,’ said Caroline Hickman, a researcher at the University of Bath.

These findings show how eco-anxiety in young people is being fuelled by governments’ inability to implement policy, as well as by peers' failing to empathise with these deep-rooted emotions. To discover how sustainable action can also address emotional concerns, delve into our interview with ethical consultancy CogDis.