Need to Know
04 : 02 : 22

China – Designed to help urbanites find respite and social connections away from screens, the Flowing Cloud Township Villa is a nature-centric retreat situated in Qinglongwu in China’s Zhejiang province.

Developed by architect studio More Design Office (MDO), six village houses have been renovated into a destination that celebrates both the history and culture of Qinglongwu and its setting, with angled windows that help to frame the surrounding bamboo forest and landscape. Elsewhere, the building has been designed to evolve and interact with the local weather and environment. ‘[We’ve used] materials that can be integrated with nature, bearing the influence of rain, sunlight and snow... This means that within a few years, the exterior wall will become a part of nature, blurring the boundary between architecture and nature,’ says a statement from MDO.

Alongside guest rooms, two buildings that proved difficult to renovate have been transformed into social and recreational spaces, such as the reception and bar area. Flowing Cloud will host various cultural events throughout the year, helping to immerse visitors in nature, as well as serendipitous encounters with strangers.

New York – After 2021 was dubbed the year America’s hair fell out, hair company The Nue Co is releasing a range of supplements that target hair loss. Combining capsules and a topical scalp serum, the Growth Collection seeks to offset the damage that is caused by stress, nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and illness.

With people across the world reporting experiencing sudden hair loss after contracting Covid, scientists have begun researching the phenomenon. A recent study, for example, reports that ‘Covid-19 infection is a major cause of acute telogen effluvium’ – the scientific term for severe and sudden hair shedding. With another report finding that 22% of patients that are hospitalised with Covid still experience hair loss six months later, urgent remedies are needed to strengthen follicle health.

Filled with nourishing ingredients like adaptogenic Reishi mushroom and Eleuthero Root extract, the Growth Collection seeks to equip the body with the vitamins necessary to deal with disruptions to normal hair routines. Drawing on scientific research and incorporating ingredients normally found in skincare, this collection aligns itself with the rise of Skintellectual Haircare.

Perceptions about domestic animals are changing rapidly in China. According to iResearch, from 2015 to 2020, the nation's pet economy quadrupled in size, reaching a value of £35bn ($47bn, €41bn).

According to consulting firm PwC, a majority (88%) of Chinese pet owners are women, well educated, disproportionately single and young – with over half hailing from the post-1990s generation. With the market expected to keep growing at a compound annual rate of 14%, the acceleration of pet ownership marks an extreme shift from the old perception of domestic animals in the country. Until April 2021, dogs were still classified as livestock by the Chinese government.

Yet, as young people adopt animal companions, China's birth rate remains in decline. Faced with rising housing costs and unaffordable childcare, Chinese consumers, much like their Western counterparts, are opting to become pet parents instead. For brands targeting this market, this could hold lucrative potential to offer goods and services catering for High-end Pets.