Need to Know
02 : 03 : 22

Denmark ­– Ohhcean is a line of sex toys made from recycled plastics created by Scandinavian brand Sinful. Tackling the sex toy industry’s dependency on unsustainable materials, the collection is made of repurposed plastics found in Southeast Asian oceans.

To create the collection, which comprises a wand and two vibrators, Sinful collaborated with Tide, a Swiss manufacturing company that converts plastic waste into items. By partnering with local fishermen, Tide collects thermoplastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic from the shorelines of Thailand's seas, streams and lakes. Ensuring that every step of the production process is sustainable – not just the manufacturing – the line was created entirely on renewable energy.

As product designers continue to rethink the potential of plastic, there is scope to reimagine the afterlife of waste. ‘The question was how to take something that already exists and put it to new use? The answer for us, at this moment, was ocean-bound plastic – we want to focus on different ways to approach production and think in new ways concerning material,’ explains Mathilde Mackowski, co-owner of Sinful.

New York – Combining animation, music and interactive prompts into an engaging workout, Peloton Lanebreak is the cult company's first foray into gamified fitness.

Lanebreak is a rhythm-based cardio experience that mimics a video game, complete with a virtual wheel, a floating racetrack and a dynamic music mix. Riders are challenged to choose a level and maintain the resistance required to achieve high scores. By sliding the resistance knob left or right, riders can even ‘switch lanes’ to gain extra points, adding a competitive element to the activity.

With exclusive tracks by the likes of St Vincent, DJ Honey Dijon and TokiMonsta, music is central to the fitness experience. ‘Members can choose levels based on genre or artist and each level is individually designed to follow the flow of the music and goal of the workout,’ explains David Packles, senior director of product management at Peloton.

While Exertainment has been threatening to hit the mainstream for years, Peloton shows how, by combining exclusive music with gaming, it can maintain an edge in an increasingly saturated sector.

Brands are falling behind demand as younger generations try and fail to find more gender-neutral fashion options. According to a study by student discount site UNiDAYS, 61% of Generation Z believe that the mainstream fashion industry overlooks minorities, including trans and non-binary people.

What's more, just 31% of British Gen Z believe that businesses are successfully using inclusive and diverse representation in marketing, and more than half of this group (56%) said that brands often come across as tokenistic, highlighting the ongoing need for more gender non-conforming people working behind the scenes when it comes to fashion marketing.

Those who react to this demand will find a more loyal customer base, as 49% of students are more inclined to buy from brands that promote gender representation and diversity in their marketing and advertising.

To see why bringing men and boys into the gender-fluid fashion conversation is as – if not more – vital than women, read our microtrend on Girlswear for Boys.