Need to Know
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UK ­– Homeware designer Yinka Ilori has unveiled his first retail space, a dopamine-boosting and colourful pop-up shop inspired by the designer’s West African heritage.

Located in Shoreditch, east London, the pop-up is open until 3 January 2023 and carries a selection of homeware, stationery and games that double as collectible objects. Both the store’s design and merchandise are intended to inspire joy and a sense of togetherness, with the use of bold colours and patterns, but also interactive elements inviting visitors to engage and connect.

‘I wanted to design a fun, engaging space that tells a story. I want to start a conversation about the future of our stores, how we curate these spaces and what experiences we can create to forge deeper, more meaningful connections,’ says Ilori.

The designer created another community-centred space in 2021 with the Lego Launderette of Dreams. With this project, Ilori is further embracing hyperphysical store design with a nod to his roots and at the same time educating Londoners about West African culture.

UK – A new survey by British Wool reveals that fast fashion remains prevalent in the UK, as nearly two-thirds of Britons admit to throwing away clothes that could be recycled or donated to charity instead of ending up in landfill.

Britons are buying more new items of clothing each year than people in other European countries. The data suggests a very high turnover in wardrobes, with people throwing away six garments a month on average.

In addition, the research noted a limited knowledge and understanding of the properties and environmental impact of different textiles. A staggering 85% of Britons are unaware of what garments are made with, even as 31% want to make eco-friendlier fashion purchases.

This study comes as fast fashion giant Shein has been named in a survey by money.co.uk as the most popular fashion brand of 2022, despite increasing criticism for alleged unsustainable and unethical practices and underpinning the current cognitive dissonance between a will to commit to greener consumption habits and the reality of consumer behaviour.