News 13.07.2023

Need to Know

Sony’s new speakers bring cinematic sound home, Fendi turns to natural materials and most unmarried adults haven’t been on a date in the past month.

Sony’s portable theatre system brings cinematic sound home

Sony HT-AX7, Global
Sony HT-AX7, Global
Sony HT-AX7, Global

Global – In July 2023, Japanese tech behemoth Sony introduced the HT-AX7, a new portable speaker system that can surround users with an immersive cinema-like sound experience. The three-part item includes a speaker and two smaller circular speakers designed to be placed in other corners of your room to create a dome of sound powered by the company’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology already used in Sony’s regular soundbars and headphones.

Connected through wireless Bluetooth and monitored through a smartphone app, the three speakers have a battery life of 30 hours and can be used to listen to music, podcasts and more. Sony has also equipped the system with a handy quick-charge mode that can give users 150 minutes of playback on a 10-minute charge. The HT-AX7 features Sony’s upmixer algorithm, which can transform stereo into three-dimensional surround sound. The speaker body uses a fabric made from 100% recycled PET bottles and incorporates recycled plastics. Available from August 2023, the portable speaker system will retail in the US, the UK and Europe for £499 ($649, €585).

In Quiet Mode, we previously analysed how Sony competitors like Apple and Flare Audio are developing innovative features to help the increasing number of consumers who crave a new kind of quiet and immersive experience that can make them forget the outside world for a while.

Strategic opportunity

As consumers look to augment their movie experience at home by turning any room or terrace into a home cinema with just three small Sony speakers, how can brands, from home design to food and drink, become part of this home ritual?

Kengo Kuma redesigns Fendi accessories with natural materials

Fendi and Kengo Kuma, Global Fendi and Kengo Kuma, Global

Italy – Presenting its spring/summer 2024 menswear collection in June 2023 in the Tuscan countryside, Fendi joined forces with the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma to re-invent some of its accessories and shoes. Iconic pieces were redesigned using waranshi, a hybrid material of cotton and tree bark, traditionally used for origami and lantern-making.

Featured pieces included the Peekaboo bag and the insta-famous Baguette Soft Trunk recreated in the Japanese craft stylewith a more organic and sustainable feel drawing from natural materials. The redesign brought the pieces a raw and imperfect finish while remaining soft and well structured.

To redesign Fendi’s Flow trainers, the architect utilised fabric made using the practice of yatara ami-weaving, traditionally made from bamboo strands for a woven lattice-like effect. ‘I’ve always thought of Kengo Kuma as a master of naturalist architecture,’ said Silvia Venturini Fendi. ‘He was one of the first to understand the importance of building nature into architecture both inside and out.’

In our report on five luxury fashion brands advancing biotechnology, we previously analysed how luxury fashion houses are increasingly recognising the potential of biotechnology and experimenting with biotextiles for a more sustainable future.

Strategic opportunity

Luxury fashion brands should consider how to uplift textile innovators who are on the cusp of changing the industry with a new wave of natural materials, upcycled raw materials and sustainable alternatives

Stat: Romance and dating on the decline in the US

Grind, UK Grind, UK

US – A June 2023 study by romance publisher Harlequin reveals a decline in romance and dating in the US since the pandemic. The research comprised two surveys involving 2,000 unmarried adults and 681 self-identified romance readers and revealed that 46% of unmarried adults are not dating at all, with 30% already in relationships. In addition, 77% of single adults say they have not been on one date in the past month, while 18% have been on one or two dates.

Despite reduced dating activity, the study also shows that 57% of adult respondents believe they can achieve happiness with or without a long-term partner, with women (63%) more likely to agree with that statement than men (51%). Furthermore, 55% associate happiness with surrounding themselves with friends and family.

The study highlights a shift in attitudes to romance and relationships, indicating a broader societal transformation in the perception of happiness and fulfilment. It also suggests an upending of current ideas we have of family, a topic we explore in Family in 2050.

Strategic opportunity

Businesses need to rethink their branding and communications, and consider whether the visual representation of their values aligns with changing societal values and ideas on family, romance and relationships in order to better connect with consumers

Previous News Articles
Natural Material Studio crafts decorative wall panels from brewery waste

News

Natural Material Studio crafts decorative wall panels from brewery waste

At Copenhagen Airport, a unique design element stands out in the Åben brewery restaurant: swirly panels crafted from spent grain, a by-product of b...
Food & Drink : Sustainability : Design
Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot create leather from grape waste

News

Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot create leather from grape waste

Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot have introduced a limited-edition collection of bags and bottle accessories made from a grape-based alternative...
Sustainability : Fashion : Luxury
Foresight Friday: Gabriela Białkowska, creative foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Gabriela Białkowska, creative foresight analyst

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, creative foresight analys...
Foresight : Gaming : Technology
Stat: AI is high on fashion executives’ agenda for 2024

News

Stat: AI is high on fashion executives’ agenda for 2024

In the aftermath of generative AI’s explosive growth, the fashion industry is set for a transformative 2024 as executives look to harness the poten...
AI : Fashion : Technology
Flexibility defines Today Design’s Melbourne office

News

Flexibility defines Today Design’s Melbourne office

In the heart of Collingwood, Melbourne, digital agency Today Design has transformed a 900-square-metre area within a 12-storey block into a hub of ...
Design : Sustainability : Workplace
Youth movement Flor champions nature and biodiversity

News

Youth movement Flor champions nature and biodiversity

Bringing today’s hyper-connected youth closer to nature is no small feat. Youth organisation Flor has made the challenge of getting young people in...
Youth : Design : Society
Aesop blends tradition and modernity with music-inspired gift kits

News

Aesop blends tradition and modernity with music-inspired gift kits

Australian cosmetics brand Aesop is ringing in the holiday season with a unique blend of tradition and modernity.
Packaging : Design : Beauty
Stat: US teens are more price-conscious when choosing a university

News

Stat: US teens are more price-conscious when choosing a university

Scared by big student debt and high prices, US students are becoming more price-sensitive when it comes to higher education.
Education : Finance : Youth
Bacardi and The Future Laboratory unveil 2024 Cocktail Trends Report

News

Bacardi and The Future Laboratory unveil 2024 Cocktail Trends Report

Bacardi, in collaboration with The Future Laboratory, unveiled its fifth annual Cocktail Trends Report in December 2023. The research draws on insi...
Drink : Alcohol : Spirits
Balmain introduces hyper-realistic virtual try-ons powered by Bods

News

Balmain introduces hyper-realistic virtual try-ons powered by Bods

From the runway to the avatar realm, luxury house Balmain has called on fashion-fit technology company Bods to create a next-level virtual try-on t...
Fashion : Luxury : 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

What do we use cookies for?

We use cookies to enable the use of our platform’s paid features and to analyse our traffic. No personal data, including your IP address, is stored and we do not sell data to third parties.

Learn more