Signals

US – Artist Na Chainkua Reindorf has re-imagined her vibrant, empowering artwork on a large-scale canvas: basketball courts in New York’s Tompkins Square Park. Known for her previous collaboration with Glossier, Reindorf aimed to ‘add colour and excitement’ to the neighbourhood using bold primary and complementary colours, with an emphasis on orange, one of the official Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) colours.

The courts, now featuring Reindorf’s signature stylised eye symbol, represent ‘the act of looking back, reclaiming one’s agency, and expressing confidence’, the artist explained. This symbol, a recurring element in her work, is meant to inspire and empower women both in sports and beyond.

The refurbishment is part of a broader initiative by Glossier, Reindorf, the WNBA and Project Backboard, a non-profit organisation. The organisation cleaned, resurfaced and repaired the courts, ensuring they were both functional and visually striking. Glossier director Dan Peterson noted that the project aims to create a more inclusive space, particularly encouraging families and young women to engage with the sport.

In our Sports Rebranded report we discussed how brands can update their visual identities in order to appeal to the Gen Z audience.

US – New data from market research company Circana has revealed that the US beauty market reached £12.1bn ($15.3bn, €14bn) in the first half of 2024, with growth driven primarily by the prestige sector, which expanded by 8%, while the mass market held flat.

Fragrance led the way in prestige, growing by 12%, followed by hair care (10%), skincare (7%) and makeup (5%). Meanwhile, unit sales in the mass market declined across categories. Prestige skincare products priced around £47 ($60, €55) are also outperforming higher luxury tiers, while mass-market segments struggle to keep pace with rising prices.

‘Within prestige, drivers of growth point to a similar pattern, indicative of a consumer who is seeking elevated value,’ said Larissa Jensen, global beauty industry advisor at Circana. For more examples of how brands are flexing their business operations to cater to changing consumer values amid economic uncertainty, head to our Cost of Living Crisis topic.