Recognising that exclusive price points and established names aren’t enough to attract new luxury consumers, some brands are pursuing creative collaborations and subversive narratives that differentiate their offerings from the mainstream. For instance, craft whisky producer 

 uses its story of unique processes and women distillers to bring the stereotypically male spirit to a female audience. Meanwhile, Gucci’s playful 

 showed how fashion houses can broaden their image and establish a non-conformist identity through surprising partnerships.

Such moves seem astute when considering that many people are setting their own terms for what constitutes a status symbol. Some are moving towards a more 

 ‘if you know, you know’ kind of luxury, meaning that symbols like a 

 are becoming a thing of the past. From Lizzo’s thimble-sized Valentino purse to the trend-agnostic 

 shopping bag (a.k.a. ‘the Bushwick Birkin’), the concept of arm candy has been transformed. Bulgari is similarly shaking up a long-standing element of the luxury sector by embracing gender-neutrality – its B.Zero1 jewellery range was advertised with a gender-diverse video spot that emphasised its unisex nature.

 become common across industries, luxury shoppers are increasingly looking to create their own symbols rather than latch on to premade ones. While 

 is letting people stamp their initials on products, High Earning, Not Rich Yet individuals (a group that Canvas8 has been 

) are pursuing products that more closely mirror their lifestyles and align with their values. Rather than angle for big name brands, they’re championing brands for 

With fashionistas favouring utility and novelty over the flashiness of yesteryear, it would seem that days of the ‘It bag’ are over. What does the popularity of micro bags, convertible totes, and tech-enhanced backpacks reveal about people’s changing expectations of this everyday accessory?

Whatever happened to the traditional handbag?

HENRYs – those affluent (but not too affluent) young professionals who are getting a taste for the finer things – are a focal group for high-end brands looking to ensure their longevity. But what do these Gen Yers want to spend on, and what would convince them to keep buying from luxury labels?

Who are the new HENRYs?

As more Australians with disposable income bolster the country’s travel industry, the luggage brand July has responded by expanding its affordable luxury offerings. Selling both style and practicality, it has met the needs of travellers seeking a bespoke touch as they head abroad.

Why July designs luxe luggage for cost-savvy travellers

InterContinental Hotels Group is enhancing its multigenerational travel offering to boost growth for its luxury portfolio. As high-net-worth travelers prioritize vacations as a collective experience with their loved ones, they’ll expect brands to craft holidays that have something for everyone.

IHG embraces multigenerational holidays in luxury travel

Hosted in a different city each year, Chanel's Métiers d'Art fashion show took place in China for its 2024/25 run. The tension among audience responses reflects growing scrutiny of global brands’ cultural nods, as audiences demand deeper, more authentic engagements in China's evolving luxury market.

Chanel fans call for greater nuance in Chinese designs

As the fashion and automotive worlds collide, luxury streetwear brands Kith and Aimé Leon Dore are leading a transformation of classic BMW and Porsche models. This reflects a broader shift as cars become style statements, speaking to Gen Z's focus on cultural relevance over traditional car culture.

Gen Z drivers seek cultural relevance from car brands

Fashion stans started joining the queue for Chopova Lowena’s bi-annual sample sale in December 2024 as early as 3am. But the queue – as an endurance test and a temporary community for the fashion-focused – became a destination in its own right, showcasing a growing subculture around sample sales.

Chopova Lowena sample sale draws queues of Gen Z stans 

Louis Vuitton has brought its 2024 holiday campaign to life with a carousel installation at Place Vendome in Paris along with matching AR filters and customisable digital cards. This physical-digital experience aims to foster connections and authenticity while creating an air of celebration.

Louis Vuitton taps experiential holiday shoppers

2024 was the year of bag charms and collectible toys. Bring those two together and you get Labubu, a cute little monster adults are now obsessively collecting. APAC lead editor Therese Reyes looks into the latest viral craze and what it tells us about affordable luxury in the region.

Editor's Briefing: What the Labubu craze tells us about affordable luxury

With personal care products reflecting the skin-brain connection, neurocosmetics brand JustHuman meets Indians' demand for verifiable ‘clean beauty.' Using a science-backed approach, the brand caters to oft-ignored Gen X women, helping them battle negative environmental changes and stressors.

How JustHuman rethinks beauty for mindful women in India

With women in China being more self-sufficient than ever before, this financial freedom has influenced how they travel, and many are choosing to do so alone. But amid tensions between the rising “she economy” and persistent social expectations to start a family, some are keen to make travel rewarding.

Why Chinese women feel empowered to travel solo

Forecast to dominate the sector by 2030, American Gen Yers are the driving force behind the future of luxury online shopping. Yearning for a traditional sense of prestige while still expecting modern innovations, how can brands successfully strike a balance to attract this cohort?

What do US Gen Yers want from luxury online shopping?

Louis Vuitton celebrated its first anniversary on Discord with an immersive game for its online community. As people are drawn to playfulness and fun from luxury brands, there’s an opportunity to deepen loyalty by appealing to niche digital communities for connection and belonging.

Louis Vuitton deepens connection through video games

Bottega Veneta has launched a capsule collection inspired by the work of beloved American author-illustrator Richard Scarry. Offering a keyring belt, cushion, and a woven intrecciato leather notebook, the brand's exploration of childhood wonder and awe feeds into the comforting appeal of nostalgia.

Bottega harnesses nostalgia for capsule collection

The way we approach interior design is changing. While classic styles remain powerful, social media is introducing fast-moving microtrends, transforming how people design and decorate their homes. In recent years, we've seen an explosion of colour and individuality in homeware. Here's why.

Homeware as self-expression: how social media is shaping interior design

French start-up La Vitre’s screen helps link stakeholders within the luxury fashion industry with live translation, close-up product views, and high-resolution life-sized videos. Experts have highlighted that AI and VR will be key disruptive forces for the luxury sector in 2025.

Human-sized video screen transforms luxury fashion

The allure of food tourism is growing in Australia, with hyper-local produce and tasting menus taking centre stage. Young Australians are shaping the culinary landscape, making it more about memorable and personalised experiences.

Why food tourism is winning luxury fans in Australia

A survey has found that of those using TikTok as a source of inspiration while doing their holiday shopping, nearly half are looking for food and beverage-related gifts. As food intersects with other areas of culture, like fashion, high-end food and drink products are becoming status symbols.

People turn to TikTok in search of food-related gifts 

As luxury sales slow down, China is witnessing the emergence of a thriving second-hand market. Owing partly to ongoing economic concerns since the COVID-19 pandemic, shoppers in the country are becoming more price-conscious, leading many to look for more cost-effective luxury.

Price-conscious Chinese buyers go for second-hand luxury

Sustainability is a key concern for people. But how are luxury fashion brands helping or harming this cause? Investing in true quality and supporting new sustainable raw materials is helping to boost sustainability across the industry, but greenwashing remains a persistent problem.

Why sustainable R&D is luxury's trust-building opportunity

With so much going on, it’s hard to keep track of endless shifts in relevance and  to make sense of whether something truly is era-defining. Our Best of Insights awards recognises 20 products, people and campaigns that broke through and mattered – and analyses how they did it. 

Who captured the zeitgeist in 2024? 

Louis Vuitton has cloaked its New York flagship store with a luggage-inspired facade as it undergoes renovation. The extravagant display of logomania is significant amid declining luxury revenues, with audiences perhaps needing a greater psychological push to justify their splurges.

LV's giant installation leans into surrealist marketing

Chanel has launched its first-ever comprehensive beauty house in Paris. Crafted around the brand's mind-body approach and geared towards the desire for personalised experiences, the store offers treatments and tools to immerse beauty lovers in the brand's take on classic Parisian luxury.

Chanel's House of Beauty courts new-age beauty lovers

LVMH is setting its sights on domestic wine and spirits production to mitigate potential tariffs on alcohol imports under Donald Trump’s presidency. Against this backdrop, people’s palates may shift inward, and brands can consider emphasizing American-ness through innovative, unexpected narratives.

LVMH boosts Made in America drinks in light of tariffs 

Miu Miu's SS25 show featured an artist-curated newspaper with links to cultural criticism texts and image-less ads. As luxury brands redefine their aesthetic codes and associations, they have the opportunity to surprise people with provocative and unexpected collaborations.

Miu Miu's SS25 show courts shock-led fashion audiences

Gen Z is redefining athleisure as more than just workout gear – it's a lifestyle statement woven into their values, fitness goals, and identity. Prioritising durability and brand connections over big names, they seek labels that foster community through shared experiences and authentic engagement.

Why are Gen Zers sporting luxury athleisure?

Soho House, the international private members' club, is continuing its global expansion with the Ibiza Farmhouse, a first for Spain. Members-only clubs are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their promise of curated exclusivity, privacy, and refuge from homogenised experiences.

Soho House to open in Ibiza amid members-only club boom

Korean luxury hospitality group Josun Hotels & Resorts has launched a store to expand its online presence via its distinctive food and lifestyle products. With people searching for accessible indulgences, premium hotel-branded products can bring luxury escapism into homes.

Josun Hotels & Resorts launches online lifestyle store

The Four Seasons has introduced luxury pyjamas as part of its Four Seasons at Home line, which honors the brand’s hospitality heritage and offers an entry point for those who can’t afford a hotel stay. The move aligns with a luxury trend towards accessible experiences amid economic constraints.

Four Seasons pyjamas offer an at-home luxury experience

As e-commerce casts doubt over the future of physical stores, Dover Street Market reaffirms the importance of experiential spaces in luxury retail. Integrating fashion, art, and emerging designers to revolutionise the customer experience, the famed store is shaping fashion commerce.

How Dover Street Market inspires fashion rediscovery

Luxury fashion houses in Paris are moving to the silver screen, producing films to deepen their cultural influence and connect with new audiences. As they step from the runway to the cinema, how can other brands harness this shift to elevate their storytelling and create more immersive brand experiences?

Why cinema lovers are luxury's next opportunity

The revival of Tom Ford’s Oud Minérale – and its move from the brand’s Private Blend collection to its Signature Line – taps into a desire for self-expression, little luxuries, and ‘smellmaxxxing’, even if on a budget. The scent draws fragrance fans and young men still forming their identities.

How Oud Minérale embodies the essence of personal luxury

More than ever, South Koreans are seeking holiday accommodation that’s a destination in itself. With hotels in South Korea rebounding from the pandemic, Koreans are also evolving their definitions of ‘rest,’ ‘luxury,’ and ‘hospitality,’ prompting local tourism to adapt too.

How South Korean hotels are adapting to attract visitors

Luxury brand Moschino is leaning into absurdism with the release of a bag modelled on a stalk of celery. Blending humour and hyper-realism, the move speaks to a growing appetite for self-aware humour within the industry, which may be particularly appealing to meme-savvy young shoppers.

Moschino lures luxe buyers with hyper-real celery clutch

Indians are increasingly buying luxury products while travelling abroad, according to spending data from Visa. In response, some brands are creating personalised shopping experiences overseas, aligning with the industry-wide shift towards immersive and curated experiences.

Luxury brands court Indian tourists with VIP shopping

Luxury travellers have a new and exclusive way to experience Italy with the launch of the Orient Express’ La Dolce Vita sleeper trains. The revival of the once-defunct brand highlights the continued demand for luxury travel experiences, even as sales of high-end goods slump.

The Orient Express launches first new route in decades

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” so sang Marilyn Monroe, but with questions over ethics and the environment, mined stones are falling out of favour. Lab-grown diamonds and recycled precious metals are attracting Gen Y and Gen Z. We explore what’s behind the explosion in ethical engagement rings.

How engagement rings are becoming more sustainable

Puig exceeded expectations with its Q3 earnings, bolstered by fragrance and skincare sales and demand in the EMEA region and Americas. As brands within luxury ponder whether to ‘go high’ or 'go low', Puig is opting for an enticing strategy – ‘go niche’ to stand out in a turbulent market.

Puig courts niche audiences within luxury

Jacquemus has opened the doors to its first-ever US concept store with a location in New York. The move highlights people's increased appetite for immersive retail experiences that blend hyperlocal connections and unique storytelling to showcase the characters and feelings of various locales.

Jacquemus’ first-ever NY store elicits Parisian pride

Tanishq has perfected the dance between tradition and modernity with its jewellery. From Diwali-exclusive collections to evolving its appeal, India’s favourite jeweller remains a festival staple – even as gold prices rise and tastes change. How does Tanishq keep its Diwali shine?

How Tanishq makes gold traditions glitter during Diwali

Prada and Axiom Space have unveiled a space suit that combines high fashion expertise with advanced tech. As people show interest in unique, futuristic experiences that blend aesthetics with functionality, luxury brands can leverage cross-industry collaborations to make waves.

Prada goes to space with high-tech moon suit design

Tiffany & Co. has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to protect the oceans. As people become more conscious of brands' environmental impact, those that demonstrate a genuine commitment to ecological causes may appeal to customers seeking meaning through their purchases.

Tiffany & Co. dives into ocean conservation

Young Australians are stepping up to support the arts, while galleries are adapting to social and economic pressures. As Indigenous and contemporary works take centre stage, how will the Australian art market respond to these changes?

What does the art market reveal about Gen Z luxury attitudes?

Major luxury brands are reporting losses and facing challenging times as shoppers around the world hold back on their spending. Understanding the changing needs of aspirational and wealthy shoppers across different markets will be key for brands to weather this slowdown.

Global spending slowdown hits UK luxury brands hard

China’s first and only couturier acclaimed by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, Guo Pei embodies expressive Chinese luxury in her designs, adding depth to the flashy guochao trend. As these designs travel globally with Guo, Chinese fashion remains evergreen and inspired by her works.

How Guo Pei turns China's history into high fashion

Alaïa has launched the exclusive 'La Table' dinner series in collaboration with We Are Ona. The initiative feeds into a growing trend of luxury brands creating immersive culinary experiences, catering to the desire for exclusive, insider-only events in fashion and arts.

Alaïa’s 'La Table' merges fashion and fine dining

Female Lamborghini owners in the US were invited to the #SHEdrivesalambo retreat in Arizona to experience the brand’s latest cars and participate in wellness activities. Luxury brands can tap into people’s desire for insider status and novelty experiences with such targeted outreach events.

Lamborghini retreat blends luxury with lifestyle

LVMH has inked a ten-year partnership with Formula 1, helping to expand its influence in the sports sector. This collaboration arrives at a time when brands are leveraging the power of fandoms to foster new forms of collective identity while rewriting luxury codes for aspirational buyers.

 LVMH extends reach into sports with F1 collaboration

The perfume industry, while smaller than the broader luxury market, is growing nearly twice as fast, driven by innovations that merge fragrance with emotional wellbeing. As people increasingly prioritize self-care – reflected in the rise of wellness spending and a greater focus on beauty – fragrance is evolving into a key player for ‘scentsational’ mind-body connection.

Why fragrance is the new quiet exclusivity in the US

All-day wearable fitness trackers that monitor our health outside of the gym are changing from bands, straps, and watches into jewellery and luxury goods. Why are people keen for their wearables to be high-fashion items? And how are brands entering this luxury market?

How are fitness trackers competing on cool to win luxury shoppers?

While cost of living pressures persist, luxury sales are booming in Australia, partly due to international tourists and the country’s growing wealth. As global brands seek to expand their presence in the market, how can they adapt their stores and use collaborations to edge out the competition?

Why luxury thrives Down Under despite the cost of living

Australians’ appetite for holidays is insatiable. And despite a cost of living crisis, many are still willing to pay more for luxury accommodations and new, unique experiences. Many are also looking for multi-generational trips that offer something for the entire family.

What do Aussies want from luxury holidays?

A rapidly ageing population and recent economic boom are giving rise to a new model of senior living in South Korea. Blending independence with high-end leisure and luxury, interest in services designed for ageing on one's own terms is emerging in the East.

South Korean seniors seek out luxury retirement homes

Single-child households and "Very Important Babies" are on the rise in South Korea. Their parents are keen for their offspring to keep up appearances at school and out and about, with must-have luxury items fast becoming signifiers of not just individual prosperity but successful parenting.

Child luxury: a new status for parenting in South Korea

With China’s economy experiencing poor shopper sentiment and a dip in spending power, demand for dupes has grown. Some luxury brands are experiencing sustained success despite the headwinds, but others could embrace the expansion of dupe culture by collaborating with high-street brands.

Demand for dupes grows in China

Affluent buyers, both local and foreign, are seeking unique, high-end homes that reflect a new sense of luxury in Australia. From waterfront properties to future-proof designs, they’re investing in properties that offer sustainability, technology, and new bespoke features.

Why waterfront homes are Australia’s number one luxury

Pandora has committed to using 100% recycled gold and silver in its jewellery, joining a wider industry effort to put sustainability first. As people become more aware of the urgency of the climate crisis, they're increasingly expecting businesses to go the extra mile to do their bit.

Pandora pledges to use only recycled gold and silver

A desire to live to the max is fueling interest in experiential luxury among Americans, who are increasingly opting to spend on memories over material goods. Canvas8 spoke to eight people from across the US about their expectations of luxury experiences across travel, wellness, and retail.

What do Americans want from luxury experiences?

As people recalibrate their priorities regarding luxury spending, the sector is witnessing a shift towards experiences over material goods. But what do Britons want from immersive luxury moments? Canvas8 asked nine people from across the UK what makes elevated experiences memorable and worthwhile.

What do Britons want from luxury experiences?

The restaurant Silo has launched a fermentation lab in London, spotlighting zero waste and regenerative culinary experiences. As people become increasingly aware of the climate crisis and food waste issues, innovative, creative, sustainable dining could provide new options for eco-conscious experimentation.

Silo tackles food waste creatively 

Mulberry has achieved B Corp certification. As luxury fashion brands are increasingly scrutinised for their sustainability and green claims, third-party certifications like these spotlight transparency, rebuild trust and help people feel safer and more confident about their choices.

Mulberry recognised for eco-commitments 

Telfar is debuting its first leather bag with an exclusive pop-up at Selfridges. As demand for localised stories rises, brands can redefine luxury by fostering deeper connections through tactile engagement and culturally fluid narratives, offering a fresh perspective on traditional luxury concepts.

Telfar redefines accessible luxe with debut leather bag

What new categories and destinations are shaping luxury right now? How is heritage serving as a timely anchor in a turbulent world? Why is the luxe sector looking to be more fun? How are brands making sure they remain in the zeitgeist through cultural connections and innovation?

Luxury Sector Snapshot: October 2024

Statement jewellery has fully permeated the luxury landscape, partly due to Gen Z’s lust for experimentation and individualism during times of crisis. As industry lines blur, how are brands and designers in this space reacting to ways people people create identity via adornments and aesthetics?

Why Gen Zers are investing in statement jewellery

People are looking for brands to be more fun – it's not all about quiet and understated luxury. As a result, some high-end labels are collaborating with artists, adopting more experimental aesthetics, and tapping into fandoms to get people's attention. It’s a sign of how entertaining and memorable experiences are becoming integral in the luxury world.

Playful Prestige

The notion of heritage has been a cornerstone of luxury for decades, providing a sense of stability and historical connectivity. In the polycrisis, people increasingly want brands to be an anchor in culture, prompting some labels to reimagine heritage and adapt it to the needs of contemporary consumers.




Contemporary Heritage

Faced with mounting challenges, brands in the luxury market are looking for new ways to attract people and safeguard their legacy for the future. From investing in culture to innovation and sustainability measures, they are trying to reimagine status and entertainment for diverse audiences.

Tomorrow's Icons

Luxury

2024 represented a crucial and deeply divisive year in American politics. As family members across political camps come together over the festive period, a vast majority of adults are seeking to avoid political talks altogether, risking both emotional wellbeing and engagement with difference.

US adults avoiding political discussions over Christmas

Creators on TikTok are turning the platform into a lifeline for tackling mounting medical bills, using engaging content to generate funds through views, gifts, and rewards. With seemingly insurmountable gaps in the US healthcare system, some Americans are turning to unconventional solutions.

Americans are using TikTok to pay their medical bills

Futehodo, the shortened name of a TV show about generational differences, was crowned Japan’s most popular buzzword for 2024. The result of the annual contest highlights a widening societal gap – and the opportunity to cultivate greater connections between different age groups. 

Japan’s 2024 buzzword highlights generational divide 

As people search for cultural experiences that help them connect with their values, grassroots and culture-first fundraisers are growing. Emphasising the power of localism in helping people support global issues, a Margate exhibition supports art fans in raising aid for Palestine and Lebanon.

Art auction reflects interest in culture-led fundraising

Libraries across the US are helping people get healthier, offering everything from fitness classes to blood pressure monitors that can be checked out like books. As the healthcare system falls short of everyone's needs, third-party institutions are stepping up to address gaps in care.

US libraries address healthcare gap with free services

Women in China have voiced concerns about a variety of misleading claims and harmful manufacturing side effects relating to sanitary pads. The backlash in the country points to the ways that consumer voices are growing louder as people demand better treatment from brands.

Chinese women rebel against misleading period products

Secular spiritual communities are emerging as a powerful response to the loneliness crisis, offering inclusive spaces that focus on wellness, social justice, and shared experiences. What do these groups reveal about the search for connection in the digital era and the healing power of rituals?

How secular spiritual communities help tackle loneliness

A group of mayors from France's Opal Coast has accused the UK of hypocrisy when it comes to the nation's attitudes towards migrants. But as they call for a change in the system, public views around migrants are increasingly polarised in the UK, with trust in the government faltering.

French mayors address UK migrant hypocrisy 

Indian lingerie brand Zivame has launched a campaign that promotes a shift from traditional bra sizing to profile-based fitting. By packaging body positivity in a culturally relevant manner, it’s helping individual women feel heard at a time when more explicit DE&I messaging can feel dicey.

Zivame ad highlights inclusive lingerie sizing in India

A report from She Should Run indicates that more American women are seeking to get involved in politics following Trump’s election win. Fueled by a widening gender divide in politics, women may be motivated to step up and lead, embracing the idea that if they can’t beat them, they should join them.

Trump's win prompts more US women to pursue politics 

Queer female and non-binary artists are reclaiming guitar music as an inclusive space for expression. As social media democratizes access to the world stage and as attitudes to gender and sexuality become more fluid, people are looking to see marginalized identities reflected in the mainstream.

Guitar music sees queer female-led revival

Modern Woodmen is a fraternal financial organization providing its members not just with insurance, but also community support, social activities, and financial planning. Its values around mutual aid may be nearly 150 years old, but in a hyperconnected world, could they resonate more than ever?

Why Modern Woodmen roots financial stability in community

Social media series Shop Cats has gained a massive following by shedding light on New York City’s bodega cats. The show also taps into people’s love of small, locally owned businesses and the desire for niche content on social media – helping unlikely creators and stars gain traction in the process.

Shop Cats TikTok show highlights NYC's local charm

Hangout is an app that lets users host virtual DJ link-ups and enjoy music with friends. With trust in traditional social platforms waning, brands can lean into customization and personalization to appeal to younger audiences who want greater control and curation over their digital lives.

Hangout entices music fans with virtual DJ spaces

As the trust gap in healthcare widens globally among minority groups, Whānau Ora is addressing high cancer rates among Māori by collaborating closely with local leaders. This approach highlights the importance of working directly with communities to address their unique challenges.

Whānau Ora campaign tackles Māori healthcare disparities

In the wake of the US presidential election, interest has surged in the South Korean 4B movement – a feminist commitment that rejects interactions with men. Amid growing concern around the precarity of reproductive freedoms in America, advocates are urging radical action to preserve their rights.

US interest in the 4B movement spikes post-election

Although romance is a staple in much of today's teen media, young people are increasingly interested in stories that focus on friendship and platonic relationships. For them, building genuine connections and showcasing these authentic relationships in media narratives has become a priority.

Gen Z prefer on-screen tales of friendship, not romance

Democratic-voting White women are wearing blue friendship bracelets to distinguish themselves from the majority of White women who voted for Trump. It reveals a complex interplay between political expression, social identity, and the struggle to define what allyship looks like in modern America.

Blue friendship bracelets signal allyship post-election

In partnership with Trainline, Brentford FC is offering fans discounted train tickets to attend its away matches. The initiative highlights the gradual shift towards slow travel and the pivotal role brands can play in bridging the gap between eco-conscious desires and actions.

Brentford FC encourages sustainable game day travel

Camden County's NOS program uses peer support to aid prison leavers, reducing recidivism and supporting successful reintegration. Recognizing the limitations of top-down strategies, it prioritizes the experiences of formerly incarcerated individuals – something often lacking in traditional programs.

Peer-led program supports prisoners rejoining society

To commemorate Black History Month, Gymshark has created a pop-up that offers hairstyling services for visitors with textured hair. The initiative is just one of Gymshark’s many efforts to champion minority voices, showing how brands can meaningfully rise above one-off gestures towards inclusion.

Gymshark pop-up combats textured hair woes at the gym

The case surrounding Gisèle Pelicot, a woman drugged and abused by numerous men with her husband's complicity, has drawn widespread attention and condemnation in France. The media coverage and public conversation are challenging cultural norms and perceptions around sexual assault and consent.

Mass trial spotlights French attitudes to sexual abuse

Indian beauty brand Sugar Cosmetics has launched a campaign that showcases beauty rituals as a form of empowerment. It’s going one step further than the ‘girlboss’ narrative in Indian advertising, highlighting how women’s identities are fluid and can exist outside of the family-work dichotomy.

Sugar Cosmetics embraces femininity as power in India

Bad Bunny has endorsed Kamala Harris in the wake of comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s inflammatory remarks about Puerto Ricans at a Trump rally. Celebrity culture is more entwined with politics than ever, and election campaigns are foregrounding pop culture-led strategies to resonate with younger voters.

Bad Bunny amplifies pop culture’s sway over US elections

Students at Columbia University erected a traditional shelter for the Jewish Sukkot holiday in support of peace amid the ongoing occupation of Palestine. Protests like these highlight a desire for community and connection as people continue to speak out against social and geopolitical tensions.

Jewish students build sukkah in action for Palestine

Following an initial venture into e-books in 2023, TikTok’s parent company, Bytedance, is planning to steer its publishing arm towards print. Capitalising on a BookTok-fuelled reading renaissance, the move falls in line with shifting preferences towards analogue media, particularly among Gen Z.

Bytedance taps BookTok hype in move to print publishing

A survey has revealed that gyms are now outpacing pubs as preferred meeting spots for British Gen Zers. This shift demonstrates their functional approach to life, where even leisure time is viewed as an opportunity for personal development and building connections in a health-positive environment.

British Gen Zers ditch pubs for gyms as new social hubs 

A Mastercard campaign aims to boost autism acceptance in Singapore, sharing stories and driving inclusion in everyday spaces. As people choose to back brands that reflect their values and take steps toward inclusion, this ad highlights how brands can connect through intentional storytelling.

Mastercard spotlights autism and hidden disabilities 

Community and grassroots

People are aspiring to own offbeat status symbols

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