Meg Walters is a UK-based freelance writer who specialises in entertainment and pop culture. She has written for publications including 

, Refinery29, The Daily Beast, Vulture, and others. She specialises in covering how film and TV shift alongside larger cultural trends and generational culture gaps.

In a hyper-connected world, it feels like everything previously ‘insider’ is more available than ever: from behind-the-scenes access to the lives of public figures to travel experiences immersing people into worlds previously deemed unattainable. But while people embrace this community-based inclusivity and unprecedented access to their icons, they still yearn for touches of exclusivity to define their status.

As the age-old understanding of exclusivity is eroded, people are redefining status for themselves using a broad range of factors beyond solely economic ones. This new iteration of status is often based around increasingly niche and local signifiers – from luxury dupes to the rise of members clubs and closed-community spaces based on shared interests. Status is becoming a mode of belonging and connection with like-minded people.

People are erecting walls of their exclusive communities, relying on more subtle markers of identity. This is apparent with middle-class people fetishising working-class aesthetics, athletes turning to niche sports like padel, and social media groups organising around niche interests – spawning companies. As status-defined micro-trends on social media accelerate, brands face a challenge to keep up. If previously certain legacy items were automatically associated with exclusivity, now people are much more trusting of the UGC-defined vision of what status means. More than ever, speed, knowledge, inventiveness, and being plugged into the community determine what – and who – is in.

Insider Status

With extensive experience in the gift and home industry, homeware expert Sarah Ward is chief executive of The Giftware Association, a trade association. She has a background in blue-chip retail and a wealth of knowledge and has leveraged her skills across various sectors, from established companies to startups, manufacturers, and retailers.

Entrepreneur and founder of Sapiens Growth Marketing Agency, Pamika Horsaengchai is dedicated to assisting businesses through strategy and consulting, with a focus on branding, product development, and growth marketing, and a mission to make an ongoing contribution to her clientele. Her dedication to service and knowledge-sharing drives her to continue working on Sapiens.

United Kingdom

Fashion and Style

Shopping

Retail Week

Country & Town House

Evening Standard

Consultancy.uk

Drapers

Interview with Sarah Ward conducted by the author

Retail Gazette

Interview with Pamika Horsaengchai conducted by the author

NatWest

75 Media

CivicScience

YouGov

The White Company has become one of Britain's go-to concept stores thanks to its curated minimalist aesthetic and clear messaging. By harnessing the power of off- and online marketing, it’s become the brand of choice for lifestyle shoppers who favour simplicity and a strong brand identity.