Navigating reality has become an almost constant shock to the system. With the ongoing cost of living crisis, wars, political polarisation, and global environmental issues, life’s stresses are becoming increasingly difficult to escape. With individuals and collectives in a perpetual state of disturbance, peop...

The self-made mythos is as powerful as ever, despite societal upheaval testing its limits. Even mundane pastimes have been monetised as people cash in on massive audiences and leave no niche unexplored. Selling out is no longer a source of embarrassment, it’s just what makes the world go round.

As young Chinese people feel less secure about China’s harsh working and living conditions and COVID-19 policies, they are leaning into the Guochao movement as a route of finding state-funded employers. But as frustrations grow and economic instability mounts, where will Gen Zers seek release?

Chinese netizens are debating over the 'Kong Yiji mindset', which refers to university graduates who often look down on blue-collar work. The trend reveals Gen Z’s dilemma between stable, high-income jobs that cushion against global economic shocks or ditching the grind altogether.

Suffering from sleep deprivation and unhealthy diets, many young Chinese office workers are battling gastric problems such as heartburn and ulcers. While there’s an opportunity for brands to address gut health concerns, it’s also crucial to get to the root of the problem: a stressful work culture.

As a visual-first generation, people in their late teens and early twenties are developing new layers of visual culture to build community, express their individualism, and push back against the status quo. How is the fashion sector embracing post-ironic and meta-ironic behaviours for Gen Z?