TRENDS EXAMPLE
AUTHENTICITY BACK TO THE ORIGINS
KEYWORDS
MACRO-INFLUENCES
ECONOMIC CHANGES WHILE IN TIMES OF RECESSION, ECONOMIC INTERESTS TEND TO OVERRULE ECO-CAUSES, THE QUEST FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE WILL REMAIN A MOST PRESSING ISSUE FOR YEARS TO COME. WE PICKED ONE ‘GREEN’ TREND (OUT OF MANY) FOR THIS 2012 LIST: THE PHENOMENON OF BRANDS HELPING CONSUMERS RECYCLE BY TAKING BACK ALL OLD ITEMS FROM CUSTOMERS, AND THEN ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE WITH THEM. ECO-CYCOLOGY MENTALITY IS MORE THAN A JUST BRAND-LED PHENOMENON; REALIZING ITS IMPORTANCE, VARIOUS CITIES OR STATES IN US (SAN DIEGO, SEATTLE AND SAN FRANCISCO TO NAME A FEW) HAVE ENACTED THEIR OWN MANDATORY RECYCLING LAWS. LIKEWISE, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HAS VOTED FOR TOUGHER REGULATIONS ON THE DISPOSAL OF ELECTRONIC TRASH, REQUIRING EACH COUNTRY TO COLLECT 4 KILOS OF E-WASTE PER CITIZEN BY 2012, AND TO PROCESS 85% OF ALL ITS ELECTRONIC WASTE BY 2016. CONTINUED ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY IS AT THE CENTER OF OR DRIVING SEVERAL OF THESE TRENDS; ANOTHER THEME IS THE RISING IDEA OF SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. SUSTAINABILITY IS THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE THE SOCIETAL, ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SPECTRUM (A.K.A. PEOPLE, PLANET, PROFIT). THIS IS A HUGE TREND THAT IS INFLUENCING SOCIETIES, INDUSTRIES AND POLITICS ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT HAS BEEN PICKED UP BY VIRTUALLY EVERY BRAND AND - IN SOME WAYS - HAS BECOME A MARKETING FAD. BECAUSE OF THE RECESSION, ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY IS ON TOP OF EVERYONE’S LIST RIGHT NOW. HOWEVER, IT CANNOT BE SEEN AS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AS IT IS ALSO INTERTWINED WITH THE OTHER ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABILITY.
MACRO-INFLUENCES
SOCIAL CHANGES THE GLOBAL POPULATION HITS 7 BILLION, NOW, PROJECTED TO BE 9.3 BILLION IN 2050. (SOURCE: 7 BILLION ACTIONS). THESE EXTRA BILLIONS WILL BE BORN INTO A WORLD OF CONTRADICTION: A WORLD WITH PLENTY OF FOOD AND LUXURY, YET MANY OF THE NEWBORN WILL BE HUNGRY AND IMPOVERISHED. THIS CROWDED WORLD OFFERS GREAT OPPORTUNITIES BUT ALSO PRESENT ENORMOUS CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME IN TERMS OF POVERTY, INEQUALITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES (SOURCE: UN). THERE ARE MORE OF US ON THE PLANET THAN EVER BEFORE, USING RAW MATERIALS AT A FASTER RATE THAN EVER BEFORE. MANY AGREE THAT SOME OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY WILL BE AROUND GETTING THE BEST USE OUT OF THE DWINDLING FOSSIL FUEL RESOURCES AND IN THE RAPID REPLACEMENT OF THOSE RESOURCES WITH VIABLE LONG-TERM ALTERNATIVES.. STOP WASTING, START USING. REVEALING OUR SHOPPING HABITS DOWN TO THE LAST DETAIL AND HELP REDUCE THE EXCESS VOLUME OF GOODS IN SHOPS., CAN HELP TAILOR PRODUCTION, PACKAGING, DISTRIBUTION AND WAREHOUSING SO THAT LESS IS WASTED IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN. (SOURCE: SCIENCEDAILY) BUT WILL WE USE IT? PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME THE REALITY OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS ACCEPTED RATHER THAN DEBATED, FURTHERMORE, THERE IS WIDESPREAD ACCEPTANCE THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THESE CHANGES ARE VARIOUS HUMAN ACTIVITIES RATHER THAN ANY NATURAL CYCLES.
MACRO-INFLUENCES
CULTURAL CHANGES OVER THE PAST DECADE OUR PERCEPTION OF WHAT IS REAL (AND WHAT IS NOT) HAS BLURRED. THIS IS PARTLY DUE TO NEW TECHNOLOGY AND GLOBALIZATION THAT BROUGHT THE WORLD PHOTOSHOP, PLASTIC SURGERY, CGI AND ‘FAKE’ PRODUCTS FROM CHINA. BUT BESIDES THAT, PEOPLE EXPERIENCE A DECLINING TRUST IN THE MESSAGES OF CORPORATIONS AND POLITICS. ALTHOUGH CONSUMERS SEEM TO LONG FOR TRUST, REALNESS AND AUTHENTICITY, THIS IS ONLY PARTLY TRUE. SOCIETY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ‘FAKE’ AND ‘REAL’ IS AMBIVALENT. THERE IS ALSO A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN PERCEPTION BETWEEN GENERATIONS. LOCAL CUSTOMS, HABITS AND TASTE PREFERENCES PERSIST DESPITE THE HOMOGENISING FORCES OF GLOBALISATION. INDEED THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE OF A HARDENING OF LOCAL PREFERENCES AS A SYMBOLIC DEFENCE OF LOCAL CULTURE OVER GLOBAL. ALONG WITH THE GROWING AFFLUENCE OF THE WORLD'S CONSUMERS, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT IMPROVED LEVELS OF EDUCATION ARE ONE OF THE MAJOR DRIVERS OF SOCIAL CHANGE, AND OF INCREASED USAGE OF CERTAIN TYPES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. THE OPENING UP OF EDUCATION TO WOMEN IN MANY EMERGING MARKETS PROVIDES BOTH A MASSIVE INJECTION OF NEW TALENT INTO THE WORKFORCE IN THOSE MARKETS BUT ALSO A MAJOR IMPETUS TO SOCIAL CHANGE.
ACTIONS
CONSUMER ACTIONS & KEYWORDS PLACING A VALUE ON HONESTY, AUTHENTICITY | PREFERENCE FOR SMALL BESPOKE MANUFACTURERS | BEING PART OF THE 'NATURAL AND DAILY' PROCESSES SUCH AS COOKING, CLEANING, FARMING | AVOIDANCE OF UNNECESSARY CLUTTER | CASH-STRAPPED, RECESSION-STRICKEN CONSUMERS EMBRACING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO SPEND LESS AND STILL ENJOY AS MANY EXPERIENCES AND PURCHASES AS POSSIBLE. | CONCERN ABOUT OVER-PACKAGING OF PRODUCTS | AVOIDANCE OF FRUIT & VEGETABLES OUT OF THEIR USUAL GROWING SEASON | RECYCLING MATERIALS WHEREVER POSSIBLE | LOWER FREQUENCY OF PRODUCT REPLACEMENT | USAGE OF OWN BAGS TO TAKE PRODUCTS HOME | QUESTIONING THE ACCEPTED WAYS OF DOING THINGS
AUTHENTIC | REAL | HERITAGE | HISTORY | TRADITIONAL | NATURAL | HANDMADE | CRAFTSMANSHIP UN-SPUN | NOT OVER-MARKETED | DOWNSHIFTING | CALM | QUIET | SIMPLE | REAL | UNCLUTTERED | MINIMALIST REDUCE | REUSE | RECYCLE | ORGANIC | FREE-RANGE | ECO-FRIENDLY | GREEN | CARBON FOOTPRINT
CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
BACK TO THE ORIGINS LESS APPETITE FOR LUXURY - “THE TRIPLE DISASTER HAS JOLTED THE JAPANESE INTO A NEW REALITY, SAPPING THE MATERIALIST, FEEL-GOOD SPIRIT AND REPLACING IT WITH A FOCUS ON HELPING OTHERS AND A MOOD OF BACK TO BASICS.” (THE NEW YORK TIMES, MARCH 25, 2011) 84% OF GLOBAL CONSUMERS REPORT CUTTING BACK ON AT LEAST 1 OF 26 ITEMS IN THE PAST YEAR. THIS INDICATES THAT SOME CONSUMERS ARE CUTTING BACK MORE EVEN AS OTHERS CUT BACK LESS..- MORE COMMON IN AFFLUENT REGIONS - CLOTHING (31%) BUYING ENERGY-SAVING PRODUCTS RANKS #2 IN INDONESIA AND #3 IN INDIA (VERSUS 7TH GLOBALLY) A GROWING COUNTER-TREND TO THE "INEVITABILITY OF MASS CONSUMPTION", THE OPTING OUT OR DOWNSHIFTING PHILOSOPHY CALLS FOR THE REJECTION OF MANY EXPECTED BEHAVIOURS AND ATTITUDES IN PREFERENCE TO A MORE CONSIDERED, PERHAPS MORE TRADITIONAL, BUT CERTAINLY SIMPLER WAY OF LIVING. THE EXTREME VERSION OF THIS - LEAVING THE CITY TO LIVE ON A FARM - IS RARE, BUT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE FINDING WAYS TO INTRODUCE OASES OF CALM INTO THEIR BUSY LIVES.
CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
AUTHENTICITY SOME CONSUMERS EXHIBIT RESISTANCE TO WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS THE “OVERMARKETING” OF TODAY’S WORLD. SOME SHOW A PREFERENCE FOR A FOCUS ON “REAL” PRODUCTS, “REAL” CRAFTSMANSHIP AND “REAL”EXPERIENCES RATHER THAN “FAKE,” “SPUN” OR “OVER-MARKETED” ONES. A NEW ERA OF PAUSE AND PURCHASE: THE SMART SPENDER OF THE PAST WAS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON COST. TODAY'S SMART SPENDER IS DEFINED BY VALUES JUST AS MUCH AS, IF NOT MORE THAN, PRICE. BEING A BETTER PERSON, COMMUNITY MEMBER AND GLOBAL PARTICIPANT WILL ALSO BECOME A STRONG CONSUMER PRIORITY THE BIG AMMOUNT OF INFORMATION WE GOT FROM DIGITAL ERA WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO ‘REFINE WE ALREADY KNOW’ THE NEWCOMER: IT IS YOUNGER AND LESS AFFLUENT, BUT HAS A STRONGER SENSE OF CONFIDENCE IN ITS GROWING SPENDING POWER THE ONLINE CONTEXT FOR THESE CONSUMERS, STATING THAT BRANDS NEED TO PUSH CONTENT, COMUNICATION AND VALUE TO WHERE THESE CONSUMERS ARE DOCUMENTARIES AND REAL-LIFE STORIES WILL BE AS POPULAR AS CINEMA | REAL-LIFE SETTING IN FILMS, MUSIC VIDEO AND ADVERTISING WILL BE KEY, RATHER THAN PARALLEL OR FANTASY WORLDS | BEHIND-THE-SCENES AND HOW-IT-WAS-MADE CONTENT WILL BE AS APPEALING AS FINISHED PRODUCTS
CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
ECO-CITIZENSHIP AS MIGHT BE EXPECTED, ENVIRONMENTAL ENGAGEMENT IS HIGHER AMONG THIS MORE AVANT-GARDE GROUD, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING ACTION. 32% OF THE SUPERINFLUENTIALS ARE ON TREND FOR ECO-CITIZENSHIP 37% TAKE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN MAKING PURCHASE DECISIONS 82% AGREE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT COMPANIES TAKE ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS
BEFORE NOW THE CALLS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LOBBY GROUPS HAD BEEN REGARDED BY MANY AS EXAGGERATION AND SCARE-MONGERING. BUT SOMETHING HAS CHANGED. THE MAJORITY OF THE WORLD HAVE WOKEN UP TO THE REALITY OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. MANY FIND IT IMPORTANT, THOUGH NOT ALL, ARE BEGINNING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, EVEN IF IT IS ONLY THUS FAR A SMALL GESTURE, LIKE RECYCLING OR TAKING BAGS WITH THEM WHEN THEY DO THE WEEKLY SHOP.
SOCIAL&EVENTS
PRIMITIVE ART INSTALATION | CITY ESCAPE
START DREAMING OF A MORE GENTLE CONNECTION WITH TIME, OF A RETURN TO A MORE AUTHENTIC EXISTENCE.
CICADA BY MARCO CASAGRANDE IS A REMINDER OF THE SIMPLE LIFE IT CAN BE HARD TO FIND AN ESCAPE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSTLING CITY, BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CICADA INSTALLATION PROVIDES. LOCATED IN THE CITY OF TAIPEI, CICADA IS FOCUSED ON THE NATURAL ELEMENTS OF LIFE.
SOCIAL&EVENTS
REAL INTERACTIONS | DIESEL CAMPAIGN
FINDING OUT WHO YOU REALLY ARE AND ACCEPTING THAT THE REAL YOU IS OK.
AUTHENTICITY AND SELF-EXPRESSION IS ALSO WHAT LEADS CONSUMERS TO WRITE AND EDIT WIKIPEDIA ENTRIES, UPDATE THEIR FACEBOOK STATUS, BLOG ON HUFFINGTON POST AND, PRESUMABLY, CRAFT PRODUCT REVIEWS ON RETAIL SITES.
SOCIAL&EVENTS
NEW INDUSTRIALISTS
COMMUNITY SPIRIT, COLLECTIVE ACTION, AND CREATIVE COLLABORATION. DYNAMIC AND SOLIDARITY-BASED UTOPIA THAT WILL REBUILD SOCIAL TIES AND TURN PASSIVE CONSUMERS INTO IMAGINATIVE CO-PRODUCERS.
PROJECT M IS A PROGRAM FOR CREATIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY INSPIRED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GREATER GOOD, AND ARE LOOKING FOR A PLATFORM TO COLLABORATE AND GENERATE IDEAS AND PROJECTS BIGGER THEN THEMSELVES. INSPIRED BY THE BAMBOO BIKE STUDIO IN BROOKLYN, THE BIKES USE FAST-GROWING BAMBOO AS THE PRIMARY MATERIAL IN SUSTAINABLE, STURDY RIDES. THE PROJECT WAS INITIALLY CREATED TO BRING AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO RURAL AREAS OF GREENSBORO, ALABAMA. THIS SUMMER, MEMBERS OF COMMON AND PROJECT M WILL BE LEADING A CROSS-COUNTRY BIKE RIDE ON THE BAMBOO BIKES TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR THEIR NEW ENDEAVOR.
SOCIAL&EVENTS
TOMMY HILFINGER | POP-UP (HOME) STORE PREP WORLD, THE CAPSULE COLLECTION SOLD IN THIS NIFTY OUTPOST, IS AN HOMAGE TO “HILFIGER’S PREPPY CLASSICS WITH A TWIST,” BUT WE’D MUCH PREFER TO SEE IT UP CLOSE IN THAT HOUSE, WHICH WILL LITERALLY SEEM AS THOUGH IT HAS FALLEN FROM THE SKY.
BETWEEN PRAGMATIC REALISM – A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, SUSTAINABLE AND LOCAL CONSUMPTION AND FANTASIZED IDEALISM – THE DREAM OF A SIMPLE AND FAIR LIFE, OF AUTHENTIC VALUES
BRANDS&PRODUCTS
RE-SELL RE-BUY RE-USE
BRANDS&PRODUCTS
NUDIE JEANS – DRY RECYCLE
“BUYING WHAT HAS THE LEAST IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED IT.”
IN JANUARY 2012 SWEDISH BRAND, REALESES AN EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED-EDITION BATCH OF 500 RECYCLED JEANS. SOLD AT BARNEYS NY. THEY ARE MADE OUT OF OLD NUDIE JEANS, CUT DOWN, MADE INTO A PULP AND THEN MIXED WITH VIRGIN ORGANIC COTTON. DUE TO THE RECYCLING PROCESS, THE MATERIAL HAS NATURAL IRREGULARITIES.
BRANDS&PRODUCTS
KASIL WORKSHOP | ERNEST ALEXANDER
THIS GENERATION EMPHASISES THE BASICS, AGGRESSIVE TAILORING, THOUGHTFUL ACCESSORISING
SHARING A FONDNESS FOR THE SAME VINTAGE MODERN AESTHETIC, DAVID AND ERNEST COLLABORATED ON USING SELVEDGE FABRIC TO CREATE BAGS. HE SPECIALIZES IN HANDCRAFTED ACCESSORIES, CLEAN LINES AND RUGGED MATERIALS.
BRANDS&PRODUCTS
DANISH KNITWEAR MANUFACTURER | PRODUCTION IS KEPT LOW S.N.S. HERNING HAS BEEN PRODUCING KNITWEAR FOR FISHERMEN SINCE 1931, WITH ITS CHUNKY “BUBBLE” CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPED TO HELP PROTECT WEARERS FROM THE ELEMENTS. THE BRAND IS ALSO POPULAR WITH DESIGN CONNOISSEURS BECAUSE OF THE MINIMAL AESTHETIC AND EXTREME HIGH QUALITY OF EACH PIECE. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A FISHERMAN TO APPRECIATE THE CAREFUL CONSTRUCTION AND SLEEK LOOK OF S.N.S. HERNING KNITS.
BRANDS&PRODUCTS
LE PRESTIC OUISTON | UNIQUE CLOTHING NEW READY TO WEAR COLLECTION IS MADE UP OF LIMITED, INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED AND HAND-SEWN PIECES CREATED BY RESTAURATEUR AND DESIGNER LAURENCE MAHÉO.
COMPOSE A REFRESHING ROMANTICISM, WITHOUT NAIVETÉ.
BRANDS&PRODUCTS
7 GENERATIONS SHOEMAKING
IT IS A CELEBRATION OF GENEROSITY, GENTLENESS, RICHNESS AND CONSISTENCY AND A DESIRE TO REDISCOVER A REFINED, LONG-FORGOTTEN SAVOIR-FAIRE AND SEEK GRACEFUL SENSUALITY WITH OLD-FASHIONED CHARM.
BRANDS&PRODUCTS
HAND CRAFTED AND LOCAL GIDEON SHOES MANUFACTURED OVERSEAS SIMPLY WASN’T AN OPTION. WE’RE IN AN AGE WHERE SUPPORTING SWEAT-SHOPS AND OUTSOURCED FASHION IS UNFORGIVEABLE. TODAY, PRODUCTION TAKES PLACE IN AUSTRALIA UNDER ETHICAL, SAFE AND MONITORED CONDITONS – A FEAT FOR ANY SHOE MANUFACTURER. EVEN BETTER, THE SHOES ARE HANDMADE ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM AUSTRALIAN MATERIALS, INCLUDING CANE TOAD HIDE AND KANGAROO LEATHER.
BRANDS&PRODUCTS
TRADITIONAL CRAFT AND MATERIALS
URBANS ARE SHIFTING SPENDING INTERESTS TOWARDS THEIR LOCAL AND NEIGHBOURS PRODUCTION, TRYING TO BE CONNECTED AGAIN TO THEIR OWN ORIGINS. #CELEBRATION-OF-LOCAL-CULTURE
THIS CURIOUS CONNOISSEUR'S SPIRIT REMAINS AT THE HEART OF PRADA, AND TRANSLATES INTO A SORT OF ANTIDOTE TO HOMOLOGATION AND GLOBALIZATION SO OFTEN SEEN AMONG ITS COMPETITORS. USING MARIO'S ORIGINAL APPROACH, PRADA COLLABORATES WITH MANY DIFFERENT ARTISANS TO PRODUCE ITS DESIGNS UTILIZING THE TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP, MATERIALS, AND MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES OF A SPECIFIC REGION.
SEA HYOUN LEE: THE SENSE OF THE PAST
BRANDS&PRODUCTS
TIME AND VALUE | HERMES
ENCHANTED AUTHENTICS OFFERS A CONTINUATION OF THE SLOW MOVEMENT, BUT HAS A MORE ELABORATE AND RICHER ARTISANAL EDGE.
FROM SADDLES, HANDBAGS AND WALLETS TO BELTS, ARMCHAIRS AND EVEN LAMPS, CHANEL MAKES EVERY CREATION TO MEASURE, BUILDING THEM BY HAND USING ARTISANAL TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES. BY KEEPING PRODUCTION SLOW AND STEADY, HIS SOLO OPERATION TURNS OUT DISCREET, LOGO-LESS PRODUCTS OF UNPARALLELED QUALITY AND DETAIL THAT WILL LAST SEVERAL LIFETIMES.
GUY CHANEL (SADDLE MAKER FOR HERMÉS FOR 15 YEARS)
ARTS&DESIGN
LIFE IN THE TREES | BY THE COOL HUNTER TREEHOUSES HAVE BECOME CREATIVE ECO-STATEMENTS IN THE DESIGN WORLD. THEY ALLOW PEOPLE TO LITERALLY BE "IN" NATURE AND PEACE ABOVE THE STRESSFUL STREET LEVEL OF LIFE. THE COOL HUNTER WILL INVITE TOP LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTS, ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS TO DESIGN FOR THE EVENT A MODERN TREEHOUSE, CREATED FROM SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLED MATERIALS
ARTS&DESIGN
“MY BRAIN WORKS BETTER WHEN I’M OUTSIDE” OPENING: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2011, 5 – 10 PMIN THE REALM OF ARTISTIC POSITIONS THAT DEAL WITH PRINCIPLES OF NATURE AND CLASSIFICATION, HELEN MIRRA’S WORKS HOLD A PARTICULAR POSITION. RATHER THAN IDEALIZING NATURE, THEY HOVER BETWEEN PROCESSES OF SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTATION ON THE ONE HAND AND CALLIGRAPHIC MEDITATION ON THE OTHER—A COMBINATION THAT PRODUCES A GREAT SENSE OF BOTH MELANCHOLY AND MEASURE. HELEN MIRRA MADE HER NEW GROUPS OF WORK—PRINTS AND RUBBINGS—DURING HIKES IN AND AROUND BONN, BERLIN AND ZURICH. DUE TO THEIR POETIC MINIMALISM THESE WORKS OPEN UP A RANGE OF ASSOCIATIONS THAT ANIMATE THE “SMALL THINGS” IN NATURE AND MOBILIZE OUR ETHICAL CONSCIENCE TOWARDS THE ENVIRONMENT AND ITS DIVERSITY.
ARTS&DESIGN
RACHEL GRIFFIN | MASS
“THE FEELING CONSUMERS HAVE THAT EVERY PURCHASE DECISION THEY MAKE SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THEM AND HAS CONSEQUENCES FOR OTHERS.”
VESSELS WOVEN FROM A STARCH-BASED PLASTIC WHICH IS INDUSTRIALLY-PRODUCED, BUT NATURALLY BIODEGRADABLE. REVISITING TRADITIONAL METHODS USING AN INDUSTRIALLY PRODUCED "NATURAL" MATERIAL SUGGESTS A NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND CRAFT; A MARRIAGE OF INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT ALLOWS FOR A MORE FLEXIBLE SYSTEM OF PRODUCTION AND DESIGN.
ARTS&DESIGN
MAX LAMB AND ALDO BAKKER | HANDCRAFTED WOODWARE MAX LAMB. ENTIRELY HANDMADE FROM DIFFERENT HARDWOOD DOWELS. THE APPROACH OF ALDO BAKKER (AMERSFOORT, NL 1971) IS DRIVEN BY EXPLORING BORDERS BETWEEN HUMANITY AND INHUMAN ASPECTS IN DESIGN, A HAND DRAWN, ARCHITECTURAL EXPLORATION INTO ENDLESSNESS. WITH REGARDS TO THIS SUBJECT, IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT ALDO CHOSE GLASS AS HIS STARTING MATERIAL TO EXPRESS HIMSELF WITH: GLASS HAS A CERTAIN ‘INHUMAN’ ASPECT, IT IS THE IDEAL MATERIAL TO PRODUCE SHAPES WHICH SEEM ALMOST PERFECT AND ARTIFICIAL, A WAY FOR ALDO TO ‘DRIFT AWAY’ FROM AN OBVIOUS VISIBLE HUMAN TOUCH. THE COMBINATION OF HUMAN RITUALS AND IN A WAY PERFECT, ARTIFICIAL SHAPES REMAINS A RECURRING THEME AND IT FORMS THE INDISPENSABLE TENSION IN ALDO’S WORK.
ARTS&DESIGN
TECHNOLOGY | NATURE’S ALLY
ECO-OPTIMISTIC REFOCUSES ON AN ACTIVE AND EMPATHETIC UTOPIA, ON CO–PRODUCTION, ON SIMPLE, SUSTAINABLE AND APPEALING SOLUTIONS.
THE PLANTOY IS EASY TO USE NEEDING ONLY TO BE PUSHED INTO THE PLANT’S POT. THE DEVICE OPENS LIGHTS UP TO INFORM YOU OF THE PROBLEM. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GO GREEN AT HOME, BUT THEY FACE PROBLEMS WITH BOTH A LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND TIME. DEVICES SUCH AS THE PLANTOY WOULD HELP TURN EVEN THE GREENEST OF GARDENERS INTO EXPERT IN-HOME LANDSCAPERS. THE FIRST DESIGNER ENERGY SAVING LIGHT BULB AIMS TO PROVIDE CONSUMERS WITH AN ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTION THAT IS ALSO AESTHETICALLY PLEASING. THE NAME COMES FROM ‘PLUME’ – A BIRD’S SHOW FEATHER, DESIGNED TO ATTRACT ATTENTION TO A BIRD’S PROWESS & BEAUTY.
POP&UNDERCULTURE
WOMB | AESTHETICS OF AFTERLIFE
BASIC, HUMAN AND ATYPICAL SOLUTIONS THAT ARE MADE FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE MODERN WORLD BUT TAKE IT WITH A DOSE OF HUMOR AND HEDONISM.
THE TIME CAPSULE IS A CLOUD-BASED ENCRYPTED MEDIA DATABASE THAT HOSTS YOUR MUSIC, IMAGES, VIDEO AND TEXT FOR AN INDEFINITE TIME. YOU CONNECT TO THE TIME CAPSULE WITH A WEB-BASED UPLOAD ENGINE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO UPDATE IT WHENEVER AND WHEREVER YOU WANT. YOU CAN CREATE A PUBLIC PROFILE THAT’S ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY. AND A PRIVATE PROFILE THAT’S ONLY ACCESSIBLE WITH AN ACTIVATION KEY. WITH THESE KEYS YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL BE INVITED TO ACTIVATE YOUR LIFE STORY AND EXPERIENCE IT. THROUGH YOUR EYES. IN YOUR OWN WORDS. | WOMB COMES FROM NATURE AND IS DESIGNED TO FEEL AT HOME IN NATURE. IN THE SPIRIT OF NATURAL DIVERSITY,
POP&UNDERCULTURE
YOU ARE THE TECHNOLOGY | VIBRAM SHOES
UNDERSTANDING THE REAL YOU IN TERMS OF HOW YOUR MIND AND BODY ACTUALLY WORK
EXPRESSIONS
WOOD PRODUCTS | TOUCHING NATURE
EXPRESSIONS
ECO-AUTHENTIC FOOD 360 VODKA WAS CREATED TO BE THE FIRST ECO-FRIENDLY DISTILLED SPIRIT IN THE WORLD USING A BOTTLE, MADE FROM 85% RECYCLED GLASS, WHICH IS DESIGNED FOR INFINITE REUSE, THANKS TO THE SWING-TOP CAP. FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO RECYCLE THEIR BOTTLE, THE ‘CLOSE THE LOOP’ PROGRAM ENCOURAGES DRINKERS TO REMOVE THE SWING-TOP CAP AND MAIL IT BACK TO THE COMPANY (POSTAGE PAID) WHERE IT’S REUSED THEREBY REDUCING WASTE AND CONSERVING THE RESOURCES AND ENERGY TO MAKE A NEW ONE.
EXPRESSIONS NEW AESTHETIC FOR AN EASY AND CASUAL WARDROBE, FOR THOSE WHO BALANCE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES WITH PLAYFULNESS.
EXPRESSIONS IN A TIME WHERE FASHION IS AS SUBJECTIVE AS ART, IT TAKES SOMEONE WITH EXPRESSION OF INDIVIDUALITY AND FLAVOUR TO STAND APART FROM THE MASSES
EXPRESSIONS LIKE A WISTFUL COLLECTOR, LIST THE OUTFITS OF FORGOTTEN TRADES AND CRAFTS OR PREFER ENDEARING AND DAINTED TOUCHES FOR AN ENCHANTING BUCOLIC MOOD.