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justice4canyonmoon · 4 years ago

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An Evening Off

Summary: Both Y/n and Harry have a rare night off. Y/n has relaxing plans for how they should spend it.

Notes: Howdy! This is probably the last fic I’m going to post for the next two weeks; I have finals for college next week, and I have a fuck ton of work this week because professors love to give students everything at once 🙃 Anyway, I came up with the very fluffy concept because I crave emotional intimacy, so I hope you like it!!!!

Warnings: cursing ig. otherwise just a lot of fluff and taking a bath together 🥰

WC: 1.9k

Y/n was feeling lonely.

Her boring ass office job didn’t produce too many friends for her. While the people she worked with weren’t the absolute worst, they were just, well, bland. Their lives were cookie-cutter. The closest thing any of them had experienced to a true adventure was a trip to IKEA. Her two best friends, Maria and José, were across the country, since she had moved from one coast to another to live with her boyfriend. Sure, she could FaceTime them, but it just wasn’t the same. And after the call, she knew she’d just be more lonely than before.

Harry wasn’t an option either. He was working, far too hard for her liking. She understood, of course; it was album crunch time. He had to make all of the last minute decisions: finalizing the tracklist, photoshoots, and touch-ups on the chosen tracks in the studio. But she missed him. The only times she saw him anymore was right before bed, when he would stumble into the room sleepily and kiss her forehead before going right to sleep. So yeah, she was a bit lonely. And being alone on her day off wasn’t exactly the plans she wanted to have.

Luckily, the universe decided to answer her pleas. At around 1:00, after she had finished up a late shower, her phone buzzed with a text from her beloved.

H: Hi, baby! The only thing we have left on the agenda today is touching up a couple of the album tracks, so I should be home a bit earlier :D If you’d like, I can pick up some dinner on the way home.

She couldn’t help the huge grin that spread across her face. For the first time in ages, the two of them could finally have some time together! Maybe she could do something nice for him! He had been working so hard lately, he deserved it. And honestly, she did, too. An idea popped into her head, and she threw open the bathroom closet, taking a look through her bath supplies. She grinned triumphantly as she pulled out a citrus bath bomb, knowing that Harry enjoyed the calming scent of orange and lemon. A nice bath would not only help Harry destress, but it would also be the perfect cure to the loneliness that was settling in her heart. She quickly texted Harry a reply as she set the bath bomb aside.

Y/n: Sorry about the wait, babe, was just taking a shower. Forgot to this morning lol

He answered pretty much right away, making her smile.

H: It’s okay, baby! No need for apologies :)

Y/n: Okay! I’m excited to actually get to spend some time with you! I could really go for curry, if you’re up for Indian takeout.

H: Curry sounds good to me! I’ll probably be home between 6 or 7! I have to go now, but I can’t wait to see you :) I love you so much!!!!

Y/n: Can’t wait to see you, either, Har!!! I love you, too 💕💕

“Baby, ‘m home!”

Y/n looked at the clock. It was 7:30, a bit later than what Harry had said through text, but still much earlier than usual. She leapt up from the couch and sprinted to the front door, tackling Harry in a hug. He laughed loudly and wound his free arm around her waist, not fully able to hug her back because of the takeout bag in his arms.

“Let me put the food down so I can give y’ a proper hug.”

She let go with a small pout on her face, which Harry promptly kissed off while setting the bag down. He then wrapped her in a tight, two-armed embrace. She melted at the contact, resting her head on his chest and hugging him back just as tightly. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, then rested his head on top of hers.

“Miss you, Har,” she said, her speech slightly muffled from talking into his t-shirt.

She could feel him frown against her hair, “I miss y’ too, Y/n. The album should be done by the end of the month, and then ‘m all yours until tour starts.”

“Good. I was gonna break into the studio and steal you back myself if you weren’t done soon.”

He chuckled, “I don’ think Jeff would like that very much.”

“Fuck Jeff! I need you back here,” she scoffed.

“I certainly hope y’ don’ want t’ fuck Jeff.”

She rolled her eyes, “You’re annoying.”

He grinned cheekily, “But yet y’ still here.”

“Lord only knows why,” Y/n grumbled, though there was a smile on her face.

They pulled away reluctantly, both realizing how hungry they were. The two chowed down on chicken curry and naan while chatting about their day. Y/n spent most of her day off watching The Great British Bake-Off and snuggling with Daiquiri, their black lab. Harry had been putting the finishing touches on three of the album songs (“I can’ wait to play them f’ y’, baby”), and ranted about the traffic coming home (“I would’ve gotten home 45 minutes earlier, but the freeway was ridiculously clogged up!”). It was domestic in a way that Y/n never thought she would have, and she loved every second of it.

When everything from dinner was cleaned up, Y/n figured now was as good a time as any to reveal her plans for the rest of their evening.

“Hey, Har,” she paused, then continued when she heard his hum of acknowledgment, “would you want to take a bath with me?”

He raised an eyebrow, “Is this a ploy t’ get me naked?”

“No,” Y/n said bashfully, “I just thought it would be nice to take a bath together. I found a citrus bath bomb at the back of the closet, and I thought it would be relaxing for us.”

Harry’s eyes softened and he smiled gently at her, “That sounds perfect, love. Y’ too sweet.”

The two made their way to the bathroom, hand in hand. Y/n plucked the bath bomb from the closet and laid it in the tub, turning on the warm water. The water became a pastel shade of yellow, reflecting the lemony scent of the bath bomb. As she was checking the temperature, a pair of tattooed arms wrapped around her waist, and a kiss was pressed to her cheek. The heat radiating off of his body led her to believe that Harry had already rid himself of his clothes. When she turned around, her suspicions were confirmed.

“You work fast,” she commented, making a humming sound when the temperature was to her satisfaction.

“A bit,” he confirmed, leaning over to turn off the nozzle “just wanna take a bath with y’, love. Speaking of, let’s get those pesky clothes off of y’, shall we?”

Y/n nodded and Harry reached forward, almost reverently lifting her (his) sweatshirt over her head. She shimmied out of her leggings and removed her undergarments. She stepped into the bath first, gesturing for him to follow. He obeyed, and sat between her legs, resting his head on her shoulder. The two sat in silence for a while, basking in each other’s company. Y/n couldn’t remember a time where she had felt this at peace. But she also knew that Harry had forgotten to shower that morning since he was nearly late to the studio, so she reached over and grabbed some soap and a washcloth. She looked down at him and giggled softly when she realized he was almost asleep

“Wake up, baby,” she crooned, “let me wash you.”

“‘M awake,” he muttered, “promise.”

“Sure you are, that’s why your eyes are closed,” Y/n teased.

He only hummed in response, making her giggle again. She kissed his forehead and began washing him gently. The soft circles she was rubbing into his skin with the washcloth were soothing, and a sleepy smile made its way onto his face.

“‘Y always take such good care of me. Dunno how I got s’ lucky.”

Y/n felt her face grow warm as she reached for the shampoo, “I think I’m the lucky one. You always take care of me, too.”

She began rubbing the shampoo into his silky locks. Breathy gasps fell from his lips as she tugged lightly as his hair, working the shampoo into his curls.

“Feels s’ good,” he murmured.

“Glad you’re feeling good, Har,” Y/n replied in a hushed tone.

She rinsed his hair and repeated the process with the conditioner. By the time she had finished, Harry had fully fallen asleep on her shoulder. She cooed softly at how adorable he looked. He was like an angel; his long lashes were speckled with little water drops, his wet hair stuck to his forehead in an oddly endearing way, and a small smile was spread across his lips. He looked so relaxed in a way that Y/n hadn’t seen in a while. The bath helped her feel more at ease too; the monotonous motions of washing Harry made the stress from her job melt away, and the loneliness that had plagued her earlier in the day was washed away by the warm water. But she knew she had to wake Harry. She wasn’t quite strong enough to carry all six feet of him back to their bedroom.

Y/n gently jostled his shoulder and whispered, “Harry. Need you to wake up, baby.”

He groaned softly, making her giggle softly once more. His eyes slowly blinked open to reveal his jade irises, and he stumbled his way out of the tub, making her laugh a little harder as she followed. Y/n got out two towels and dried them both off, knowing that Harry was much too tired to do it on his own. She took his hand and walked toward their bedroom.

When they reached the bedroom, Y/n guided Harry to sit on the bed while she picked out sweats for both of them to wear to sleep (she knew that Harry had a particular fondness for when she wore his clothes to bed, so she got out his clothes for both of them). Harry pliantly moved his limbs as she clothed him, and watched her with moony eyes as she pulled on her own sleepwear.

“Look s’ pretty in m’ clothes, love,” he complimented, relishing in the shy smile that appeared on her face.

“Thank you, Har. Let’s get you to bed, okay?” she replied.

Y/n turned off the light and joined Harry on the bed. He was already lying on his side, so she wound her arms around his waist, resting her head between his shoulder blades. Usually, he was the big spoon, but with the whole mood they had set all night, it just felt right for her to be the one cuddling him. Y/n barely heard Harry mumble a “g’night. Love you,” before his breathing evened out. She smiled and closed her eyes, reflecting on the day. Just spending one evening with her boyfriend made her feel right as rain, and the loneliness that had once threatened to overtake her was totally gone. Though she had been taking care of him that night, he was also taking care of her. And sure, they were both going back to work tomorrow, but in two weeks, Harry would be done with the album and would be all hers. When sleep finally overtook her, all she had were the most pleasant of dreams.

#harry styles #harry styles x reader #harry styles x you #harry styles fluff #harry styles fic #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fanfic #harry styles blurb #harry styles imagine

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footballxwrites · 4 years ago

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Ridiculously in love with your writing so giving another one😂

So read reports that Christian pulisic maybe going back to the bundesliga to play for Bayern so maybe you could write one on that where he feels guilty for not having been able to probably make it work in Chelsea. He’s been with his fiance since they were like 12 and she’s a British citizen and an arsenal fan so she was definitely the happiest when they moved to london as because she runs her own company and their main office is in London. Christian feels like a crap fiancé also because now she’ll have to travel up and down every other week like she did when they were in Dortmund, and she’s done and sacrificed so much for him and he couldn’t even make it work so she can be in her hometown for once and also be with her family, plus they’re looking to start a family so this travelling business and not having grandparents around the corner isn’t ideal either. With all this plus not starting games plus family stuff weighing him down, he starts to be distant from her and she obviously notices. She gives him a bit of space at the beginning but then quickly realises that they should talk about it like they always have in their relationship. So she brings it up and he lets out everything and she’s like “ don’t be stupid, I want the best for your career and if that’s in freaking Finland well go there, you’ve had a tough year and not the ideal start to your time at Chelsea ans that’s okay. Everyone has set backs but we need to make a comeback so we’re gonna do what’s best for you and then go from there. Europe is small and London to Munich or wherever it is isn’t too bad at all, plus you know I genuinely like travelling for work. And when the kids come we’ll just figure out a schedule that puts them first and have you seen our parents, they’re gonna be coming and seeing us all the time. It’s fine, we’re gonna be fine, you’re gonna be just fine” and then Christian is just crying by then because how did he get so lucky blah blah blah... can’t wait for this one xxxxxx

Long Distance Love ♡

𝖧𝖺𝗁𝖺 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄 𝗒𝗈𝗎! 𝖨 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝗊𝗎𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝗁𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 (𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗌 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗌𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗅)...𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗌 𝖨 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝗇’𝗍 𝖻𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗉𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖼𝗄 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗌𝗈 𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗆𝗂𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗈𝗍𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗈𝗇 𝗆𝖾 😅𝗑

January 10 2021

Suddenly, you felt him stir slightly, readjusting his arms that were snaked around your body, which made your head shoot up to gaze at him, seeing his eyes fluttering open and a lazy smile creep upon his lips as he leaned into a kiss. His arms were quick to pull your waist against his so your head was flat on his chest, listening to the peaceful sound of his heartbeat, instantly making you feel at home. You little moment was cut short when his phone went off and he rushed out the room with a groan, leaving you annoyed and your heart pounding, having a feeling you knew exactly what the phone call was about, hoping he come back and give you the answer you wanted to hear...

“It’s gone through...the transfer” he sorrily spoke, making your breath hitch in your throat, although knowing it was a high possibility of the move actually happening, a part of you was certain he’d be staying here in central London for at least another year. “Guess you’d better get packing then” you softly laughed, feeling disheartened to say the least, the words of “it’s happening” not being the ones you wanted to fall from his lips, “look can we talk about this properly-“ he began, reaching for your hand as you swiftly dodged his grip and made your way to the bathroom, ready for a complete meltdown about everything, “No I have to get ready for work...while I still have my own business” you trailed off, letting the door close behind you with a slam...

————————————————

January 2 2019

"The real question is, how did I get so lucky?" you giggled before he gently pushed the mug of coffee into your hands while leaning in to plant a small kiss on your forehead. Instantly, that warm feeling flew through your body just from the smallest, loving touch he gave you, it never getting old. “Good morning, beautiful." he mumbled against your lips, before wrapping his arms around your neck and resting his head on top of yours, “and a very good morning to you handsome” you smiled, feeling the most relaxed you’ve felt in a while, lifting your gaze to him, love dancing in your eyes as you leaned in to clasp your mouths together.

"Kissing you never gets old," you mutter softly as you both pull away, Christian flashing you a cheeky grin before spotting his luggage packed and ready for the off beside the front door of your new complex, a sigh falling from his lips, “can’t believe I arrived here a week ago and I’m already flying back to Germany” he frowned, pulling a pout. “It’s only six months and it’ll be over before you know it, I’m not going to lie I will miss living over there, especially the weather” you giggled, messing up his perfectly gelled hair to which you got no thanks for, “hands off, this took ages to do” he said, pretending to be serious and grabbing your hand as if to say ‘go on do it again I dare you’. “I’m gonna miss you, the apartment’s gonna seem empty without you here...and it means I have to build all the flat pack furniture from IKEA myself” you huffed, pointing at the hundreds of cardboard boxes filling the spacious room as he laughed, culling your face and running a finger along your cheek, “you’ll be fine, we’ll FaceTime every night and whenever we have a minute spare because you’re gonna be busy as hell now...my super business woman” he winked as you shook your head, still not quite believing you actually own a company, like a whole ass company belonged to you and it was mad to just even picture it.

“Ah shut up, you’re making me blushing Mr Pullisic, now go before you miss that flight of yours” you grinned, going in for one last peck while shoving him out the door with a struggle, feeling like his clingy self wasn’t ever gonna leave, “I love you, see you in half a year” he happily said, grabbing his many cases and walking out, letting the door gently fall closed...

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July 1 2019

The classic iPhone ping went off as an incoming text message lit up your phone screen, instantly opening the pic attachment of him saying ‘en route’ which meant he was on his way and by god you couldn’t wait to just see him in person after all this time. He barely got through the front door before you took a leap, linking your legs around his torso as his hands secured under your thighs to carry your weight. Squeezing him tight, you rested your head in the crook of his neck, enjoying his presence as a laugh escaped his lips, “missed me just a bit?” he stupidly asked, not even bothering to let you answer before smashing his lips on yours for the first time what felt like in forever.

Gently tapping your legs, he slowly placed you feet on the ground and then cupped your face, pulling you in for another long, loving kiss, “so how’s everything been then, and by the way you’ve done a good job decorating this place” he nodded, eyes gazing at all the modern interior, “funny you asked, I managed to open two more branches this week, one in Gateshead up north and the other in Manchester!” you exclaimed letting out a small squeal, not able to control your excitement any longer as his eyes went wide with joy. “I didn’t think you could make me any prouder but I guess I was wrong eh” he gushed, heading over to sort out his cases, “I’m saying the same about you” you laughed as he pulled out a couple man of the match awards along with a jersey signed by all the teammates. “It felt strange to say goodbye to them after all these years...but it’s time for a fresh start, here in London with Chelsea Fc and with you” he whispered, excited for the new chapter in your lives to finally begin.

——————————————————

The next year could only be described as perfect for the both of you, his career taking off and loving every moment at the club, getting along with everyone in the dressing room and then loving the fans and atmosphere within the stadium, and knowing you were in the stands somewhere cheering on your ‘captain America’ made it all the more special. As for you, your company was doing beyond amazing, going from National to world wide, owning buildings in Dubai, Spain and you’ll never guess where, Germany. Your main branch was of course London, where the company was founded and to which was the office you managed and were based at, meaning you rarely visited the abroad ones but you weren’t complaining, with you being a London gal to be in your home city with your own bloody business was unimaginable, not to mention you were only a 20 mins drive from your family.

Oh yeah and he popped the question about four months into the move on your eight year anniversary which you of course said yes to, already having planned out your dream wedding, the pair of you agreeing to have it here rather than America with work and travel and all that malarkey.

For the first time in ages, it all seemed to be coming together for yous...

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January 10 2021

8 hours later and the two of you hadn’t spoken all day, with him going off to what you assumed was his last training session and proceeding to ignore you and your many questions, you decided to go to work too, trying to get this whole moving countries once again after only one fucking year back home thing off your mind.

“Right that’s it, you’re going to talk to me Christian because you must think I’m a mind reader or something and I can just tell what’s going in in that brain of yours” you said, stumbling through the door and throwing your keys in the side before throwing yourself on the sofa beside your sad looking boyfriend. “I’m sorry” was all he could say, looking down at the ground leaving you with a confused frown on your face, “enough with the apologies, I just want to know what this means, for us” you sighed, placing a hand on his cheek and giving it a small pinch, hoping it’d put a smile on his lips.

“Well I’m definitely leaving Chelsea, guess not everything works out...but it means I’m back off to Germany” he said as you slowly nodded, “you have to do what’s best for your career, ok?” you smiled, running a hand through his hair as he was quick to shake his head, “no I can’t. I don’t wanna leave you, not again. And anyways we’re supposed to be trying for a baby and that’s going to be a challenge if we’re in different countries don’t you think?” he’s spoke with a slight laughter. “I’m not arguing with you Pullisic, go and sign that contract and get yourself away to Germany to revive your job. I’m not saying I’m going to drop everything and move again because I have my work and life, but I can easily fly out and visit, you’re forgetting I have an office over there. As for kids, we’ll get to that part when it comes around...so just take one step at a time and get on the phone to your agent to tell him you’re taking the transfer” you blurted out with a soft smile, knowing exactly what you were saying and that this was just another step in your life, at the end of the day, life isn’t life without it’s challenges along the way...❤️

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If you got this far reading it, I hope you enjoyed it! x

@kingkepa @champagne-coys @footballcloud @footballmagical @alexajanecollins @masonmounts @hoely-pavard @hazardybala @jamesmaddiscnx

#football #footballer #football blurb #footballer imagine #christian pulisic #chelsea fc

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deaniiqn258 · 2 years ago

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erickdwfi306 · 2 years ago

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Yet another way ahead upwith a company label is actually to pull creativity coming from an icon or even vital element of your job. A title like Naturol communicates business and also is quick and easy to keep in mind. (Local business win-win!).

11. Create it definitive.

When you think about your service, whatare the terms that describe it best? List each of your possibilities, and picture just how these phrases may match your new logo design or even banner. Take into consideration 7-Eleven: the name immediately informs you what is actually unique about their organization (they level coming from 7AM-11PM on a daily basis).

12. Usage latin.

Maybe you presumed Latin lesson in school was a wild-goose chase ... but what happens if you could utilize your learnings to craft a label for your service? This foreign language is actually an excellent source for service name suggestions, like Volvo (" I spin") as well as Acer (" pointy," "able"). Decide on a term in Latin that exemplifies your business, like Luxus for a luxury retail brand or even Sanus for a health-food retail store.

Photo of calling card: 9. Make use of labels, 10. Utilize a symbol, 11. Make it definitive, 12. Make use of latin.

13. Consider your item coming from yet another angle.

Take a step back coming from your item and also view if it tells you of anything else. Maybe you are actually starting a cosmetics firm, and also notification that your make-up color schemes appear like blossoms. Why certainly not use that in the label name?

14. Abbreviate.

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sadisweetomi · 3 years ago

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Executive ImpactHelping firms to enter and expand in Japan

TOKYO

Global retail chains have famously failed to flourish on Japanese soil. Billions of yen have been spent by corporations such as Boots, Tesco, Carrefour and Walmart in largely futile attempts to crack the Japanese market. What are they doing wrong?

One woman, Noriko Silvester, sees it as her mission to help foreign firms appeal to the notoriously fickle Japanese consumer. Clients of Candlewick, Silvester’s PR, marketing and brand consultancy, range from Ikea to the New Zealand beef and avocado industries to Garrard, jewellers for the British royal family.

“Foreign companies coming into Japan must consider that Japanese companies have supply chains that have worked together for hundreds of years”, Silvester told BCCJ ACUMEN. It is also very hard to compete in a saturated market that entices consumers with new seasonal variants every few weeks.

“Japanese retail is superb”, she said. “You have to offer something different”.

The task may be daunting, but Silvester’s 18-strong all-female team has proved so successful in the 11 years since Candlewick’s launch that the firm is about to upgrade to larger premises near Omotesando Hills.

Silvester said one of her recipes for success is to employ working mothers.

“When you have a small company you have to be very efficient”, she said. “Working mothers are very good at fitting a lot of work into a short space of time, because they have to leave on time”.

By contrast, men — who, in Japan, are not expected to get home to make dinner — suffer from mission creep.

“Something I observed when I became an employer”, she said, “was that men can sometimes stop working and stop thinking for extended periods of time. And that is not great for productivity in a small company”.

Silvester, who has a 15-year-old son, attributes part of her success to the support of her husband. “I had an advantage because I married an Englishman”, she said. “I have to contribute to the family finances, and we split the house chores equally”.

She began her career as a trainee bilingual secretary on leaving school in Tokyo. When one of her bosses asked her to help the sales team by making cold calls in English, she was inspired.

“After that, I felt that I didn’t want to spend my career arranging lunches for other people”, she said.

In 1986, aged 25, she left the position to work as a sales agent for a cosmetics firm, travelling the country for eight years and establishing regional salons.

“I spent a lot of time crying in hotel rooms”, she said, “but I proved I could build businesses up from scratch”.

After eight years, she left to work in recruitment. One client was British high street pharmacy chain Boots, which in 1997 launched its ill-fated mission to crack the Japan market. Struggling to find her client a good sales trainer for its skincare range, she applied for the job herself, and got it. Three years later, shortly after she returned from maternity leave, Boots abruptly closed its doors.

According to Silvester, the firm made two crucial errors: they failed to anticipate how long it would take to get their own-brand medicines approved in Japan, and they wrongly positioned themselves as a luxury brand.

“They chose the best locations, but that meant they were seen as premium stores, and they couldn’t compete with convenience stores where you can buy over-the-counter medicines along with a newspaper”.

Finding another job quickly, as a brand manager for a Swiss skincare firm, Silvester left her one-year-old son in Tokyo to travel to Switzerland. “After a year, the shareholders decided to stop overseas expansion”, she said. “I was very shocked that this would happen again”.

She vowed that, in future, she would control her own life. In 2002, she became a freelance marketing consultant with one cosmetics client. Business thrived, and within a year she had founded Candlewick with the aim of “connecting global brands to the local market”.

“No matter how thoroughly foreign brands research Japan, the Japanese mentality and habits are very difficult for foreigners to understand”, she said.

Silvester now intends to double the size of her business. Her staff, who have young children, leave the office before 5 p.m., only working late in preparation for a big event. Family-friendly working hours are, she said, “the key to happiness”.

According to Silvester, life is getting easier in Japan for women who wish to work after having children. “My message to young women is to keep your ideal lifestyle in mind and don’t give up trying. Many more husbands are supporting their children now. So as the generations change, Japan will get better”.

Whether it will become more accessible for foreign firms remains to be seen.

Her Typical Day

5:50 a.m. Wake up 6 a.m. Breakfast: steamed sweet potato with butter, tea; sometimes a boiled egg and yoghurt 7:15 a.m. Go to work (reading newspapers on the way) 8:15 a.m. Start work at office; planning and creative thinking 9 a.m. Appointment with business consultant 10 a.m. Brainstorming for new client 12:30 p.m. Lunch, sometimes with media representatives 2 p.m. Client meetings 4 p.m. Team meetings 6:30 p.m. Leave office 7:15 p.m. Workout 8 p.m. Dinner 9:30pm Relax and spend time with family 11:30 p.m. Go to bed

#sadisweetomi

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olko71 · 4 years ago

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New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on http://yaroreviews.info/2021/01/older-shoppers-are-the-hot-new-thing-for-consumer-brands

Older Shoppers Are the Hot New Thing for Consumer Brands

Demographic changes and the pandemic are propelling consumer-goods companies to take a fresh look at a group of shoppers who are often ignored: the elderly.

As people live longer and have fewer babies, the number of over-65s surpassed those under five globally for the first time in 2018, according to United Nations data, and the trend has accelerated since.

The pandemic has disproportionately harmed older people, which executives say has highlighted the importance of staying healthy later in life.

That shift is prompting companies like Nestle SA, NSRGY -2.80% Colgate-Palmolive Co. CL -1.45% and Danone SA DANOY -0.56% to launch new products aimed at consumers they say are increasingly interested in aging well.

“We clearly see healthy aging, even more now with the Covid world, as a huge trend,” Danone Chief Executive Emmanuel Faber said.

Danone in November said it was setting up a new healthy-aging unit to accelerate research into how nutrition impacts cognition and mobility. The Activia yogurt maker recently launched in Brazil Fortifit Pro, a whey-protein product that claims to aid muscles, joints and bones, and said it plans to develop more products intended to help people age better.

Getting Older

The world is aging as birth rates decline and people live longer…

Global population by age group

PROJECTION

… in some countries old people already make up a big portion of the population, and that proportion is set to grow.

Percentage of total population by age group

PROJECTION

… in some countries old people already make up a big portion of the population, and that proportion is set to grow.

Percentage of total population by age group

PROJECTION

… in some countries old people already make up a big portion of the population, and that proportion is set to grow.

Percentage of total population by age group

PROJECTION

… in some countries old people already make up a big portion of the population, and that proportion is set to grow.

Percentage of total population by age group

The number of countries with over 20% of the population aged 65 or above is estimated to rise from 15 last year to 44 by 2030, according to the U.N. That number is forecast to reach 61 by 2050, when it will include the U.S., China and Brazil.

Researchers estimate economic uncertainty related to Covid-19 will also accelerate declining birthrates in the U.S. and China.

Nestle last month launched a powdered-milk drink in China under its Yiyang brand, aimed at older adults, which it says enhances mobility during aging.

In recent years the company’s health-sciences unit has shifted its focus from making food and drink to aid the recovery of people in hospitals, to helping prevent people from being admitted in the first place, said Greg Behar, who heads the unit.

“There are more and more people who want to proactively manage their health in the aging process,” Mr. Behar said. “What is most impacting people is a drop in physical and cognitive functions and then there’s the beauty and skin element too.”

About 20% of Nestle Health Science’s research budget is now dedicated to aging. The company uses tiny nematode worms known as C. elegans, which age quickly with a lifespan of just two days, to test its nutrition hypotheses.

Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, which makes infant-formula brand Enfamil, has also launched a milk drink aimed at older consumers in China that it says contains ingredients to boost the immune system.

Overall, Reckitt says the market in China for milk with added ingredients to provide specific benefits is worth 500 million British pounds, equivalent to $686 million, and growing at 13% a year. The company is developing several products to capitalize on the self-care trend, and is expecting Covid-19 to accelerate demand.

Procter & Gamble sells the Gillette Treo, a razor designed for use by caregivers.

Photo: John Locher/Associated Press

Other companies are tweaking products to serve older people who they say will spend longer living at home, rather than in assisted-living facilities.

IKEA has begun selling upright armchairs with higher seating to make getting up easier, slanted footstools to promote blood circulation and jar grippers to help unscrew lids, among its products aimed at people with reduced mobility, including the elderly.

The range is part of an effort to imbue design catering to people of different capabilities across IKEA’s products, said Britt Monti, a senior designer who worked on the collection. IKEA held off on labeling the range as being specifically for the elderly, she added.

“Especially later in life you don’t want to be labeled as older,” said Ms. Monti. “We don’t want to make a big thing out of it, we just want it to be a natural part of the design process.”

Procter & Gamble Co. last year began selling a razor intended for caregivers in Canada, where the company said data show one in four people provides help to someone with aging-related needs, a disability or long-term health condition. The Gillette Treo, which was already available in the U.S., has a safety comb and a wider handle filled with shaving gel that is designed to give caregivers better control while shaving their elderly charges.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

Are you more concerned about staying healthy into old age than you were before the pandemic? Join the conversation below.

In beauty and skin care, older consumers tend to spend more, making them a key demographic for companies like L’Oréal SA . In France, women over-65s spend 184 euros, equivalent to $223, on beauty products each year, compared with €120 for 25-to-30-year-olds, said Delphine Viguier, global brand president for L’Oréal Paris.

Last year the company said growth in the skin-care market had accelerated, driven in part by an aging population. It expects the trend to continue longer-term.

Others have found success targeting antiaging products at younger consumers.

When Colgate last year launched an upscale amino acid toothpaste in China intended to reverse visible signs of gum aging, the company focused its marketing on a young audience using celebrity bloggers and social-media apps. Colgate took the approach after Filorga, its antiaging facial-care brand, proved popular online with women between 25 and 35. The company said 80% of shoppers buying Colgate Miracle Repair were under the age of 30.

“In China aging is for the young consumer,” Colgate CEO Noel Wallace said last year. “They are taking antiaging products—across whether its skin health or otherwise—and very, very much looking to provide benefits to themselves at an early age.”

L’Oréal last year said growth in the skin-care market had accelerated, driven in part by an aging population.

Photo: laurent gillieron/Shutterstock

Write to Saabira Chaudhuri at [email protected]

#PAID

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architectnews · 4 years ago

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Most read stories about the coronavirus pandemic from 2020

This year was dominated by the emergence and spread of the coronavirus, with designers and architects responding to the pandemic and events across the world cancelled. We continue our review of 2020 by looking at the most-read stories about the pandemic from each month.

January – China building 1,000-bed hospital in 10 days to treat coronavirus

The first major coronavirus story to make international headlines in the architecture press was the news that a 1,000-bed hospital was being built at breakneck speed in China.

Named Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital, the prefabricated, temporary facility was built to treat the growing number of people infected in Wuhan. It was completed in just over a week.

As the virus spread, temporary hospitals were built around the world, including in London where the ExCel centre was converted into the 4,000-bed NHS Nightingale.

Find out more about the temporary hospital ›

February – Milan's Salone del Mobile furniture fair postponed until June due to coronavirus

As the coronavirus spread, it began to impact numerous large-scale events, with shows including the Venice Architecture Biennale, MIPIM and Clerkenwell Design Week postponed due to coronavirus.

In February, the world's most important furniture fair, Salone del Mobile in Milan, announced it was postponing until June due to the outbreak in Italy.

Later in the year, the event was cancelled altogether and in November Salone del Mobile made the decision to postpone its 2021 edition to September.

Find out more about Salone del Mobile's postponement ›

March – Coronavirus offers "a blank page for a new beginning," says Li Edelkoort

In March, trend forecaster Li Edelkoort made a series of predictions about how the coronavirus would impact the world.

In an interview that would become Dezeen's most-read story of all time, Edelkoort said that the pandemic would lead to "a global recession of a magnitude that has not been experienced before".

She predicted that this would lead to "a blank page for a new beginning".

Find out more about Li Edelkoort's prediction ›

April – Dyson devises 44 engineering challenges for children during lockdown

By April, large areas of the world were in lockdown and many parents faced the challenge of entertaining their children, who would usually be in school. In response, design, architecture and technology companies created activities to entertain children in isolation, with Dyson's being the most popular we published.

Dyson created 22 science tasks and 22 engineering activities that children could complete using common household items, such as making a balloon-powered car or building a bridge from spaghetti.

Other to release activities for kids included British architecture studio Foster + Partners, which published a series of challenges including building a paper skyscraper, and furniture company IKEA, which designed six play houses that could be built with its products.

Find out more about Dyson's challenges ›

May – Adidas launches reusable face mask called Face Cover

As coronavirus lockdowns in many cities around the world eased, Adidas was among a number of companies to design and release a face mask.

Named Face Cover, the reusable face mask was made from a breathable recycled material and was developed in less than a month, making it one of the quickest products the sportswear brand has ever made.

"The entire process from ideation to production was less than one month," its lead designer said in an interview with Dezeen. "It's one of the most rapidly produced products we've ever made. And created almost entirely from home."

Find out more about the Face Cover ›

June – "Travel as we knew it is over" says Airbnb co-founder

As travel restrictions impacted people's summer holiday plans, Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky claimed that "travel as we knew it is over".

Speaking to American news channel CNBC, Chesky, who is the current CEO of the short-term rental website, reflected that the pandemic would change the tourism industries forever as people focused less on major tourist destinations.

"It doesn't mean travel is over, just the travel we knew is over, and it's never coming back," he said.

Find out more about the Airbnb co-founder's prediction ›

July – Twelve back-garden offices for working from home

The coronavirus pandemic brought home the importance of having a dedicated workspace at home. We rounded up 12 garden studios that would be ideal places for working from home.

With people spending more time in their houses, home-improvements became a foucs. We started a series providing visual inspiration for the home showcasing colourful kitchens, bedrooms with statement walls and domestic bathrooms designed by architects.

Find out more about our selection of back-garden offices ›

August – Burberry face mask in signature check fabric features "antimicrobial" protection

As wearing face masks became normal in large parts of the world, they became fashion items, with Burberry's design being one of the most popular.

The face masks, which were made from cotton treated with "antimicrobial technology", were made in blue or beige versions of Burberry's vintage plaid pattern.

Find out more about Burberry's face mask ›

September – Louis Vuitton unveils face shield that doubles as a cap

French fashion house Louis Vuitton also released its take on personal protective equipment. Its coronavirus face shield was imprinted with its signature LV monogram and could be flipped up and used as a sun visor.

"The LV Shield makes for an eye-catching headpiece, both stylish and protective," said the company.

"[It] seamlessly transitions from dawn to dusk, adding a discreet yet sophisticated touch to one's personal protection."

Find out more about Louis Vuitton's face shield ›

October – "Is Covid-19 going to change our cities? The answer is no," says Norman Foster

In October, Foster + Partners founder Norman Foster joined those making predictions about how the pandemic will impact cities.

In a speech to the United Nations Forum of Mayors, the architect predicted that while coronavirus may accelerate current trends, it would not have a long-term impact on cities.

"Is Covid-19 going to change our cities?" he asked. "I suggest that it might seem so now, but in the wider arc of history, the answer is no."

Find out more about Norman Foster's prediction ›

November – RIBA warns of housing emissions crisis from surge in home working

In November, the Royal Institute of British Architects warned that the massive increase in people working from home during the pandemic risks a housing emissions crisis unless the government takes urgent action.

"When it comes to energy efficiency, our homes are fundamentally below the mark," said RIBA president Alan Jones.

"Our housing stock sits shamefully behind most European neighbours, and this will only be made more obvious by the changes in working habits brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic."

Find out more about RIBA's warning ›

December – Homebuyers "moving away from open-plan spaces" says Albert Hill of The Modern House

One of the impacts of the pandemic on people's homes is that people are moving away from open-plan living, said Albert Hill, co-founder of design-led estate agent The Modern House, in December.

In a talk with Dezeen, Hill said that buyers were seeking greater privacy at home and were therefore increasingly looking for houses with a variety of different rooms for different activities rather than large, open multipurpose spaces.

Find out more about Albert Hill's prediction ›

The post Most read stories about the coronavirus pandemic from 2020 appeared first on Dezeen.

#Architecture – Dezeen

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30268938 · 5 years ago

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So where is the art and design in Glasgow? The simple answer would be everywhere.

The first impression when walking into the Kelvingrove museum was not just the walls echoing with paintings but the art of music; the organ performing at the prime of the Centre Hall, giving a warm welcome into a whole international world of art, all just in the one building in Glasgow. Inside its walls it has a wide range of different art movements and 22 different themed galleries. In the warm welcome I got to talk to a receptionist, finding out that the museum opened its doors in 1901 and was designed by two architects called John Simpson and Edmund Allen. I was also amazed to learn it has had over a million visitors in 2018. A piece of art that would win the award for giving you the chills as if you were being watched was the Floating heads; this art work was created by Sophie Cave to express the emotions of French artists, which can be found floating in the centre of the East Court (photo below). After exploring all the different galleries, I got the chance to sketch the Spitfire (photo below). It was interesting to sketch with graphite pencils because of the odd shape from being at the same eye level as me, due to this it looks as if I’m sketching it in mid-flight but realty hits as it floats in the middle of the hall. In conclusion, the kelvingrove museum is a great place in to explore the different art movements in Glasgow at a cost of nothing.

Approaching the British Transport Museum you can see from a mile away how it stands out well next to the river Clyde as if it’s trying to mirror the sharp movements of a wave (Photo below). Inside the building you are introduced to millions of different designs of bikes, cars, trains, everything. The building began construction in 2008 and took 3 years before finally opening its doors in 2011, designed by architect, Zaha Hadid. One of the interesting exhibits is about Graeme Obree’s bike called Old faithful (photo below). Most racing bikes are expensive and from the best materials, last thing anybody would expect was a homemade bike from Irvine, made from scrap metal and washing machine bearings to smash a world record in 1993. Another interesting exhibit would be the coating yellow hoop from the ceiling; carrying a time-line of different models of bikes; one being the Bone Shaker (photo below) created by Samuel Webb Thomas of Lewes in the late 1870s. I finally got the chance to sketch with graphite pencils, a old vintage red Mini Cooper, it was great to sketch due to all the small details hidden on the vehicle. Overall, the British Transport Museum is a great place to explore all the different designs and work put into improving all sorts of transport from across the world.

Entering the Whiskey Bond, you are welcomed by a small cafe, table and chairs; places for all different types of designers, artists, businesses in the building to talk. The building is a place for creative businesses to rent a studio. The building used to be a bonded warehouse for a highland Distilleries, built in 1957 but soon became the home to the Whiskey Bond in 2012, getting the name from the previous building use (photo below).

One of the businesses that run within the faculty are Finch and Fouracre, Architectural and engineering model maker called Franki Finch. After finishing a university course at the Glasgow School of Art, she began her own business in model making, mostly makes models by hand from plastics and timber; all from tiny models to 3.5 meter tall ones. Depending on the model she can spend up to three weeks all the way to three months to complete with most models costing over £1000.

Another business in the Whiskey Bond would be Flux Laser and CNC studio, a one-on-one laser cutting and engraving facilities. On the visit we met ***, before working in the studio for 12 years and counting, she studied in Glasgow School of Art in product design. She mainly works on the software, Illustrator for the laser cutters and has worked with large company’s such as IKEA and The Kelpies. The laser cutters and CNC router can cut many materials such as; cardboard, plywood, wood, acrylic perspex, vinyl and many more. Sending on the job given, it normally taking up to 1 to 2 working dads to complete with a price of £33 per hour for the machine.

In conclusion, the Whiskey Bond is a great place to find many different types of creative work and for creative people working there to meet others.

References:

Websites

https://www.finchandfouracre.co.uk/

https://www.fluxlaserstudio.co.uk/

https://www.dezeen.com/2011/06/10/riverside-museum-by-zaha-hadid-architects/

Leaflets

Kelvingrove museum floor plan leaflet

British transport museum info leaflet

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oilsteven80-blog · 5 years ago

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Fashion in the news: most interesting fashion reads in March 2019

Every month, FashionUnited selects the most interesting reads about the fashion industry published across American and British news outlets. Here’s what you may have missed this month:

“Will success spoil Diet Prada?”, The New York Times

Run by Tony Liu and Lindsey Schuyler, Instagram account Diet Prada is quickly establishing itself as the unofficial watchdog of the fashion industry, constantly calling fashion companies out for plagiarism, racism and sexism.

Diet Prada played a pivotal role in Dolce & Gabbana’s recent image crisis regarding an advertising campaign depicting a Chinese woman trying to eat Italian food with chopsticks. Not only was the Instagram account one of the first ‘news outlets’ to criticize the label for the “problematic” campaign, it also added fuel to the fire by sharing alleged screenshots of co-founder Stefano Gabbana going on a rant about China and the Chinese, causing the label’s upcoming fashion show in Shanghai to be cancelled and several Chinese celebrities to boycott the brand.

It was also Diet Prada who suggested Kim Kardashian (or someone in her team) may be leaking her outfits to fast fashion brand Fashion Nova; it was they who pointed out the striking resemblance between Moschino’s Spring/Summer 2019 catwalk show and Edda Gimmes Spring/Summer 2017 collection; it was they who helped to spread allegations of Gosha Rubchinskiy’s inappropriate behavior with minors like wildfire on the Internet. In all these instances (and many more), Diet Prada’s followers are quick to bombard brands’ social media profiles with criticism and boycott threats -- and they are often not happy with just an apology. That explains why labels recently accused of referencing blackface in their collections, such as Versace and Gucci, were more than quick to adopt policies to increase diversity within their organizations. Diet Prada’s followers don’t expect any less.

Considering this Instagram account’s increasing power, The New York Times couldn’t help but ask: will success spoil it? How do Liu and Schuyler make money? Who’s watching the watchdog? Some followers are already complaining that some of Diet Prada’s recent copycat accusations are a bit of a stretch -- after all, they need to keep posting content on a regular basis to please Instagram’s algorithm and remain in the spotlight. Read the article in full here.

“Why Germany’s fashion market is so hard to crack”, Vogue Business

With 83 million inhabitants, a healthy GDP and Europe’s second-lowest unemployment rate, Germany is a promising market for fashion brands looking to expand internationally. Yet, many companies struggle or fail to secure a strong position in the country. Why does that happen? Vogue Business has delved into this issue in an enthralling article published this month. Spoiler: Germans are thrifty, practical and like their clothes sporty. Read the article in full here.

“What Tom Ford’s CFDA post means for American fashion”, Business of Fashion

Tom Ford has been officially named the Chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), succeeding Diane von Furstenberg after a 13-year tenure. With extensive experience working for large luxury brands in Europe (the designer served as the Creative Director of Gucci Group, working for both Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent), Ford is expected to help American fashion become more relevant in the rest of the world. Business of Fashion laid out all the challenges and expectations Tom Ford will face in his new role. Read it here.

“Virgil Abloh, menswear’s biggest star”, The New Yorker

Could 2018 have been any better for Virgil Abloh? His label, Off-White, was one of the most sought-after brands of the year, which led him to collaborate with a number of high-profile companies, fashion related or not. He’s teamed up with Rimowa, Ssense, Nike, TheDoubleF, Ikea, Moët & Chandon and Evian, to name but a few. Not to mention, of course, his appointment to the role of Menswear Creative Director at Louis Vuitton. Doreen St. Félix, writing for The New Yorker, followed the architect turned fashion designer while he was preparing his Michael Jackson-inspired fashion show for the latest menswear Paris Fashion Week. Through candid interviews, she dissects how Abloh brought something new to high fashion. Read it in full here.

“The global zipper war is heating up”, Fast Company

Take a look at the tabs on the zippers of your clothes. Chances are most of them are marked with the letters YKK. That’s the Japanese company which holds the title of world’s largest zipper manufacturer. A comprehensive article published by Fast Company this month reveals how they managed to achieve this position and how it may be beaten by Chinese businesses in the future. Read it here.

Want to stay up to date about the latest developments in the fashion industry?

Pictures: Pixabay, Pixabay, courtesy of CFDA, courtesy of LVMH, Pixabay

Source: https://fashionunited.com/news/fashion/fashion-in-the-news-most-interesting-fashion-reads-in-march-2019/2019032927011

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

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heatpeen03-blog · 6 years ago

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2018 fashion recap: most important news of the year

2018 was certainly an eventful year for the fashion industry: high-profile mergers and acquisitions, big retail players struggling to keep afloat, fashion designers buying back their brands... It’s time to look back at the most important developments of the year.

January

Hollywood actresses protested against sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination in the movie industry by wearing black dresses at the 2018 Golden Globes. French luxury conglomerate Kering announced it would sell its stake in Puma. Kim Jones left the role of Menswear Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton, while Hedi Slimane was announced as Celine’s new Creative Director.

February

Fashion designer Carolina Herrera retired from her namesake label. French label Jacquemus ventured into menswear for the first time, unveiling its debut collection at Paris Fashion Week. The UK government required companies to publish a gender pay gap report, forcing Marks & Spencer to reveal it pays women 12.3 percent less than men.

March

Amazon’s chairman Jeff Bezos dethroned Bill Gates as the world’s richest person. Stella McCartney bought her label back from Kering. Riccardo Tisci was announced by Burberry as its new Creative Director.

Meanwhile, Eyewear powerhouse Luxottica merged with lens maker Essilor to become the world’s largest eyewear company. In the United States, department store chain Nordstrom rejected a takeover by the Nordstrom family.

Asos embraced diversity by featuring a broad range of models on its website, but a government-enforced report revealed a the company’s gender pay gap is above the UK average.

Kim Jones took over at Dior Homme, while Off-White’s Virgil Abloh succeeded him at Louis Vuitton. Expectations were high for Abloh’s debut collection, as he was likely to bring more streetwear to the French fashion house.

April

John Galliano joined the list of luxury brands going fur-free. Spanish apparel group Cortefiel changed its name to Tendam. Both LVMH and Farfetch launched startup accelerators. Companies operating websites in the European Union had to comply with the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by the end of May, but less than one month before the deadline, several retailers still weren’t ready.

May

All eyes were on Meghan Markle’s sartorial choices ahead of her wedding with Prince Harry. She chose Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller to design her wedding dress and Stella McCartney to create her reception gown. The latter received so many compliments McCartney decided to launch the dress commercially as part of a debut bridal line months later. Despite of Markle’s promotion of British fashion, UK retail is going through its toughest spot since 2013.

The month of May was also shaken by a video exposé from PETA depicting animal abuse in angora goat farms in South Africa, the world’s biggest mohair producer. This led a series of fashion brands, including H&M, Zara and Topshop, to to ban mohair from their collections.

With “Heavenly Bodies” as this year’s theme, MET Gala invited celebrities and fashionistas to explore the relationship between fashion and religion. One of the surprises on this year’s red carpet was the presence of fast fashion retailer H&M, which designed four custom-made looks. MET’s accompanying exhibition was an astounding success, having been visited by over 1.3 million people between May and September.

May was also the month of acquisitions, with Delta Galil acquiring Eminence; Fosun buying a majority stake in Wolford; Walmart buying Flipkart; Richemont acquiring Yoox Net-a-Porter; and Macy’s acquiring Story New York. Meanwhile, LVMH invested in fashion search engine Lyst and French label Carven filed for bankruptcy.

June

American fashion designer Kate Spade took her own life after years battling against depression. UK Parliament hosted a debate about fur. Belgian designer Dries van Noten sold his eponymous label to Spanish conglomerate Puig, raising the question whether it is possible for designers to survive independently, without the backing of a large corporation. Meanwhile, Italian fund FSI acquired 41 percent of Missoni’s shares.

Off-White’s suitcase collection in partnership with luxury luggage brand Rimowa became the new “it bag”. The brand led by Virgil Abloh also announced an upcoming collection with Ikea in June.

Speaking of successful collabs, Boohoo’s line with heiress turned reality TV star Paris Hilton flew off the (virtual) shelves. American brand Fashion Nova, an Instagram darling which turned out to be the most googled fashion brand of the year in the United States, unveiled its first menswear collection.

Also in June, Bottega Veneta parted ways with Creative Director Tomas Maier after 17 years and roped in 32-year-old Daniel Lee to succeed him. Guess co-founder Paul Marciano quit after supermodel Kate Upton accused him of groping her years ago.

July

Burberry came under fire for destroying unsold products in order to avoid markdowns. Dior relaunched its “Saddle Bag” after almost two decades. Puma and Dolce & Gabbana fought in court over fur sandals only a handful of people actually bought. Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com announced plans to launch in Europe following a 550 million investment from Google. Ivanka Trump ended her label after major retailers parted ways with her due to her father’s actions as president of the United States.

August

VF Corporation announced the spinoff of its denim brands Wrangler and Lee. Former employees sued Nike for gender discrimination and sexual harassment. Farfetch filed for IPO. Burberry unveiled a new logo and monogram under Riccardo Tisci. Helsinki Fashion Week pledged to ban leather. Italian label Ermenegildo Zegna acquired Thom Browne while Charlesbank bought footwear company Rockport out of bankruptcy. Italian hat maker Borsalino, made famous by Humphrey Bogart in “Casablanca”, also found new owners.

September

Five years after the Rana Plaza disaster, Bangladesh finally raised the minimum wage for garment workers. Nike went through another media storm after making an ousted NFL player the face of its advertising campaign. Speaking of controversy, Burberry took a step back and pledged to stop destroying unsold goods. The British label also promised to ban fur, as did London Fashion Week the same month.

But the biggest news of September was definitely the acquisition of Versace by Michael Kors Holdings,which changed its name to Capri Holdings Limited to better reflect its new status as a luxury conglomerate -- the company purchased footwear label Jimmy Choo in 2017.

Meanwhile, Alibaba’s Jack Ma announced his retirementby 2019, Madewell entered the menswear market and L Brands shut down Henri Bledel.

Hedi Slimane was met with criticism when he unveiled his debut collection for Celine (after changing the company’s name to Celine, without an accent on the first E, and adopting a minimalist logo). Fashionistas the world over accused him of being a one trick pony, pointing out the resemblance of his new pieces to his past work at Saint Laurent. Fans of Celine’s former Creative Director, Phoebe Philo, even gathered in Paris to celebrate the label’s previous designs and the search for old Celine items skyrockets on second-hand websites in the subsequent months.

October

After being heavily criticized for its low wages, Amazon decided to raise its minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour in the United States. The online giant also ventured into brick and mortar retail by launching a pop-up store in London. More stores across Europe popped up for the holiday season.

British investment firm Lion Capital LLP sold Hema to a Dutch investor 11 years after acquiring it from another Dutch investor. The company announced plans to expand even more in Europe and beyond.

Speaking of expansion, American personal styling service Stitch Fix announced its entrance in the UK market in 2019. Walmart acquired intimates label Bare Necessities while Icicle Group bought Carven out of bankruptcy. However, the Chinese apparel company found it best to part ways with the label’s Creative Director, Serge Ruffieux.

Speaking of Creative Directors, Jean-charles de Castelbajac took this role at United Colors of Benetton, for which 2018 wasn’t the best of years. Lacoste, the French label best known for its crocodile logo, also announced its first female Creative Director in History, Louise Trotter. After a collaborative capsule collection, Timberland roped in British designer Christopher Raeburn.

In the UK, Sports Direct acquired department store chain House of Fraser for 95 million pounds, and a series of store closings ensued. Debenhams isn’t doing much better: it decided to close over 50 stores in October, following a record annual loss of 492 million pounds. Meanwhile, Arcadia Group went through another kind of crisis: its chairman, Philip Green, was accused of sexual and racial harassment against employees, leading Topshop to fall in consumers’ opinion according to a survey.

It’s not only in the UK that department stores are struggling. US chain Sears, once the largest retailer in the world, also went officially bankrupt in October.

In Myanmar, female garment workers protesting for a living wage were violently attacked.

November

Proenza Schouler’s founders bought the company back from Castanea Partners. H&M closed down affordable denim brand Cheap Monday. Esprit announced a major rebranding strategy. Kering halted its seven-year e-commerce deal with Yoox Net-a-Porter, following the company’s acquisition by Kering’s competitor Richemont in May. Dolce & Gabbana was forced to cancel a fashion show in China due to a public outcry about an advertising campaign and racist marks supposedly made by Stefano Gabbana on Instagram. The designer claimed his account was hacked.

December

Ted Baker’s CEO took a leave of absence following a petition against “forced hugging” launched by employees of the company. London-based Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy was accused of equally appalling behavior, with screenshots of supposed inappropriate messages to a minor leaking on the Internet. Meanwhile, Prada was accused of racism and insensitivity due to an animal charm made to look like a monkey with large lips. Consumers said the piece looked very similar to blackface imagery.

Stan Smith scored lifelong deal with Adidas, while Chanel joined the ever-growing list of brands banning fur. Similarly to Burberry and Celine, Balmain launched a new, minimalist logo.

Farfetch acquired streetwear marketplace Stadium Goods. Rumors take the fashion world by storm about Raf Simons leaving Calvin Klein, following an earnings call in which the PVH CEO Emanuel Chirico said he was disappointed because the investments made on the label did not deliver the results he expected. L Brands (Victoria’s Secret) announced the sale of intimates brand La Senza to an affiliate of Regent LP, a global private equity firm, while VF finally announced the name of its separate jeanswear business: Kontoor Brands.

Laura Ashley, which went two times into administration in just three years, announced the closure of 40 stores in the UK. Speaking of stores closing, French retailers struggled in December as “yellow vest” protesters forced them to shut their doors for several weekends in a row. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Accord came to a standstill.

Fashion giants such as H&M, Inditex and Burberry sign UN Charter to fight climate change.

Homepage image: courtesy of Nike; Courtesy of Michael Kors; Fashion Nova Facebook; Pixabay; Victoria Beckham Facebook; Yves Saint Laurent Facebook. Nicole Kidman - Hubert Boesl / DPA; Hedi Slimane - courtesy of LVMH; Carolina Herrera AW18/ Catwalkpictures; GDPR - Pixabay; Royal wedding - Andrew Matthews / POOL / AFP; Kate Spade website; Burberry Facebook; Wrangler by Peter Max; Courtesy of Michael Kors; Amazon newsroom; Diet Prada Instagram screenshot; Adidas.com

Source: https://fashionunited.com/news/fashion/2018-fashion-recap-most-important-news-of-the-year/2018121925217

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dustchest09-blog · 6 years ago

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People who stood out in fashion in 2018

Moving on with our series of recaps, it’s time to remember the people in fashion for whom 2018 will forever be marked as a special year in their careers.

Virgil Abloh

Could 2018 have been any better for Virgil Abloh? His label, Off-White, was one of the most sought-after brands in 2018, which led him to collaborate with a number of high-profile companies -- fashion related or not. He’s teamed up withRimowa, Ssense, Nike, TheDoubleF, Ikea, Moët & Chandon and Evian in the last 12 months. Not to mention, of course, his appointment to the role of Menswear Creative Director at Louis Vuitton, with a rainbow-themed debut runway show which brought his former mentor, Kanye West, to tears. Something tells us we can expect to hear even more about Abloh in 2019.

Richard Saghian

You might not know his name, but you’ve certainly heard about the company he founded: Fashion Nova. Offering “sexy” clothing for a diversity range of body types, the label is a social media phenomenon, thanks to the speed with which it releases new styles (there are 600 to 900 new items on its website each week) and partnerships with influencers such as Cardi B and Kylie Jenner. With over 15 million Instagram followers, Fashion Nova has been named the platform’s top performing brand in a recent study, as it has more Instagram exposure than Zara and H&M combined. At the end of the year, Fashion Nova also topped Google’s list of most-searched fashion brands in the United States. We bet such success is soon to be expanded overseas.

Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney has hit quite a few milestones this year. After buying her label back from Kering in March, she saw interest in her label skyrocket because of the dress she designed for Meghan Markle’s wedding reception. The design received so much praise McCartney decided not only to launch the dress commercially, but also debut an entire bridal line. 2018 has also seen McCartney open a new global flagship store at one of London’s most prestigious retail locations, Old Bond Street. A longtime advocate for sustainable fashion, the designer has also been a key figure in the launch of a UN Charter for apparel companies to fight climate change.

Alessandro Michele

Gucci is Kering’s new darling since the appointment of Alessandro Michele to the role of Creative Director in 2015. While investors bet the brand can’t maintain such hype, for now his intricate sense of vintage style remains popular, especially among Millennial consumers. As a result, Michele is taking his creativity to new arenas: he’s designed stage outfits for both Elton John and Florence + the Machine, opened a Gucci bookstore in New York and launched a new Instagram account dedicated to his particular vision of beauty, all that in 2018. What’s more, a Gucci jewelry line is in the works for 2019. The fashion house is also expanding to the educational arena, with a programme to perpetuate the skills associated with the label’s artisanal craft and production.

Rihanna

Topping the music charts is no brainer for Rihanna, and this year the popstar has proved she’s a talented entrepreneur as well. Following the success of her makeup line, which prides itself on offering a wide range of colors, Rihanna launched a lingerie brand called Savage x Fenty this year. It was an instant success, with customers waiting hours on a “virtual queue” just to be able to access the website on its launch day. The label closed SS19 New York Fashion Week bringing models of different colors and sizes to the runway. Oh, and who could forget the Pope-inspired Maison Margiela gown she rocked at this year’s Met Gala? Probably to be forever remembered as one of the event’s most iconic outfits.

Pictures: Courtesy of LVMH, Stella McCartney Facebook, Courtesy of the British Fashion Council, Fenty Beauty Facebook

Source: https://fashionunited.com/news/fashion/people-who-stood-out-in-fashion-in-2018/2018122625288

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iwastoldthisisgoodforme · 6 years ago

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1.1.19

Woke up pretty late since I was really tired from the previous day and from standing quite a while talking to Juno and Mio. Mio texted me pretty quickly after I woke up though and said we’d meet at Circular Quay to catch a ferry to Watsons Bay at 230. Decided to take it easy until 1 when I started getting ready.

I wanted to grab some Hungry Jack’s before I met up with them but the bus I caught was running behind and there were quite a lot of people out at Circular Quay. I was actually quite surprised how many people were out and about on New Year’s Day since it is basically a ghost town in the US (Mio would later say the same thing and how uni students liked to do marathons in Japan). I got there earlier so I texted Mio that I was waiting at the Watson’s Bay wharf. Her and Juno showed up soon after. Apparently they didn’t get home until 3am since they had to wait quite a while just get a train and the trains didn’t start running until 130. I showed them my tan that I had noticed when showering. Juno asked if I like coffee and we talked about the coffee here in Sydney and in Melbourne. We also talked about ice cream like Golden Gaytimes and Connoisseur.

When we got on the ferry, we talked a lot about languages such as how Mio had already started to forget some keigo and couldn't remember some of it during her internship. We also talked about the Japanese language and how it related to Chinese and Korean. I told them how they could actually be quite similar with the words. I also told them how languages had an effect on how people think and told Mio to watch Arrival. We were talking about linguists and I told them how my friend majored in linguistics and could speak five languages.

When we got to Watsons Bay, the area was pretty packed with people on the beach and a nearby restaurant. Mio said her roommates had recommended her some areas to visit so she navigated us. We walked towards some beach area which led to a hiking path. We saw some people taking wedding photos and I told Mio how I had seen people taking wedding pictures twice already in the alley behind Lentils. She found that funny and said she always misses out on the funny stuff like the puppy I showed her. I told her how a customer got scared from it and how the puppy was just randomly sitting in the hallway. She asked if it was someone’s dog and I said yeah but at first I thought it was some random dog just sitting there. Mio also asked about weddings in the US, if we had to give money in addition to a gift but I told her we usually give gifts or money otherwise. She said in Japan it’s expected to give money along with a gift so it becomes quite expensive and has a bit of controversy. We also passed by a nude beach and talked about the different bathing cultures like Japan's onsens.

We eventually made our way to the nude beach that Yingying had mentioned but didn’t see too many nude people. We also saw the popular lighthouse that overlooked the sea. There was two guys in the little building next to the lighthouse that had a dog that Mio and I took a picture of. There were some fortifications that used to house cannons that Mio went into to see if there was anything there but there wasn’t.

We went back to the wharf area to see the Gap Lookout. On the way there, we talked about the US military bases and Okinawa. Mio said she has only been to Okinawa once since her family doesn’t really go out to beaches and more to the mountains. She said she made up for it though by living here in Australia. I told her how getting a job on the US military base is the best way for an electrical engineer to get a job in Japan. She also said she wanted to see some other famous beaches in Sydney like Cronulla beach. When we got to the lookout, Juno commented how this was very similar to Great Ocean Road minus the Twelve Apostles. It actually reminded me of England and leaving Dover to go to France. We then went to the National Park area and stood at a lookout and talked for a while. I told the girls how there were two guys that were building the decks on the Whitsunday Islands and one guy stayed there for almost three months. We talked about how I used to travel quite a bit for work and also about airplane travel. Mio said she didn’t like the food on Qantas and neither did I and Mio said even the flight attendants said not to drink the coffee. I said I read something how the water on an airplane was pretty dirty. Mio said the best flight she went on was on Air France and I told her how Singapore Airlines had great service such as giving metal utensils and serving Haagen Daaz ice cream. Juno said she liked Cathay Pacific. I asked Juno if she had to transfer when flying back home but she said no, she could get a direct flight. We talked about dual citizenship since I brought up how Alec had three passports. Apparently Japanese citizens aren’t supposed to have dual citizenship but people will get multiple passports since it is something that can easily slip between the cracks but if you get caught it can be trouble as there was some scandal with a politician or something. I confirmed with Juno that Chinese had to give up their citizenship and she said it was weird to think that to go back home she would need to apply for a visa. I told her how Jenny had to apply for a visa to go back home after receiving US citizenship a few years ago. Mio asked how I have a lot of international friends which caught me by surprise since I didn’t feel that was the case. She asked if it was cause I worked for an international company but I said it was more from my Europe trip and staying in hostels. I also mentioned how I always became friends with British people and made sure to become friends with Michael on the Contiki tour and also mentioned how Remy was natural at talking to random people. Mio said that whenever she’s stayed at a hostel, everyone seemed pretty closed off and I said that people sometimes tend to not be very outgoing if they can’t speak English very well. Juno interrupted our convo and asked if we wanted to go somewhere else. Mio asked if she wanted to go to Diamond Bay but she didn’t really want to go anywhere herself so Juno said she would just go into the city and explore on her own. Mio said okay and we started heading towards the ferry to go back home. As we crossed into the park though, we lost Juno and she had decided to just go to Diamond Bay by herself.

Mio told me that she had actually been getting irritated with Juno since she kept changing plans like that and would keep going off on her own and doing her own thing. She said she tried to hold back her feelings but they probably showed and Juno could probably tell she was annoyed with her. I told her how I’m usually someone that just goes with the flow but I get annoyed when people change plans especially when they get me involved since it defeats the purpose of us planning and told her about the time I got annoyed with Remy in Japan. She said she didn’t know how she was going to survive the Bondi to Coogee walk tomorrow with her since it was a pretty long walk and she had just gone fairly recently. She told me she went with a “friend” which was her dad’s host when he lived in Melbourne and Mio had gone with her when she visited Sydney. She told me how that was a little weird too since this lady had just broken up with her boyfriend and although he did a lot of bad things to her she still loved him. Although the beautiful view kept her distracted most of the time, at times she would remember him. I commented that yeah that is a bit hard to deal with someone like that. It was just us two at the wharf waiting for the ferry so we got to know each other more. We talked about sports and how I used to swim and play basketball. Mio used to do ballet but she hated it and said she wasn’t a very athletic person. She said because she’s not really into sports and doesn’t have typical hobbies, she found it hard to bond with people. She said she used to be very bad at English and was very concerned at first with her English but thought about how people probably have to slow down to accommodate her so she should always remember to improve. I told her she had very good English and that I didn’t really have to slow down when I talk to her cause usually I had to speak really slowly and simply when talking to other girls like Mai or Chihiro.

When we got on the ferry, I asked her what her hobbies were since she said she didn’t have typical hobbies and she said she was really into musicals and in high school she was part of a female only theatre group. She said she would go to karaoke places by herself and spend hours just singing there. She told me in Japan how it was pretty common to do that and some places would even offers solo plans. She also told me how Daiso was one of her favorite shops and she was surprised to see they have so many here, along with Muji. I commented on how it’s expensive here, even compared to the ones in the US and she agreed. We talked about Christmas and KFC and how there were many couples on Christmastime and I told her about the Japanese guy in my hostel who complained about just seeing couples and she told me about “riaju” which was short for “riaru juujitsu” which meant real-life fulfillment so people who were dating someone had riaju. She said sometimes some people would protest riaju out on the street and although they didn’t have many political protests, they would have people protesting things like this.

Around this time, the ferry had landed so we made our way back to the train station. We both acknowledged how we were surprised to see so many people out and about on New Years and that’s when she told me about the marathon runners. She was going to take the train home and go to Ikea to replace the dishware she lost and I was going to Maccas for food. She thanked me for my patience and for coming along as she was really concerned since she knew I was tired. I told her not to worry about it, I was happy she invited me since I wanted to go to Watsons Bay but didn’t know anyone who wanted to tag along. I asked when she was going to Lentils again and she said some time after Juno had left and she remarked how she didn’t know how she would survive the Bondi to Coogee walk. We said goodbye and I headed to Maccas.

Later that night, Mio texted me saying thank you for the company and she got the plates sorted out and that she would see me in a few days. I thanked her for inviting me and said I would love to do karaoke with her before she leaves. She texted me late at night saying probably after a Lentils shift would be best but she would get back to me.

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adambstingus · 7 years ago

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Just do it: the experience economy and how we turned our backs on ‘stuff’

New figures show we are continuing to spend less money on buying things, and more on doing things and telling the world about it online afterwards, of course. From theatres to pubs to shops, businesses are scrambling to adapt to this shift

It was an audacious plan for an unloved bit of Manchester. A 25m arts centre to be built on a derelict plot that had not felt a cultural pulse since the closure, 15 years earlier, of the legendary Haienda nightclub. It would be called Home, formed by the merger of two proud but financially imperilled institutions the Cornerhouse cinema and gallery, and the Library Theatre Company and would, its backers hoped, revive a forgotten corner on the citys southern edge.

There was confidence from the city leadership that it would work, but a lot of my peers and colleagues in the arts were saying to me, Whos going to go there? says Sheena Wrigley, executive director of Home, which includes two theatres, five cinema screens, an art gallery and a restaurant and bar. It was a very unprepossessing area with a big car park and one large office block. It wasnt visible or on a main thoroughfare.

Programming would swim far from the mainstream, too. The centre opened in May 2015 with a challenging play about two thwarted lovers trying to survive a recession in a city like Manchester. This week the cinema is showing Lady Macbeth, a subversive Shakespearean noir, and The Handmaiden, an erotic Korean period thriller. The free gallery includes an exhibition of vibrant art from post-Franco Spain and an exploration of the role of vogueing in gay black culture.

Wrigley admits to having been nervous when she and her team set an ambitious target of 550,000 visits for the first year. But we smashed that in six months and did just shy of a million, she says. And they kept coming: as Home approaches its second birthday, it is about to welcome its two-millionth visitor. Its fascinating to me that you can open a venue of this kind and size and it can find its audience straight away in a difficult period, Wrigley adds. Of course, I would like to say its all about good artistic choices, but something else is going on.

Wrigley is right. A series of studies is revealing strange things about our spending habits. They call it the experience economy, which gives it the sense of a grand theory. And there is science behind it, but its also very simple: regardless of political uncertainty, austerity and inflation, we are spending more on doing stuff, choosing instead to cut back on buying stuff.

The restaurant at Home, a major new arts centre in Manchester. Photograph: Alamy

The latest figures come from Barclaycard, which processes about half of all Britains credit and debit card transactions. Figures for April show a 20% increase in spending in pubs compared with the same month last year. Spending in restaurants went up 16%, while theatres and cinemas enjoyed a 13% rise. Meanwhile, department stores suffered a 1% drop, vehicle sales were down 11% and spending on household appliances fell by 2.5%.

Barclaycard says the trend began to emerge about a year ago. And retailers are feeling it. In March, Simon Wolfson, chief executive of Next, blamed the clothing chains first fall in profits for eight years on the move from buying things to doing things. More startlingly, Ikea, the worlds biggest furniture retailer, told a Guardian conference last year that consumption of many goods had reached a limit. If we look on a global basis, in the west we have probably hit peak stuff, said Steve Howard, the companys head of sustainability.

It would be easy to assume that contemporary influences are at work here. The world is a bit of a depressing place right now, so lets have a nice evening out rather than buy a sixth pair of shoes. But theories abound of a much broader shift. And Ikea is arguably late in calling peak stuff. In 2011, Chris Goodall, a British environment writer, used government data called the UKs Material Flows Account to track consumption of stuff, and identified 2001 as a tipping point, long before the 2008 recession and everything that followed. He believed we had decoupled economic growth and material consumption.

And as we consume less, we are doing more. If you think about the 20th century, the big dominant value system was materialism, the belief that if we had more stuff wed be happier, says James Wallman, a trend forecaster and the author of Stuffocation: Living More with Less, in which he charts the move from possessions to experience. The big change to what I call experientialism is more about finding happiness and status in experiences instead.

The happiness bit perhaps stands to reason, but studies suggest the anticipation of an experience has a crucial, additional value. In a 2014 paper called Waiting for Merlot, psychologists Amit Kumar, Thomas Gilovich and Matthew Killingsworth showed how people report being mostly frustrated before the planned purchase of a thing, but mostly happy before they bought an experience. That feeling lingers longer, too, tied up as it is with memory. We call it hedonic adaptation, says Colin Strong, the head of behavioural science at Ipsos, the market research group. And the hedonic payoff of experiences is much greater.

We are also less likely to compare experiential purchases than we are products, in a way that means we are all happy with what we buy, regardless of what we can afford. So if you have a Nissan and your neighbour has a Porsche, theres no doubt who has the better car, and if you ask the Nissan driver to swap, they will, Wallman says. But if you ask people who went on holiday to the Seychelles or south Wales, its clear who had the fancier holiday, but surveys show the person who went to Wales wont swap because they had an equally good time.

If the experience economy has a levelling effect, research also suggests that part of the reason for its rise is its greater potential as a status booster.This supports the idea, questioned by some (and not backed up by Barclaycard, which does not account for age), that younger people namely millennials are driving the consumer shift. It used to be that our car, or handbag or wallet showed our status. Now we post Facebook pictures from a chairlift in Chamonix or the latest music festival, Wallman says. Social media is supporting this change. Posting pictures of what you just bought is gauche; posting pictures of something youre doing is fine. Strong also thinks the slightly impoverished nature of millennials is compelling them to get out more.

It used to be that our car or handbag showed our status. Now we post Facebook pictures from a chairlift in Chamonix or the latest music festival. Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty

At Home, however, Wrigley says that while students and young professionals are pouring through the doors, the venues appeal is crossing generations. A lot of arts organisations peak at around age 45, but ours is very flat, she says. We have a lot of older explorers people who worked in professional services or local government, say, and are looking for a quality experience. And baby boomers who have been able to stop work in their 60s and have pensions to spend.

Restaurants are capitalising fast, opening at a record pace in cities all over the country. In London, restaurant guide Hardens counted 200 new openings in its 2017 edition. Cities including Manchester and Glasgow have seen similar or even greater booms. Russell Norman, founder of the Venetian-inspired Polpo restaurants, is about to open his 12th outpost in Bristol, having taken the chain to Brighton, Exeter and Leeds since it landed in London in 2008. The restaurants are as busy as ever, but Norman has been surprised by booming recent demand for gift vouchers and private party requests. When we opened in Exeter we expected it to be an all-day offering, but were really finding that people are coming for special occasions, as an event, or an experience, he says.

Businesses already dealing in experiences are enhancing them to benefit from the shifting economy. Theatres would once never have considered putting a restaurant downstairs, but now youd be mad not to. The restaurant at Home in Manchester is taking 2m a year, Wrigley says, almost double what was expected. At the Chichester Festival Theatre, where ticket sales are up 12% on last year, the restaurant is booming, too. We dont have to be just excellent theatre-makers, but excellent business people, says Rachel Tackley, the executive director at the venue in West Sussex. Its about creating theatres as destinations where you can spend more than two and a half hours watching the show.

Marstons, one of the countrys largest pub groups, with more than 1,500 pubs, is racing to meet demand for more than pints of beer. Traditionally people use pubs, but go to restaurants, says the Wolverhampton-based firms managing director, Pete Dalzell. The group has shed hundreds of wet-led traditional pubs in recent years, and opened more than 150 pub-restaurants since 2009. Last year revenues were up 7% to 905.8m, and the average pub profit has doubled since 2012. Were opening up a new range of offers for consumers who are choosing to spend disposable income doing something with friends rather than buying something, Dalzell adds.

If the writing is on the wall for the purveyors of things, their response is to make the walls more appealing. Were seeing a fundamental shift in pretty much all categories to retain being much more experiential, Strong says. Increasingly, this means using technology to create the feeling of a meaningful relationship between brand and buyer, online and offline. High-street clothing stores are deploying shop assistants with tablet computers on which they can call up your previous purchases and tastes based on online browsing. And with smart marketing, even the dullest essentials are being sold as part of a brand experience. In the US, one Los Angeles TV producer, frustrated by the high price of razor blades, launched an online subscription service in 2012. Dollar Shave Club began posting blades for as little as $3 a month and, with the help of a viral ad campaign, earned 12,000 orders in the first two days. Deliveries come with an irreverent magazine. Customers felt part of something, free from the cut-throat corporate economics of brands such as Gillette, which is owned by Procter & Gamble. It soon had more than three million subscribers, and in 2016 Unilever, P&Gs big rival, bought the Dollar Shave Club and its members for $1bn. People have got that we can move from a transactional relationship mediated by big-scale advertising to much more of a one-to-one relationship with the customer, Strong adds.

That relationship is strong in Manchester, where Wrigley says she has been surprised by the scale of Homes success. The venue is already being overshadowed by rising office and apartment towers, and a new hotel. It has become the beating heart of a neighbourhood that was a wasteland only four years ago. Thats the magic of experientialism, Wallman says. Its not anti-consumerist or anti-capitalist. Money is still going into the economy and creating jobs were just spending it on experiences. Wallman, 43, has been following the trend for more than 10 years, and has seen it transform his own life. At his wifes prompting, he has just acquired a second pair of trousers, but is holding out with his one pair of shoes and five holey T-shirts. Id rather do things, he says. I took the kids to the Natural History Museum on Sunday. We went camping recently, I go climbing, play football. And it makes us happier.

from All Of Beer http://allofbeer.com/2017/08/21/just-do-it-the-experience-economy-and-how-we-turned-our-backs-on-stuff/ from All of Beer https://allofbeercom.tumblr.com/post/164439815042

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my-house-of-fashion · 5 years ago

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Watch all eight episodes of Netflix's Abstract: The Art of Design series

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Netflix has made all eight episodes of its documentary series Abstract: The Art of Design, which features set designer Es Devlin, architect Bjarke Ingels and interior designer Ilse Crawford, available to watch for free during coronavirus lockdown.

Streaming company Netflix has made season one of its design series available on Youtube as part of an initiative to make its documentaries free to watch during the coronavirus lockdown.

“For many years, Netflix has allowed teachers to screen documentaries in their classrooms,” said Netflix. “However, this isn’t possible with schools closed. So at their request, we have made a selection of our documentary features and series available on our Youtube channel.”

“We hope this will, in a small way, help teachers around the world,” the streaming company continued.

The series follows eight leading designers operating in different industries. There are episodes dedicated to Ingels, Devlin and Crawford, as well as graphic designer Paula Scher, automobile designer Ralph Gilles, Nike shoe designer Tinker Hatfield, illustrator Christoph Niemann and photographer Platon.

Season one was released in 2017, with season two following in 2019 – this series is not yet available on Youtube.

Watch all eight episodes below:

Christoph Niemann: Illustration

The first 45-minute long episode of Abstract: The Art of Design focuses on the career of German illustrator Christoph Niemann.

“From New Yorker covers to Instagram sketches, illustrator Christoph Niemann plays with abstraction and interactivity and questions authenticity,” said Netflix.

Tinker Hatfield: Footwear Design

This episode focuses on Nike shoe designer Tinker Hatfield, who is the designer behind iconic trainers including the Air Jordan and Air Max.

“Tinker Hatfield’s background in architecture and athletics sparked his game-changing shoe designs for Nike, including the iconic Air Jordan series,” said Netflix.

Es Devlin: Stage Design

The season’s third episode focuses on British set designer Devlin, who has designed stages for artists including Beyoncé, Kanye West and U2.

“Over the last two decades of working, one of the things I’ve discovered is that often, things are made to fill voids,” said Devlin to open the episode. “The impetus to fill that void with art, to me is fundamental.”

Bjarke Ingels: Architecture

In his episode, filmed before the opening of his Serpentine Pavilion in London, Danish architect Ingels explains how he is changing people’s perception of architecture.

“Architect Bjarke Ingels unites function, fantasy and sustainability in ‘pragmatic utopian’ designs like a clean power plant topped with a ski slope,” said Netflix.

Ralph Gilles: Automotive Design

The fourth episode profiles car designer Gilles, who is the global head of design at automotive manufacturer Fiat Chrysler.

“His award-winning designs have steered the brand into the future with a sleek new sports cars and a self-driving electric van,” said Netflix.

Paula Scher: Graphic Design

This episode focuses on how graphic designer Scher, the first female principal at Pentagram, shaped the face of New York.

“Paula Scher paints with words as an American graphic designer, artist, and educator,” said Netflix. “For more than three decades she has been at the forefront of graphic design and developed identities for esteemed institutions such as The Public Theater in NY, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Target, Bloomberg, and Microsoft.”

Platon: Photography

British portrait and documentary photographer Planton is the focus of this season’s penultimate episode.

“Platon’s fearless portraits capture the soul of world leaders and ordinary people,” said Netflix. “A shoot with General Colin Powell provides a window into his process.”

Ilse Crawford: Interior Design

The season concludes with an episode focused on British designer Crawford.

“Interior designer Ilse Crawford creates spaces and objects that engage the sense and promote well- being, from high-end hotels to IKEA furniture,” said Netflix. “As founder of Studioilse, she brings her philosophy to life, along with her multidisciplinary team, by designing furniture and products that support and enhance human behaviour and actions in everyday life.”

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Your Thursday Briefing – The New York Times

Brexit’s happening. Now for the hard part.

European legislators on Wednesday approved the terms of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union. It will formally take place on Friday at midnight, Brussels time, bringing three and a half years of confusion and political fighting to an end.

But a potentially volatile new chapter — in which London and Brussels try to hash out a trade deal during a transition period that lasts only until the end of 2020 — is just beginning.

And while Brexit has produced some unity among the remaining 27 E.U. nations, our chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe writes, it also weakens the bloc’s diplomatic clout and highlights its internal divisions (between France and Germany, for example).

Looking ahead: Momentum is gathering for another independence vote in Scotland. An electorate that opposed leaving the E.U. worries that prolonged trade talks could hurt Scottish industries intertwined with the global supply chain.

W.H.O. to assess coronavirus outbreak (again)

A World Health Organization committee plans to meet in Geneva today — for the second time in a week — to decide whether the Wuhan coronavirus epidemic is a global health emergency. Here’s the latest.

The death toll in China rose overnight to 170, up from 132, the government said this morning. Infections worldwide jumped to 7,711 from about 6,000 on Wednesday, according to the W.H.O. and Chinese officials.

Context: No one outside mainland China has died from the disease. The number of infections there already exceeds those from SARS, a respiratory infection that spread across the country 17 years ago and killed 774 people worldwide, but experts caution that comparing the two diseases is difficult.

Yesterday: In an effort to stop further transmission of the virus, British Airways and Air Canada suspended all flights to the Chinese mainland (but not to Hong Kong).

Closer look: The outbreak is a stark reminder of how dependent the world’s economy is on China, our business correspondent in Hong Kong writes. Global brands like Starbucks, Ikea, Ford and Toyota are shutting down stores and factories, while Apple is rerouting supply chains.

What’s next: If efforts to contain an outbreak fail, public health authorities will focus on minimizing the harm done to people and communities. They’re particularly concerned about the disease spreading in Africa.

Trump’s peace plan puts Palestinians in a bind

The Palestinian leadership largely rejected the Israel-friendly Mideast peace plan that President Trump announced on Tuesday, but their options for responding are limited.

They could choose to push back against it — perhaps by unleashing violence or walking away from the security cooperation that has long helped protect Israelis from terrorism. But that’s unlikely if Mahmoud Abbas, the octogenarian president of the Palestinian Authority, decides to prioritize staying in power.

A safer option for Mr. Abbas, our correspondents say, would be trying to weather the storm and hoping that Mr. Trump or Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is defeated in upcoming elections.

Details: Mr. Trump’s plan departs from decades of American support for only modestly adjusting the Israeli borders drawn in 1967. It would deprive the Palestinians of nearly everything they wanted, including East Jerusalem as their national capital and the removal of Jewish settlements on the West Bank. It includes no concrete plans for a fully autonomous Palestinian state.

What’s next: The Palestinians have a four-year window to decide whether to engage in renewed talks with Israel, during which Mr. Netanyahu’s government has agreed to limit settlement building in parts of the West Bank that the plan has designated for Palestinians.

If you have some time, this is worth it

Loyal to China, but locked up anyway

From the Chinese government’s perspective, Zulhumar Isaac, above, a Uighur woman from the far-western Xinjiang region, grew up in a model ethnic-minority family: Her mother was a Communist Party cadre, and her father worked at a newspaper that toed the party line.

But when President Xi Jinping’s government began cracking down on Uighurs, even her parents were detained. Our writer spent nearly a year documenting her effort to get them back.

Here’s what else is happening

Huawei: The European Union on Wednesday recommended that its members limit, but not ban, Huawei in their 5G rollouts, a day after Britain said it would let the Chinese company develop nonsensitive parts of its next-generation networks. Germany is expected to make a decision on Huawei in the coming months.

Snapshot: Above, the Thwaites glacier in Antarctica, where scientists have recorded unusually warm water beneath the ice. The glacier plays a key role in holding back ice that, if melted, would raise the world’s oceans by nearly four feet over centuries, putting many coastal cities underwater.

In memoriam: Lina Ben Mhenni, an activist who blogged about the 2010-11 popular uprising in Tunisia that preceded the Arab Spring revolts, died in Tunis on Monday. She was 36 and had suffered from an autoimmune disease.

What we’re reading: This account of an attempt to do the Silicon Valley dopamine fast in The Cut. Melina Delkic, on the Briefings team, calls it “hilarious and weird,” adding, “I’m not sure what I just read, but I liked it.”

Now, a break from the news

Do any scenes spring to mind?

Some protesters held a placard that read: “Dear Hindus, We rejected an Islamic state in 1947. Now it’s your turn to reject a Hindu state. Sincerely, Secular India.” That really spoke to me because 1947 was the partition, when Hindus in Pakistan decided to stay or flee to India, and Muslims in India had a similar choice.

India chose secularism in 1947. It was majority Hindu and said its strength was its diversity, and that it would embrace Christians and Muslims and Sikhs just as much as its Hindu citizens.

Why is one protest in particular — a highway sit-in by Muslim women in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh neighborhood — seen as so significant?

Over all, India’s Muslim community has not been well organized in recent decades, but these protests have mobilized it. Shaheen Bagh has become a symbol of that. And women’s place in Indian Muslim homes has tended to be a conservative stereotype: They don’t come onto the streets, they don’t protest, they don’t mobilize. So Shaheen Bagh has really changed the game.

That’s it for this briefing. See you next time.

— Sofia and Mike

Thank you To Mark Josephson and Eleanor Stanford for the break from the news. You can reach the team at [email protected].

P.S. • We’re listening to “The Daily.” Our latest episode includes an interview with Senator Chuck Schumer, the minority leader. • Here’s today’s Mini Crossword puzzle, and a clue: Highly capable (five letters). You can find all our puzzles here. • The Times has named Ben Smith, the editor in chief of BuzzFeed, as its next media columnist.

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