News 04.03.2020

Need to Know

Virtual streetwear invades Grand Theft Auto, Lidl Germany launches ‘still good’ food boxes, and digital discovery drives luxury retail.

Party Chat hacks Grand Theft Auto to unveil garments

Party Chat Work Force collection

Scotland – The clothing label revealed its latest unisex collection by hacking into Grand Theft Auto (GTA).

After accessing the game, the dance music-inspired brand dressed GTA characters in digital versions of Party Chat streetwear. Its team then played the game to create its own promotional films featuring characters wearing the collection. Party Chat describes the range, the Work Force collection, as having ‘no real agenda other than to champion dance music, its wider subcultures and communities’.

As brands continue to embrace the potential of virtual fashion, they are looking to the popularity of gaming as both a way to promote garments and reach new audiences. Jamie Mcintyre, founder of Party Chat, says: ‘We cast our own character, wrote a script, set the lighting, backdrops, styling and incorporated our music.’

With consumers increasingly blurring the lines between their physical and digital identities, they are looking for brands which use Avatargeting to learn about the latest virtual apparel.

Whispers is a digital network for Rolls-Royce owners

Rolls-Royce Whispers Rolls-Royce Whispers

UK – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ exclusive members’ club will offer rare products and experiences geared towards high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs).

The club, Whispers, is for new Rolls-Royce owners. Launching in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the US, it is a digital platform that provides the motor brand’s wealthy clients with secure, private connections to other like-minded people and business leaders – including the company’s board members.

Users will also be able to extend the holistic luxury lifestyle of Rolls-Royce ownership, with Whispers providing access to activities such as designing their own racetrack, commissioning personal portraits or a private performance from The New York Philarmonic.

According to Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce: ‘Whispers offers transformative experiences, rare and desirable products, whimsical treasures and exclusive Rolls-Royce previews that are curated by Rolls-Royce and delivered directly to the fingertips of our global community.’

Through the platform, Rolls-Royce is digitising the concept of Supercar Clubs – private spaces where those investing in rare vehicles are able to socialise, immserse themselves in the arts, and enjoy unique luxury experiences.

Lidl counters food waste with ‘still good’ boxes

Germany – Lidl Germany is rolling out a food waste strategy to draw attention to products that are still good enough to eat.

As part of the supermarket's commitment to reduce food losses and organic waste by 30% by 2025, it will curate daily I’m Still Good boxes in 3,200 stores across Germany. Each box will be filled with dairy products, baked goods and frozen products close to their expiry date, and sold at a 50% discount.

With many consumers unaware that food is often still suitable for consumption even after listed expiry dates, Lidl is focusing on raising awareness and maximising food freshness in Germany, following a similar initiative in the UK.

‘With I'm Still Good we can save food together with our customers in a targeted and easy way,’ says Tomasz Kuzma, head of sales at Lidl Germany. As part of its holistic approach to sustainability the remaining small amount of food will be transported in biogas plants for the production of bio-methane, which provides valuable green energy, for example, as a biofuel for cars.

For more on sustainable food strategies, look out for our forthcoming Food Waste Market.

Lidl

Stat: Online drives growth in luxury retail

Some 75% of luxury transactions were influenced by online channels such as social media or a brand’s website in 2019, according to the latest global luxury study published by Bain & Co for Fondazione Altagamma.

According to the report, 20–25% of luxury transactions were digitally enabled last year, with Asia still a growth engine for online luxury – ahead of Europe and the Americas.

In terms of the type of luxury goods selling online, the top category remains accessories, ahead of clothing, while beauty, jewellery and watches are also on the rise. Overall, the luxury retail sector grew by 11% in 2019 at current exchange rates, with 85% of that growth coming from same-store sales.

As we explore in our luxury vertical, the luxury market is continually innovating to meet the changing expectations and habits of affluent consumers. For more, The State of Luxury: South Korea and our soon-to-be-published The State of Luxury: Vietnam report reveal the behaviours and tastes of local consumers.

Previous News Articles
Architects embrace wearable tech to connect with Mother Nature

News

Architects embrace wearable tech to connect with Mother Nature

Danish design studio Inxects has unveiled the Gaia Communication System (GCS), a ground-breaking wearable designed to bridge the gap between humani...
Sustainability : Design : Technology
Estée Lauder innovates home fragrance with smart technology partnership

News

Estée Lauder innovates home fragrance with smart technology partnership

Estée Lauder Companies, the beauty giant behind brands like Le Labo and Jo Malone London, is transforming the home fragrance market with an innovat...
Beauty : Technology : Design
Stat: Wealthy consumers most likely to purchase dupe beauty products

News

Stat: Wealthy consumers most likely to purchase dupe beauty products

According to Morning Consult’s The State of Beauty and Personal Care report, beauty and personal care consumers in the US are pulling back on volum...
Luxury : Retail : Finance
Loewe to open Crafted World exhibition in Tokyo

News

Loewe to open Crafted World exhibition in Tokyo

Loewe has announced the debut of its first major brand exhibition, Crafted World, which will open in Tokyo in spring 2025.
Luxury : Fashion : Design
Oxfam's London pub charges based on your net worth

News

Oxfam's London pub charges based on your net worth

Oxfam is opening a pop-up pub, The Fair Pour, in London’s Holborn on 21 January 2025, where the price of a drink reflects your net worth.
Food & Drink : Finance : Sober Culture
Stat: Consumers turn to boomerang behaviour on streaming services

News

Stat: Consumers turn to boomerang behaviour on streaming services

The future of the media industry lies in balancing technological advances with human creativity and expertise.
Finance : Pop-culture & Media : Society
Riyadh unveils Zaha Hadid Architects-designed metro station

News

Riyadh unveils Zaha Hadid Architects-designed metro station

Riyadh has inaugurated a landmark Zaha Hadid Architects-designed metro station, a key component of the city’s ambitious autonomous rail network and...
Design : Travel & Hospitality : Architecture
Nvidia revolutionises gaming with AI-powered teammates and NPCs

News

Nvidia revolutionises gaming with AI-powered teammates and NPCs

At CES 2025, Nvidia unveiled its cutting-edge Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE), introducing a new era of artificial intelligence in gaming with ‘co-playab...
Technology : Gaming : Pop-culture & Media
Stat: Norway set to become world’s first all-electric car market

News

Stat: Norway set to become world’s first all-electric car market

Norway is leading the global electric vehicle (EV) revolution, with 88.9% of new cars sold in 2024 being electric, according to the Norwegian Road ...
Mobility : Sustainability : Society
Bahrain to open Middle East’s first artificial surf park with 1,000 waves per hour

News

Bahrain to open Middle East’s first artificial surf park with 1,000 waves per hour

Bahrain is set to make waves with the announcement of the region’s first artificial surf park, the Bahrain Surf Park – Club Hawaii Experience.
Sports & Leisure : Design : Travel & Hospitality
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN