LSN : News : Foresight Friday: Fiona Harkin, director of foresight

Loewe opens Shanghai flagship store with shimmering golden facade

Casa Loewe Shanghai, China

China – Luxury fashion house Loewe has opened Casa Loewe Shanghai, its largest flagship store in Asia. Situated in the city’s bustling Jing’an district, the 695-square- metre space is a masterly blend of fashion, art and craftsmanship.

The store’s shimmering gold ceramic facade, crafted from tiles handcrafted and enamelled in Spain, sets the tone for an interior rich in textures from marble and brass to oak and terrazzo.

Casa Loewe showcases a curated art collection, featuring works by British ceramicists John Ward and Mo Jupp, as well as pieces by Loewe Foundation Craft Prize finalist Dong Han and Japanese bamboo weaver Hafu Matsumoto. A meticulous selection of furniture, such as Gerrit Thomas Rietveld’s Utrecht armchairs and Conoid Cushion walnut chairs, adds to the store's gallery-like atmosphere.

The interior and exterior focus on design and contemporary art cements Loewe’s commitment to cultural storytelling in luxury retail. Our Brand Innovation Debrief: Loewe report explores the fashion house’s consistent celebration of craft and cracking of the attention economy.

Strategic opportunity

Transform retail spaces into cultural destinations filled with art, craftsmanship and fashion, appealing to luxury consumers seeking exclusivity, storytelling and awe that goes beyond traditional shopping experiences

Foresight Friday: Fiona Harkin, director of foresight

Every Friday, the Future Laboratory team offers an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and viral moments we’re all talking about. Here, director of foresight Fiona Harkin checks in on the US.

: America – you okay, hun? Not to over-simplify the effects of the ongoing actions of the US’s new leader and his party, but as we prepare to launch our latest macrotrend report, New Codes of Value, the one-day Economic Blackout taking place today (Friday, 28 February 2025) in the US symbolises a few of the fast-evolving consumer mindsets we have pin-pointed in the report: that of Circular Disappointment and a brewing sense of unfairness that life is not delivering what it should; and those Rise-and-Resistors, the resourceful débrouillards, calling for the alternative economy known as system D.

: Driven by grassroots organisation The People’s Union USA, the one-day blackout is a 24-hour economic boycott in response to rising living costs and corporate profiteering: ‘For one day we show them who really holds the power’, reads its website. The movement highlights growing frustration over record corporate profits and corruption amid declining DEI efforts and economic hardship. There is also support for the initiative from those in countries outside the US, with solidarity calls for a boycott of all US brands today.

: What role will brands and businesses play in this new geo-political arena, having been previously defined by purpose-led initiatives and many having had no qualms about taking political stances? Tesla is now known as the maker of swasticars, with European sales falling by half in January and there are calls for an Amazon Blackout (7–14 March). Meanwhile, Walmart is taking a somewhat Swiss political stance. We have yet to see if this becomes the era of the true consumer activist, wielding their dollars like weapons of protest. It may all just depend on the price of eggs…

: LS:N Global Members can access our launch webinar for the New Codes of Value report on 13 March by registering here. Not a member? Email us at [email protected]

AI imagery by The Future Laboratory, UK

Quote of the Week

‘The ultimate, hidden truth of the world, is that it is something that we make, and could just as easily make differently’

David Graeber, anthropologist

Stat: Gen Z don't want to work in the office full time

Photography by Fauxels

UK – A new survey from The Times highlights a significant shift in workplace preferences among Generation Z. According to the research, only 10% of young people in the UK want to work in the office full time, marking a departure from the traditional five-day office work week.

Covid-19 is cited as a major factor in these changing attitudes. Many young people feel more isolated due to the digital nature of their lives, with some still grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic. The report also reveals that more than half (52%) of Gen Z admit they feel lazier than their parents – and only 5% think they work harder.

The survey also revealed that 21% of Gen Z workers spend most of their time working from home, while 17% would prefer to work remotely all the time. Experts quoted in the report suggest these preferences could have implications for their future career prospects, as they are spending less time in the office compared to older generations. 

As highlighted in our Work States Futures macrotrend, employers must recognise and address Gen Z’s diverse needs, including their preference for hybrid working and an enticing work environment, in order to retain them.

Strategic opportunity

Adopt flexible work policies that balance office and remote options and invest in digital collaboration tools to ensure employees can stay engaged and connected regardless of location