Need to Know   20 : 06 : 18
Habitation Module by Philippe Starck at Axiom Space Station, US

Need to Know
20 : 06 : 18

Axiom offers travellers a luxury experience to space, Hugo Boss’s new shoe collection is made from pineapple leather, Microsoft sinks data centre to save on energy costs.

1. Axiom offers luxury space travel experience 2. Hugo Boss endorses eco-luxury with pineapple textiles 3. Microsoft sinks data centre to save energy costs 4. New app aims to reduce and revive fashion purchases 5. Consumers prefer digital tokens in loyalty schemes 6. Thought-starter: Yes, gaming can be good for mental health

1. Axiom offers luxury space travel experience

Habitation Module by Philippe Starck at Axiom Space Station, US
Habitation Module by Philippe Starck at Axiom Space Station, US
Habitation Module by Philippe Starck at Axiom Space Station, US

Houston – Due to open in 2020, the world’s first commercial space station Axiom Space has announced the launch of a new tourism programme that will offer guests the chance to visit the International Space Station (ISS).

Priced at £42m ($55m, €47m) a ticket, Axiom will fly guests to the ISS for a 10-day expedition. A two-year intensive training programme at Axiom Space Station is required to ensure individuals are prepared for their time in space. French designer Philippe Starck has been enlisted to create the luxurious interior of the habitation module at the station, while Italian outerwear brand Moncler will design the flight suit.

‘The interest in space tourism for private individuals has gained momentum as our capabilities of exploration continue to develop,’ says Michael Suffredini, CEO and president of Axiom Space.

Luxury travel experiences are becoming the new collectors’ items, offering consumers access to unexplored destinations. Axiom is taking this further with an experience that also challenges consumers’ physical and mental abilities as part of their exploration.

2. Hugo Boss endorses eco-luxury with pineapple textiles

Pinatex shoes by Hugo Boss Pinatex shoes by Hugo Boss
Pinatex shoes by Hugo Boss Pinatex shoes by Hugo Boss

Global – Luxury fashion house Hugo Boss has developed its first men’s footwear collection produced from Piñatex, a natural material made of pineapple leaf fibres.

As synthetic leathers become increasingly recognised as more sustainable alternatives to traditional leather, luxury fashion labels are beginning to incorporate and promote the use of such materials in their collections. Billed as ‘vegan shoes’ by Hugo Boss, the brand has used Piñatex in the upper part of a limited-edition collection of men’s trainers in its BOSS Menswear range. The raw material that forms the base of Piñatex is the by-product of pineapple harvesting that has minimal environmental impact and provides additional income farming communities.

For more on leather alternatives formed from natural products, read our Synthetic Leather market focus.

3. Microsoft sinks data centre to save energy costs

Scotland – Technology giant Microsoft has submerged a data centre under water in an effort to make its practices more sustainable.

Located just off the coast of the Orkney Islands in northeast Scotland, the prototype centre can hold data for up to five years without maintenance. The low sea temperatures will ensure it remains cool, saving on energy costs. In an area known for its renewable energy research, tidal turbines and wave energy converters will generate the electricity to power the centre, which is part of the Project Natick research programme, while nearby regions and coastal areas could benefit from faster and smoother internet access.

‘Creating solutions that are sustainable is critical for Microsoft, and Project Natick is a step towards our vision of data centres with their own sustainable power supply. It builds on environmental promises Microsoft has made,’ says Cindy Rose, CEO of Microsoft UK.

Microsoft Data Centre underwater, Orkney Island, Scotland

4. New app aims to reduce and revive fashion purchases

Save Your Wardrobe, UK Save Your Wardrobe, UK

London – Save Your Wardrobe is a new app that encourages consumers to document their wardrobe in an effort to reduce future purchases.

Registered users can upload the contents of their wardrobe through email receipts or from photographs that are then stored in an inventory. All of the information – from style and colour to size and brand – is recorded alongside each individual item. The app’s AI technology will create personalised lookbooks to inspire users to continue wearing items already in their wardrobe, rather than making new purchases.

‘We are building the platform around the belief that we can disrupt fashion consumption by giving our users a tool to manage their wardrobe mindfully and effortlessly. Our challenge is to increase the number of items we wear on a regular basis or find creative ways to give them a second life,’ explains Hasna Kourda, co-founder and CEO of Save Your Wardrobe. ‘We are curating an eco-system of services as a way to upcycle and extend the life of garments.’

For more on how brands can play an active role in the evolving fashion industry, download our Fashion Futures Report here.

5. Consumers prefer digital tokens in loyalty schemes

As the perception and manifestation of money changes with each generation, consumers are becoming increasingly interested in digital currencies. The Point of Loyalty’s annual report found that 36% of loyalty programme members would rather be rewarded in cryptocurrency than with traditional points systems, suggesting consumers would prefer more tangible monetary rewards that allow them to pay for products using digital tokens.

For more on how brands are using cryptocurrencies to tap into the rewards and incentives market, see our microtrend here.

6. Thought-starter: Yes, gaming can be good for mental health

The World Health Organization has officially recognised gaming as an addictive disorder, but it fails to contextualise this against gaming as a positive influence on mental wellbeing.

It has been a turbulent week for the gaming community. On 18 June the news broke that The World Health Organization (WHO) now officially recognises gaming as an addictive disorder in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

The WHO’s diktat means that governments are under pressure to ensure they provide some form of treatment for those debilitatingly addicted to games. This is not, as many global tabloids and news sites have presented the news, confirmation that gaming is a scourge on society. Rather, it is recognition of gaming’s mainstream reach. It is no longer a niche pursuit, but something enjoyed by everyone from pre-schoolers to retirees. And with this, games are playing a crucial role in expanding our understanding and experience of mental health conditions.

One example is Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, produced by Ninja Theory. Created in collaboration with mental health experts, people who have experienced psychosis, and the Wellcome Trust, the game immerses players in the visual and auditory experience of people suffering from mental health issues.

Read the full opinion piece here.

Face ID by Apple
Discover More News
Burberry revives archival outerwear for National Geographic documentary

News

Burberry revives archival outerwear for National Geographic documentary

Burberry’s latest archival display at its London Regent Street store celebrates Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legendary 1914 Antarctic expedition.
Luxury : Pop-culture & Media : Fashion
Gob launches mycelium-based earplugs

News

Gob launches mycelium-based earplugs

Gob is revolutionising the earplug market with a mycelium-based alternative that promises to eliminate the environmental impact of traditional disp...
Sustainability : Health & Wellness : Design
Brenda Lee’s holiday classic enters the AI era with Spanish re-release

News

Brenda Lee’s holiday classic enters the AI era with Spanish re-release

Brenda Lee’s iconic holiday song, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, has been re-imagined as Noche Buena y Navidad in a Spanish-language release po...
Technology : Pop-culture & Media : Society
Stat: US Gen Z are the most likely to hide their voting choices

News

Stat: US Gen Z are the most likely to hide their voting choices

An October 2024 Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll reveals that nearly half of Gen Z voters (48%) in the US have lied about their voting prefere...
Society : Youth : Politics
Camdom is the world’s first digital condom for safer intimacy

News

Camdom is the world’s first digital condom for safer intimacy

This Sexual Health Awareness Month, condom brand Billy Boy and creative agency Innocean Berlin unveiled Camdom, an app that acts as a digital condo...
Health & Wellness : Technology : Pop-culture & Media
Resting Reef memorialises pets as eco-friendly marine reefs

News

Resting Reef memorialises pets as eco-friendly marine reefs

Eco-friendly funeral company Resting Reef has launched a pet memorial service that blends pet ashes with crushed shells to create eco-friendly unde...
Design : Health & Wellness : Sustainability
Netflix new unveils Moments feature to save and share scenes

News

Netflix new unveils Moments feature to save and share scenes

Netflix has launched a new feature called Moments, allowing subscribers to bookmark, save and share their favourite scenes from shows and movies.
Technology : Pop-culture & Media : Society
Stat: Mars’ study reveals strong pet devotion

News

Stat: Mars’ study reveals strong pet devotion

Mars has unveiled ‘the largest global pet parent study to date’ of more than 20,000 pet owners across 20 countries.
Pets : Society : Retail
Samsonite’s new durable suitcase can survive travelling to the edge of space

News

Samsonite’s new durable suitcase can survive travelling to the edge of space

Samsonite has unveiled its latest innovation, the Proxis Space collection, setting new standards in travel gear with sustainability and advanced te...
Luxury : Travel & Hospitality : Design
The Saudi Investment Bank celebrates national identity with bespoke typeface

News

The Saudi Investment Bank celebrates national identity with bespoke typeface

The Saudi Investment Bank and creative agency Impact BBDO have launched I am Saudi, a campaign celebrating national heritage with a bespoke typeface.
Design : Advertising & Branding : Finance
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