LSN : News : Bottega Veneta appoints director of craft and heritage

Intuit Dome’s Halo Board is set to revolutionise the fan experience

Halo Board at Intuit Dome, US

US – Los Angeles basketball team the LA Clippers is unveiling a final sneak peek into its new £1.55bn ($2bn, €1.84bn) venue, the Intuit Dome, ahead of the grand opening on 15 August. Central to this state-of-the-art facility in Inglewood, California, is the Halo Board, a groundbreaking 4K LED screen that promises to transform the fan experience.

The Halo Board, described as the ‘beating heart’ of the Clippers’ new home by team owner Steve Ballmer, is an immense double-sided, continuous wraparound screen spanning 44,000 square feet (source: Fast Company). With more than 233m LEDs and a screen canvas equivalent to more than 3,592 60-inch tvs, the screen is designed to immerse fans in the game like never before.

Pop star Bruno Mars will inaugurate the venue with back-to-back concerts, followed by performances from Olivia Rodrigo and Usher, before the Clippers take to the court for the NBA season in October. Ballmer envisions the Halo Board enhancing the fan experience with detailed play flows, innovative statistical displays and multiple replay angles during crucial game moments.

In addition to its impressive technical capabilities, the board includes interactive features such as games, social media feeds and fan prompts. This aligns with our findings in Innovation Debrief 2024–2025, in which we explore the innovations pushing entertainment into the phygital realm.

Strategic opportunity

With mixed reality becoming the future of entertainment businesses, consider how you can adapt your content to work with these new mediums – including VR, AR and headsets

Lush opens The Perfume Library in London

Lush Perfume Library, London, UK

UK – Lush launched its Perfume Library in London in July 2024, inviting visitors to sit down with Lush’s fragrance experts for personalised consultations to discover new additions to their scent collections.

The Perfume Library will feature 12 exclusive new perfumes, available only at this location. Alongside these fragrances, a curated selection of books that have inspired Lush perfumers will be on sale, offering insights into the world of scent. Customers can also explore Lush’s home fragrance range, including candles and incense, as well as new body sprays and an exclusive vegan leather jacket, which can be scented with a new apparel oil.

The store aims to provide a comprehensive fragrance experience, celebrating the artistry of perfumery and the vibrant colours of natural ingredients. In our analysis of World Retail Congress 2024: Let’s Get Hyperphysical, we highlighted how similar retailers are reinventing in-store experiences to become a destination for products and moments.

Strategic opportunity

Design stores to offer immersive, multisensory experiences that engage customers through sight, sound, smell and touch. Consider integrating elements such as ambient music, unique scents and interactive displays

Bottega Veneta appoints director of craft and heritage

Italy – Luxury fashion house Bottega Veneta is strengthening its dedication to craftsmanship by appointing Barbara Zanin to the newly created role of director of craft and heritage.

A veteran of the brand since 1998, Zanin will collaborate with creative director Matthieu Blazy and CEO Leo Rongone to preserve and promote the brand’s artisanal heritage. Her responsibilities include overseeing artisans at the Montebello atelier, expanding the brand’s archives and acting as a global ambassador for Bottega Veneta’s leather craftsmanship.

‘Craft is Bottega Veneta’s timeless technology and there are few people who understand the history, depth and intricacy of our craft like Barbara Zanin,’ Blazy told WWD.

Under Blazy’s creative direction since 2021, Bottega Veneta has highlighted its artisanal craftmanship in recent years, pushing its signature Intrecciato weaving technique into new realms.

In our Luxury Recrafted macrotrend report, we highlighted how the luxury sector is adapting to meet the needs of next-gen consumers who prioritise heritage and savoir-faire over more obvious, overt displays of wealth.

Bottega for Bottegas is a collaboration between Bottega Veneta and 12 artisans around its home country, Italy

Strategic opportunity

To stand out in a crowded market, luxury brands should look to emphasise unique and artisanal craftsmanship in their product offerings, manufacturing and brand storytelling

Stat: AliExpress unveils 2024 report highlighting European online retail trends

Nike and Martine Rose, UK

Europe – AliExpress, the international online retail marketplace, has released its latest Consumer Insights Report. This comprehensive survey of consumers in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain reveals significant trends and insights into European online shopping behaviours.

The report underscores the profound impact of the 2024 summer of sports on British culture, influencing shopping habits, social connections and personal wellbeing. Notably, nearly 40% of British respondents indicated that online shopping made sports more accessible this year. Additionally, almost a third (31.74%) acknowledged that the summer’s sporting events influenced their fashion choices.

The findings also highlight the mental and social benefits of sports participation. An overwhelming 74.95% of Brits agreed that engaging in sports improves their mental wellbeing, while more than 65% felt that sports activities help them connect with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Moreover, 65% of respondents stated that sports foster a sense of community, and over 45% felt more connected to their country during global sporting events.

These insights emphasise the multifaceted role of sports in enhancing individual lifestyles and broader social cohesion in the UK, a topic we explore further in Sportive Affluents.

Strategic opportunity

Take your fashion and sports collaboration further by partnering with athletes and giving them full creative direction – creating a unique partnership that goes beyond the usual merchandise drop