Lives of Tomorrow

Liam Maher, Creative Director at ECCO and author of ‘Menswhere: A Lost History of the Militant Guild of Rural Tailors,’ dives into the transformative power of design. He discusses how personal histories and family legacies shape designers' identities and aspirations. The conversation also highlights the evolution of comfort in fashion and the blending of innovation with tradition. Liam emphasizes the importance of sustainability in leather production and the future of human-centered design, advocating a harmonious blend of creativity and integrity.

Christine Chua, a beauty strategist at WGSN based in Singapore, sheds light on evolving beauty trends in Southeast Asia. She discusses the rising obsession with anti-aging among young consumers fueled by TikTok. Christine also explores the unique perfume landscape, where local artisans craft unconventional scents like milk and rancid flesh. The conversation delves into how social media shapes age perceptions and encourages a shift in skincare prioritization over makeup, driving a new wave of beauty behaviors in the region.

In this episode, we learn about macro trends impacting how young people live their lives. We hear why Gen Z are spending more time at home, having less sex and focusing on more digital-first connections.WGSN CEO Carla Buzasi speaks to Senior Strategist for WGSN Insight Allyson Rees about her research into this macro trend, what led to this behavioural shift, and what the future holds. Four years after the pandemic, some young consumers still prefer staying home to going out or engaging in nightlife. On TikTok, #BedRotting has become a popular hashtag (300m views) to describe lying in bed for prolonged periods. Retailers must meet Gen Z where they are while still facilitating social outlets and opportunities to indulge. Understanding this cohort’s fears and what makes them feel comfortable will secure their loyalty.

Who is modest fashion for? Where is it mainstreaming and how is it changing the fashion industry? In this episode of Lives of Tomorrow, we debunk the myths associated with modest fashion, tracing its history right through to the latest trends. WGSN CEO Carla Buzasi speaks with Linda Anggrea, CEO of ButtonScarves, a premium Indonesian fashion and lifestyle brand specialising in headscarves and modest wear for modern women. Passionate about style, Linda shares her strategies in mainstreaming expressive modest wear and lets us in on her upcoming collections and ongoing Disney collaboration.

India’s middle class is the class of the moment. In this episode, we find out more about how the rising salaries of the middle class in India will impact businesses in the region. Senior Insight Strategist for APAC Rohini Wahi shares her expertise in retail, marketing, and lifestyle based on consumer behaviour in Asia. WGSN CEO Carla Buzasi finds out from Rohini why the income pyramid has inverted and how the middle class in India will be the largest group by 2030.People in India have shifted away from predominantly looking to the West for fashion, food, and home trends. What do the people driving this shift care about then? Rohini sheds light on what this growing economic demographic wants and how brands should appeal to this market. We explore how investment from global tech firms Google and Amazon, the government’s ease of business policies, and the digitisation of India is accelerating the rise of the Indian middle class.

With children growing up online and much faster than previous generations, what does this mean and how will it impact our lives of tomorrow? How important are generational markers like ‘Millennials’ or ‘Boomers’ and do they mean much to you? Accelerated tech and trend cycles are confusing our view of traditional generational groups at an unprecedented rate. In this episode of Lives of Tomorrow, WGSN Insight Senior Strategist Cassandra Napoli reviews future generations with our CEO Carla Buzasi and explores why accelerated digital media age us quicker than ever. From being 13 today to being 13 for a millennial, Cassandra uses social media including Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok as a lens to highlight the digital differences between the generations. They’ll be investigating the changing boundaries between childhood and adulthood which are blurring identities. Listen in on how the internet has evolved and how this impacts how we navigate the digital world.

Explore the future of marketing with Scott King, a multisensory branding expert. Learn how senses like smell and touch influence consumer decisions. Discover examples of multisensory marketing with companies like Samsung and Coca-Cola. Dive into the impact of incorporating multiple senses in marketing and product design for immersive brand experiences.

In this episode, WGSN CEO Carla Buzasi teams up with Jon Takao, Content Director of our freshly launched Sports & Outdoor. This new platform expands our apparel and footwear under our Active category and drives into more granular forecasts on equipment and gear for bikes, outdoor, snow, water, and fitness. Listen to learn about WGSN’s latest Sports & Outdoor and hear Jon’s journey to heading up our specialist trend forecasting tool.

Sinéad Burke, CEO and founder of Tilting The Lens, an accessibility consultancy firm joins WGSN CEO Carla Buzasi to discuss the future of inclusivity in fashion. Sinéad describes herself as a little person, she is 3”5 and has achondroplasia. Since her teens, she’s been on a mission to work towards change and inclusivity for disabled people. Sinead is an author and disability activist who entered the fashion industry to promote inclusivity.Carla finds out from Sinead just how inclusive fashion is, what is being done, and how fashion brands can plan for the future with a focus on accessibility and inclusivity.Sinéad talks about the need for accessible design in public spaces and the importance of involving disabled people in creating educational content that can be used throughout the fashion world. We hear examples of assistive technologies and projects aimed at improving accessibility in luxury fashion stores in this discussion.Plus expect to hear the story of Sinéad being featured on the cover of British Vogue and working with Edward Enninful.

Hello and welcome to the fortnightly podcast about macro societal shifts, exploring what they mean for all of us and how they will affect our Lives of Tomorrow.In this episode, we take a deep dive into the Direct-to-Avatar (D2A) economy. At WGSN we define D2A as a new retail model, similar to direct-to-consumer, that allows brands to sidestep supply chains and sell clothes that don't exist IRLWGSN CEO and host Carla Buzasi speaks to Samantha G Wolfe, founder of PitchFWD – a consulting firm that helps navigate the world of new and emerging technologies – about how we will use avatars to do most of our shopping, and how brands will have to find ways to interact with our avatars to capitalise on this opportunity.Imagine buying on-trend outfits, unique accessories, and even exclusive experiences for your virtual avatars, all without stepping into a physical store or dealing with traditional supply chains. We explore this consumer trend and the emerging technology involved.