January 6, 2023 “Consumers are dressing up their furniture to renovate, update and customize, but also because it softens things, and makes them warmer,” she says. “Things are cool right now, and we do need to turn the energy down a little bit, to cope with the cost-of-living crisis and with what is going on with the climate crisis, so we’re seeing the house and the furnishings getting softer and warmer and the same time.”“[The trend is] also about covering up old and new furniture with textiles and knits that are that much cozier.”Clearly, “chair jumpers” could be here to stay.On the aforementioned wearable tech topic, though, WGSN has posed two related trends.The first of which involves modular fashion. The report showcases detachable and interchangeable sneaker components, for specifics. Designs capable of morphing over the course of one’s day could add a new dimension to the term, “dress to impress.”Note that, for the fashion category, the use of algae-based alternatives is also said to be all the rage in short order, replacing, for instance, the oil-based manufacturing options that form foam soles, for example. Polyester and nylon are also on the chopping block, as Algae inks and fabric finishes make it to the sewing table, giving resource-intensive synthetics the boot.The second portion of the wearable tech equation involves a rise in VR fitness options for wellness enthusiasts. Budding metaverse health communities, and programs offering Web3 rewards for working out are no longer a figment of the imagination, according to the firm. While software benefits bolster, hardware companies are catching up.[caption id="attachment_365927" align="alignnone" width="465"] The second portion of the wearable tech equation involves a rise in VR fitness options for wellness enthusiasts. Image credit: WGSN[/caption]Companies like Icaros, a VR home workout equipment brand based in Germany, allow superhuman actions like flying and diving in virtual worlds, prompting players to strengthen their muscles in the process.Meanwhile, Norwegian stationary bike operation Playpulse’s apparatus doubles as a games console, with intelligent controllers to be found across its handlebars for ease of use.Switching gears, WGSN says beauty’s business boom will be driven by a few interesting developments.In 2023, personalization will enter a new realm, basing recommendations on biological factors like genome sequencing and skin health tracking, in addition to the elements — location data and weather will play key roles.Related, the WGSN report that Google searches for “skin repair microbiome” increased 1,600 percent YoY from May 2021 to May 2022 , signaling that interest in skin rewilding — specifically focused on fixing the skin’s microbiome barrier, healing damage caused by harsh acids, chemical peels and celebrity skincare lines of the last few years ( see story ) — to strengthen and protect is likely up next.From skin bacteria to underwater biomes and back, algae’s underwater relative, sea moss, joins the list of fast-growing beauty and wellness engrossments — posts that include the ingredient as a hashtag on TikTok have totaled over 450 million views , says WGSN.[caption id="attachment_365929" align="alignnone" width="465"] In 2023, personalization will enter a new realm, basing recommendations on biological factors like genome sequencing and skin health tracking, in addition to the elements — location data and weather will play key roles. Image credit: WGSN[/caption]Sea mosses' pointed presence across haircare, bath and body, and beauty supplements is not far off.Speaking of edible arrangements, across the globe, Mexican manufacturers are apparently preparing for a Sotol production surge, as the age-old liquor is likely to surpass tequila in popularity, according to the trend forecasting experts.“[Of the trends revealed] I loved Sotol, which I hadn’t heard of until our food and drinks team brought this to the list for [this] year,” Ms. Buzasi says.“[Sotol is a] Mexican spirit [that] like lots of these spirits, [has] been around for decades, if not hundreds of years,” the host says. “It is just beginning to get prominence now outside of Mexico.”“We believe Sotol will be the next ‘it’ spirit that you will start seeing in cool, hipster bars and then potentially, as we look further and further, might make its way into your cocktail cabinet.”Back to basics
Between the plateauing of early Silicon Valley boom-era tech babies like Snapchat ( see story ), the proliferation of new platforms like TikTok ( see story ) and timely conversations about ethics and tech spurred by recent AI advancements ( see story ), one overarching report theme involves analysis of the ways in which consumers are currently interacting with — or opting out of
