Materials sought out for scarcity in nature are now engineered for accessibility
Trend - Engineered, lab-grown products -- specifically, meats and precious stones -- have become more mainstream in recent years. As biotechnology evolves, so too does the ability to engineer multiple materials in a wider range. These newly engineered materials tend to be those previously sought after for their scarcity in nature, the difficulty of attaining them, and therefore, their association with a sense of elitism.
Insight - Elite materials becoming more accessible signifies a turn toward efficiency and often eco-consciousness, but also a redefinition of luxury and status. Consumers today are much more open to redefining luxury than those in the past, as social media has created more of a focus on equality and open-mindedness. Today's consumer places less value on scarcity and exclusivity and is, therefore, less weary of engineered alternatives to status items.
Insight - Elite materials becoming more accessible signifies a turn toward efficiency and often eco-consciousness, but also a redefinition of luxury and status. Consumers today are much more open to redefining luxury than those in the past, as social media has created more of a focus on equality and open-mindedness. Today's consumer places less value on scarcity and exclusivity and is, therefore, less weary of engineered alternatives to status items.
Workshop Question - How is your brand keeping up with the redefinition of status and luxury?
Trend Themes
1. Scarcity to Accessibility - The shift from natural, scarce materials to engineered ones signifies a turn toward efficiency and often eco-consciousness, but also a redefinition of luxury and status.
2. Lab-grown Products - Engineered, lab-grown products such as meats, precious stones, palm oil, and spider silk are becoming more mainstream with the rise of biotechnology.
3. Cruelty-free Alternatives - With the increased demand for cruelty-free, alternative options, clean and lab-grown alternatives have become popular, especially in the food and fashion industries.
Industry Implications
1. Biotechnology - Biotechnology is constantly evolving and has paved the way for the development of lab-grown products, which are becoming more mainstream in various industries.
2. Eco-friendly and Sustainable Product Development - Consumers are increasingly opting for eco-friendly and sustainable products, leading to the development of alternatives to traditionally sourced materials.
3. Fashion and Beauty - With the increasing concern over the environmental impact of traditional fashion and beauty production, there has been a rise in the development of sustainable and cruelty-free alternatives, such as spider silk and lab-grown palm oil.
