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Author: Emily

Sphere-spotting: Berlin

By Mandi Mankvitz, Sphere Trending President of Possibilities

The expected belief in traveling to Berlin means an overwhelming experience of alternative music, edgy art and graffiti and the late-late night clubs. While this can be true, the reality is that Berlin is also a city filled with families shopping for back-to-school supplies, co-workers enjoying an after-dinner drink in a jungle-like courtyard and countless parks, gardens and canals filled with people enjoying nature.  In our retail trendspotting we found that nature extends into every nook and cranny of a Berlin’s lifestyle too!

Berlin’s Misfit Bar

Misfit Bar is a juxtaposition of loud metal music and a charming courtyard.

Berlin Community Garden

DIY Floral Explosion

The city of Berlin is known for it’s creative vibe and a must-see destination in the Kreuzberg neighborhood is Modulor – over two floors and more than 3,000 m² of craft, DIY and maker inspiration.

Berlin’s Modulor

Encased and Preserved Nature

The Voo Store is a cult favorite and a hidden gem of avant garde fashion, décor, accessories and even a tiny deli tucked into a quiet courtyard on a busy Kreuzberg street.

Berlin’s Voo Store

Bunchery by Blomrum

The H&M Home store in the Hackescher Hof shopping district features a ‘create your own’ area by Swedish company Blomrum, known for their direct-to-grower approach to sourcing the trendiest – and freshest – florals.

Berlin H&M Store

Follow along for more dispatches from our European travels this Fall! We have a lot more coming in September so don’t miss out! Click here to connect with us and follow our Instagram and LinkedIn.

Sphere-spotting: NY NOW

By Cathy Schneider, Sphere Trending Trend Futurist, Director of Color Theory

Another dispatch from New York – this time with a focus on the tradeshow, NY NOW, a leading event featuring brands and makers.

The unbreakable tableware from Japanese Studio Aras is made from a unique blend of recyclable resin and glass, designed to last a lifetime and reduce waste. Aras chooses to present values ​​that contribute to society. “The Sustainable Collection began with the question of whether we could reuse natural materials that had become industrial waste, such as “cedar bark” and “seawater,” and convert their value into materials that enrich the food experience. The Sustainable Collection is a proposal for the tableware of the future.” – Project Manager Mizukami from the Eras Team. The traditional Brown from the Cedar Bark Series expresses the vitality of plants in a deep, dark forest, while the Black expresses the scene of a cedar forest lined with rows of cedar trees.  The Seawater Series depicts the traditional Mineral White, a Marine Blue which depicts the clear, vivid blue sea of ​​the south, and Coral Pink which depicts the sea dyed pink by the setting sun.

Next up? Our team is headed to Paris and Berlin. Follow along for more dispatches from our travels! We have a lot more coming in September so don’t miss out! Click here to connect with us and follow our Instagram and LinkedIn.

Sphere-spotting: New York

By Cathy Schneider, Sphere Trending Trend Futurist and Director of Color Theory

Our team recently attended Shoppe Object in New York and D.A.R. Proyectos was a brand that stood out – blending smart design with traditional Andean artisan techniques.

Using indigenous stones and minerals, they create unexpected and playful yet relatable everyday objects. They believe the world is full of life, not only from plants and animals, but rocks as well and they believe these rocks to be symbols of life. In pursuit of finding new ways to keep the essence of their cosmovision alive, they are always looking for design spaces in which to preserve their creative expression. Cultural traceability is key to keeping the intricate patterns and the forgotten symbolism of indigenous Peru alive.”

Follow along for more dispatches from our travels! We have a lot more coming in September so don’t miss out! Click here to connect with us and follow our Instagram and LinkedIn.

Brands Get Revved Up

Cathy Schneider, Sphere Trending Trend Futurist, Director of Color Theory

Dubbed the ‘Summer Railroad Racetrack’ and located in a former car repair facility across from the East Hampton railway station, this pop-up store by Mytheresa x Flamingo Estate pays homage to its location’s history, integrating racetrack motifs into its decor.

The centerpiece of the store features a miniature racetrack garden featuring race cars surrounded by Mytheresa products. This temporary shop creates a community for luxury enthusiasts and brings customers a creative, luxury immersive shopping experience. 

Follow along for more spherespotting! Click here to connect with us and follow our Instagram and LinkedIn.

Branding Wellness

By Cathy Schneider, Sphere Trending Trend Futurist, Director of Color Theory

Kādns, pronounced as ‘cadence’, lighting company was founded in 2022, during Covid while everyone was staying at home, in the same environment, for days at a time. The designers wanted to bring soothing yet dynamic lighting into these spaces, thus a collection of calming wall lamps was created. Kādns creates decorative lighting that illuminate emotions, elevating the user experience through technology.

Follow along for more thoughts on evolving brand archeology and key items to look out for! Click here to connect with us and follow our Instagram and LinkedIn.