Quartzy’s BoF VOICES Brief: Wellness, platform power, and the Crowne Plaza shuttle
Good morning, VOICES attendees!
I hope you got some rest after last night’s magic show. How ’bout that Dynamo? That was pretty amazing. He’s available for birthday parties, by the way—if you happen to be Damien Hirst.
Today will be mostly sunny and a little warmer than yesterday—but only a little. The forecasted high is 4 degrees celsius.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR TODAY
The social network. At VOICES today we’ll hear from industry leaders on how to build community around your brand. One speaker to listen to closely is Emily Weiss, founder and CEO of beauty label Glossier. Its customers love the brand so much, they’re also its most powerful sales force. And look out for Doug Stephens, aka the Retail Prophet, who is sure to have some opinions on retail’s future.
Wealth and wellness. The wellness movement surrounds us here at VOICES, from the morning yoga to literal farm-to-table meals. These are, after all, the new markers of luxury. In the “Live Your Best Life” session Dr. Tom Waller, Lululemon’s innovation head (and the man behind their “Hugged Sensation” yoga pants), will share insights on how the way we feel in our clothes can actually affect our performance. We’ll also hear from SoulCycle instructor Akin Akman, who was once voted NYC’s hottest male trainer.
Let’s party. The talks end around 15:30 and the gala starts at 20:30, so rest up, because this one will go late. Don’t forget, the dress code is black tie for men and colorfully festive for women. Guys, if it’s been a while since you’ve dusted off your bowtie, here’s a handy GIF-filled guide to the process. I think most of you have got this.
WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT
Anxiety and activism. Anxiety about turmoil in the world—the refugee crisis, North Korea, Donald Trump, Brexit—keeps cropping up at VOICES. There’s just no certainty anymore about what will happen next. But on the other side is activism, and people pushing to build a world they want to see. Expect more of both in 2018.
The shuttle. Most guests aren’t actually staying at Soho Farmhouse, which filled up, but down the road at Crowne Plaza. The small shuttle carting attendees back and forth is a uniquely intimate spot to meet people, and where some of the best conversations at VOICES are actually happening. So far I’ve rubbed shoulders in transit with pioneers in adaptive fashion and apparel rental, plus one woman who debated the virtues of silver Gucci footwear in a farmhouse setting.
Asia rising. BoF and McKinsey & Company released their annual report on the state of fashion yesterday. The headline: 2018 marks a symbolic tipping point, as more than 50% of clothing and footwear sales will come from outside Europe and North America. The power is shifting to emerging markets and Asia-Pacific. In October, incidentally, Singapore unseated Germany to claim the world’s most powerful passport.
Amazon, the 800 lb. gorilla. Jonathan Taplin, author of Move Fast and Break Things, spoke yesterday about the dangers of tech giants being monopolies, as Amazon is becoming in US retail. The BoF/McKinsey report also notes that the power of platforms, including Amazon, Zalando in Europe, and Alibaba’s T-mall in China, is only growing. Shoppers are beginning their product searches not on Google, but on these platforms. Brands have little choice but to work with them.
HEARD AND SEEN
“Think about it—leather as a mist.” – Modern Meadow CEO Andras Forgacs describing one form his company’s biofabricated material can take.
“I actually didn’t smile for three years of elementary school because I wanted to be like Victoria Beckham.” Phillip Picardi, chief content director of Condé Nast’s new LGBTQ media brand, Them.
“In the order of clean countrysides, Britain is up there. Number one has to be Switzerland. I was there this summer. They comb the grass so it’s all facing the same way.” – An attendee on the shuttle
Bonus round: The biggest applause of the day went to Sinéad Burke, an advocate of design for little people. “My money and my existence are as valid as yours,” she said in her talk.
CHART INTERLUDE
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
The White House is planning to fire Rex Tillerson. The move, expected in the next few weeks, would end the strained relationship (paywall) between Trump and his secretary of state, who reportedly called Trump a “f***ing moron” at a Pentagon meeting. CIA director Mike Pompeo is expected to take Tillerson’s place.
Volkswagen became the latest electric-car contender. Despite its emissions scandal, the German automaker plans to introduce one or two new vehicles (paywall) to the US by 2020, expecting to start production by 2023. Volkswagen is banking on its tried-and-true production process, whereas top challenger Tesla still struggles to meet demand.
Protestors clashed with police as vote counting dragged on in Honduras. Suspecting foul play, supporters of presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla took to the streets. Nasralla had pulled ahead in the count, but now incumbent Juan Orlando Hernandez appears to be in the lead. One magistrate on the electoral tribunal flagged “serious doubts” about the process.
Japan set the date for the emperor’s abdication. A panel chaired by prime minister Shinzo Abe agreed that 83-year-old emperor Akihito’s planned abdication will take place on April 30, 2019, according to public broadcaster NHK. It’s the first abdication by a Japanese monarch in 200 years.
MATTERS OF DEBATE
The bitcoin bubble is the media’s fault. News outlets have always fed the public frenzy for dubious investing; the famous Dutch tulip bubble coincided with the advent of newspapers.
Are we witnessing the end of the jumbo jet? The gas-guzzling giants are expensive for airlines, which are opting for smaller planes.
The new Mulan actress is either the worst or best China has to offer. Liu Yifei may rate poorly on China’s IMDb, but her career has an Emma Watson-like charm.
SURPRISING DISCOVERIES
Some tarantulas live in high rises. The newly discovered blue-variant spiders use trees much like skyscrapers, carving homes in the same stump.
Amazon thinks Alexa can fix conference calls. Its AI assistant will be able to book rooms, set up call lines, and manage travel plans.
Meghan Markle will need military training before she walks down the aisle with Prince Harry. It’s standard procedure for anyone marrying into the royal family to prepare for the threat of being taken hostage.
Cocaine’s vegan status is up for debate. The plant’s environmental impact and the ethics behind buying and using the drug raise red flags.
Someone turned a Tesla into a bitcoin mine. It’s only a good idea if you’re using an unlimited Tesla supercharging station.