Trend Taster: knitfluencer edition
In this week’s edition of the Trend Taster, we round up the snackable trends, stats and insights from around the world, including:
India's tourism sector funding gap
The return of the mechanical wristwatch
New accessibility tech is game-changing for visually-impaired fans
Explainer: Knitfluencer
Mixed-use development features a Costco store beneath 800 residential units
India's tourism sector funding gap
New data reveals a significant funding gap in India's tourism sector heading into 2026, despite the industry generating $199.6 billion in GDP, with a 97% cut in global marketing funds to just $361,000, even as domestic tourism grows at double-digit rates. Tourism accounts for 9% of India's employment, yet faces complex challenges including state-by-state GST registration requirements for online travel agencies and high aviation fuel duties, suggesting a disconnect between the sector's economic impact and its policy support.
The return of the mechanical wristwatch
The mechanical wristwatch is making an unexpected comeback, driven by Gen Z's embrace of analogue timepieces over smartwatches. Depop reports a 34% surge in watch searches, as young collectors seek both fashion and functionality in traditional timepieces. The movement marks a shift from predictions that Apple Watch would kill the Swiss watch industry. Even Swatch has become a hot commodity, with its MoonSwatch collaboration causing resale prices reaching 20 times its retail value. The trend reflects a broader desire for simplicity and nostalgia in an increasingly digital world, with everyone from celebrities to CEOs choosing traditional watches over smart technology
New accessibility tech is game-changing for visually-impaired fans
Crystal Palace FC and the Portland Trail Blazers are pioneering game-changing accessibility tech: GiveVision's retina-streaming headsets over private 5G, and OneCourt's haptic displays that let fans feel the game through fingertip vibrations. With 73% of visually impaired fans currently avoiding live games due to accessibility barriers, these solutions allow fans to sit anywhere in the venue rather than in designated sections, preserving the communal atmosphere that makes live sports magical. This marks a shift from accommodation to true inclusion in live entertainment, where accessibility features are seamlessly integrated into the standard spectator experience.
Explainer: Knitfluencer
Olympic diving champion Tom Daley's viral knitting moments at the 2024 Paris Games highlight a trend that's been steadily gaining momentum since 2020. What began as a pandemic pastime has evolved into a community-building phenomenon, with his knitting Instagram now boasting over 1 million followers. Knitting clubs are popping up in unexpected venues like bars and coffee shops across major cities, attracting younger and more diverse participants. The social renaissance of this traditional craft demonstrates how analogue hobbies continue to thrive, offering both creativity and connection.
Mixed-use development features a Costco store beneath 800 residential units
Thrive Living launches construction on a first-of-its-kind mixed-use development in South LA, featuring a Costco store beneath 800 residential units. The project transforms a former office property into a community hub with 23% of units designated for low-income households, addressing critical affordability challenges intensified by recent devastating wildfires. This downtown development represents a growing urban planning trend that delivers multiple benefits: reducing fire vulnerability, creating housing in high-demand areas, and providing retailers with built-in customers and workforce. The pioneering "Costco apartments" are scheduled for completion in 2027, potentially setting a template for future retail-residential partnerships in housing-stressed cities nationwide.
