Trend Taster: coffee badging edition
In this week’s edition of the Trend Taster, we round up the snackable trends, stats and insights from around the world, including:
Gen Z Beauty Anxiety
What is "greenhushing"?
Non-traditional wedding rings
Hermès Pricing Trend
What is ‘coffee badging’?
Gen Z Beauty Anxiety
A recent Morning Consult survey indicates that 15% of US Gen Z adults have undergone cosmetic surgery, with similar percentages receiving Botox and fillers. 55% of Gen Z adults report feeling pressured by social media influencers to pursue cosmetic treatments. This generation also shows a higher level of criticism towards the beauty industry, with 48% believing it has negatively impacted society.
What is "greenhushing"?
The Transparency Index from Connected Impact and Ringer Science shows a decline in greenwashing, with only 2% of US companies over-promoting their ESG progress. Instead, 58% are engaging in greenhushing by under-promoting their efforts. Bucking this trend, Google disclosed a 48% increase in greenhouse gas emissions from 2019 to 2023, primarily due to the higher energy demands of data centres driven by AI growth
Non-traditional wedding rings
Moss agate rings, known for their unique greenish-to-bluish colour and mossy patterns, are gaining popularity as wedding rings, with searches increasing by 43% over the past two years. These rings often feature intricate designs like leafy vines or kite cuts and come in various metals, including 14K yellow gold and 14K black gold, priced between $1,299 and $1,499. They appeal to modern brides looking for a distinctive and beautiful alternative to traditional diamond rings.
Hermès Pricing Trend
The Hermès Birkin: a luxury icon or a victim of its own success? Its legendary status, fuelled by scarcity, has driven prices to astronomical heights. But as other luxury brands follow suit, is the Birkin's pricing power starting to wane? PurseBop data reveals steady price increases over the past five years, but the story is more complex than it seems. Is Hermès simply responding to rising costs, or is something else at play?
What is ‘coffee badging’?
"Coffee badging" is generating discussion on TikTok. This workplace practice involves employees briefly visiting the office for a coffee before working remotely for the rest of the day. The trend reflects ongoing debates about workplace flexibility and changing attitudes towards traditional office structures. It raises questions about the balance between in-person collaboration and individual autonomy in modern work environments.
