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Stanley 1913 and Lionel Messi unite for a drinkware collaboration

Stanley 1913 and Messi, US

Global – Lifestyle drinkware brand Stanley 1913 has teamed up with football legend Lionel Messi for an exclusive, multi-year partnership that blends performance with precision. The Messi x Stanley collection features six standout products, including designs in the customised Messi GOAT Pink colourway, reflecting the athlete’s iconic status.

Leading the collection is the Quencher ProTour Flip Straw Tumbler, a state-of-the-art hydration solution boasting a leak-proof design with a flip-up straw for spill-free convenience. Other highlights include the IceFlow Flip Straw Jug for high-capacity hydration and the IceFlow Flip Straw 2.0 Bottle, enhanced with AeroLight technology, making it 33% lighter than standard stainless steel bottles.

The collection also includes unique items such as the High Precision Flow Mate System 1.3 QT, a Classic Matte Mug, and a Yerba Mate Bombilla Straw, some engraved with Messi’s motto, Start Early, Stay Late. Available now on Stanley’s website, this collaboration reiterates our findings in Game-Changers: The Future of Sports Fandom – looking at how brands can capitalise on growing sports fandom globally.

Strategic opportunity

Collaborations that merge cultural icons with functional products create emotional resonance, drive engagement and expand audience reach. Who can your brand collaborate with to reinforce brand loyalty by aligning aspirational values and everyday utility?

Toteme opens pop-up store made from Hanji paper

Toteme pop-up. Design by Random Studio, Seoul, South Korea

South Korea – Swedish fashion brand Toteme has unveiled Toteme Prototype, a pop-up store in Seoul crafted predominantly from Hanji paper – a traditional Korean material renowned for its durability and rich texture. The installation features walls, display plinths and shelving that emphasise the paper’s feathered edges and intricate details, mirroring the brand’s distinctive design language.

The project, brought to life by Amsterdam-based design studio Random Studio, was inspired by the concept of a work in progress. The space encapsulates the transient beauty of a prototype through the innovative use of Hanji paper, which is hand-made from the bark of mulberry trees. This approach creates a harmonious fusion of Korean tradition and Toteme’s modern aesthetic.

The pop-up is open between 6 and 18 December 2024, highlighting a curated selection from Toteme's autumn/winter 2024 runway collection, including ready-to-wear pieces, shoes, leather goods and jewellery.

In World Retail Congress 2024: Let’s Get Hyperphysical, we highlighted the retailers tapping into hyper-locality to create destination-worthy stores, reach consumers where they are and build community.

Strategic opportunity

Consider how to research and incorporate traditional, locally sourced materials, such as Hanji paper, in product designs or store interiors to celebrate regional craftsmanship and connect with local audiences

Pantone names Mocha Mousse as 2025 Colour of the Year

Global – Pantone has unveiled Mocha Mousse (17-1230) as its Colour of the Year for 2025, a rich, chocolatey brown that embodies warmth, comfort and the growing allure of little treat culture.

The Pantone Color Institute describes Mocha Mousse as a neutral alternative to traditional beige or grey, reflecting a desire for harmony and balance amid economic and environmental challenges. Laurie Pressman, the institute’s vice-president, explained the choice, saying: ‘Mocha Mousse is tied to moments of comfort and escape – like a small indulgence that rejuvenates.’ The colour extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to aspirational and luxe, infused with subtle elegance and earthy refinement.

Leatrice Eiseman, the institute's executive director, highlighted the hue’s sensory appeal, stating: ‘It’s an evocative soft brown that awakens our senses, particularly taste and smell. It is meant to evoke the quality of cacao, chocolate and coffee, appeal to consumers’ desire for comfort.

Mocha Mousse resonates with our Rebranding Nature report where we encouraged brands to use an earthly and soft colour palette due to consumers’ desire for connection with the outdoor environment.

For more insights on the rise of little treat culture, check out our macrotrend report, Functional Feasting.

Pantone Mocha Mousse, US

Strategic opportunity

Use the rich, evocative qualities of Mocha Mousse to create products and campaigns that align with the growing appetite for little treat culture. Whether through packaging, interiors or digital content, this colour provides a versatile yet luxurious foundation that evokes comfort, escapism and nature

Stat: Anxious times prompt booming bible sales

AI imagery by The Future Laboratory, UK

US – Rising societal anxieties such as economic instability and geopolitical tensions have fuelled a 22% surge in US bible sales in 2024, which reached 13.7m copies by the end of October. By contrast, total US print book sales were up less than 1% in the same period.

Notably, younger and first-time buyers, including Gen Z, have been drawn to updated editions and influencer endorsements, seeking comfort and greater spirituality. Publishers such as Tyndale House and HarperCollins have capitalised on this trend by offering tailored designs, such as study Bibles with maps and charts or youth-focused versions.

We first began tracking biblical rebranding to appeal to Gen Z and future worshippers in our 2019 macrotrend Young Believers. Despite the world becoming increasingly secular since, bible sales are booming, bolstered by accessibility on platforms such as Amazon and their symbolic role in navigating uncertain times.

Strategic opportunity

Address consumer anxiety by designing products and services that promote resilience and spiritual growth, such as guided mindfulness tools, wellbeing workshops or purpose-driven experiences that foster a sense of grounding and emotional stability