voices
OBSERVATIONS
What the fashion and sustainability crowd is talking about right now
Observations from textile recycle turmoil and a Digital Product Passport launch.
TECHNOLOGY
”When you design for the margins, you make better products for the masses”
SARAH HERRLINGER
On making tech accessible for everyone
INSIGHTS / BEAUTY
”Voice-activated beauty assistants, powered by Gen AI, are set to become a common feature”
VITALIA VASILKOVA
On the beauty-tech trends to watch — and how AI is reshaping everything
OBSERVATIONS
What my AI assistant taught me about poetry
KONRAD OLSSON
Observations on the next wave of voice-based generative AI.
OBSERVATIONS
Renewcell’s bankruptcy reveals fashion’s real sustainability challenge
KONRAD OLSSON
On the bankruptcy of a textile recycler.
OBSERVATIONS
What the downfall of Cake means for our vision for the future
KONRAD OLSSON
Observations from a changing mobility landscape.
INSIGHTS / MOBILITY
”I like the prospect of democratising manufacturing, where people can share designs online and print the stuff they need”
PETTER HAGQVIST
On the future of additive manufacturing
INSIGHTS / BEAUTY
”It doesn’t matter what you make — you need to act like a wellness brand in order to resonate with consumers!”
MALLORY HURON
On how to cater to the most educated end consumer in history
OBSERVATIONS
Three AI insights from Beauty Innovation Talks
KONRAD OLSSON
Observations from our Beauty Innovation Talks at Copenhagen Fashion Week.
OBSERVATIONS
The Need for a Fashion Council
KONRAD OLSSON
Observations on the importance of a fashion council (with new comments at the end of this text.)
BEAUTY
”For plastic, it is not as black and white as commonly communicated”
ENA IGLEBAEK HERCEGLIJA
On the most frequently asked questions about beauty packaging
OBSERVATIONS
Why Threads gives me hope for social media
KONRAD OLSSON
Observations from a new social media platform.
OBSERVATIONS
The virtue of a trade show
KONRAD OLSSON
Observations from Pitti Uomo – and why it will go on for 50 more years
INSIGHTS / DESIGN
“Every brand should consider having their products 3D modelled and optimised for browser and AR viewing”
NIKLAS KIVILUOTO
On the future of Spatial Commerce — and why it matters now
OBSERVATIONS
How “boring tech” will save fashion in 2024
KONRAD OLSSON
Observations on the need for software in the textile ecosystem.
INSIGHTS / DESIGN
”In the future, we will have to get used to what we earlier defined as imperfections”
CHRISTIAN GROSEN
On the journey to becoming a circular design company
OBSERVATIONS
The upside of Digital Product Passports
KONRAD OLSSON
Observations from a panel on the need for new technologies in the fashion industry.
OBSERVATIONS
How to find an investor in 2024
KONRAD OLSSON
Observations from a cooling startup market.
INSIGHTS / ENERGY SYSTEMS
”More cost-effective energy storage solutions is crucial for the widespread adoption of renewable energy”
ANTTI HÄMMÄINEN
On why the future of the energy industry is so fascinating
OBSERVATIONS
The retail mastermind behind the Åhléns turnaround
KONRAD OLSSON
Observations from meeting Ayad Al-Saffar, the Swedish entrepreneur who recently acquired Sweden’s largest department store Åhléns.
Observations
Industry unity at Borås Textile Days
KONRAD OLSSON
Observations from a workshop on Fashion industry collaboration during Borås Textile Days.
INSIGHTS / CIRCULARITY
”In a few years, businesses who have not changed into circular business models will be starting to drop off”
ALEXANDRA DAVIDSSON
On why every day is a good reason to celebrate #circularmonday
Observations
The virtue of collaboration
KONRAD OLSSON
Observations from a round table at Fashion X, the alternative “fashion week” from Swedish Fashion Council.
INSIGHTS / RECYCLING
”Instead of PVC, which requires numerous additives, opt for simpler plastics that need fewer additives”
ERIK GRAVENFORS
On how a key to cleaner plastic is better design
INSIGHTS / FASHION
”A critical emphasis lies in the establishment of sustainable production practices that leverage existing materials”
CAROLINE DÜBERG MARTINSSON
On the most critical issues to drive change in the textile industry
OBSERVATIONS
How to build a purpose-driven brand
KONRAD OLSSON
We know from data that brands need to operate from a purpose-driven approach. Here are a few thoughts on out to do it.
INSIGHTS / FOOD-TECH
”The ongoing digitalisation and growth in online retail make product data move from being physical to digital”
ALEXANDRA FERREIRA
On how to use AI and machine learning to improve food data
OBSERVATIONS
Takeaways from Beauty Innovation Talks
KONRAD OLSSON
The need for beauty tech is now + notes on upcoming events.
GAMING
The gaming industry’s strides and struggles with accessibility
VICTOR DIMA
After starting to lose his vision in 2010, gaming journalist Victor Dima has approached gaming experiences from a new perspective — and developments are improving rapidly. 
MOBILITY
The flying cars are here
KONRAD OLSSON
Few things symbolise the future as much as the idea of flying cars, from The Jetsons to Blade Runner. But now, thanks to new technology, they are here for real.
INSIGHTS / MATERIAL INNOVATION
”Fungi is a great example in showing that it is possible to create systems that resonate with the greater ecosystem”
MAURIZIO MONTALTI
On why mushrooms will take over the creative industries
OBSERVATIONS
Four reasons the fashion system needs to change
KONRAD OLSSON
Lessons from inside the industry + what Finns need to learn about Sweden
INSIGHTS/FASHION
”Ultimately, it’s the customers who shape the future — brands must inspire them to make the right choices”
PER ANDERSSON
On combining hyperlocal production and integration
OBSERVATIONS
How insights-driven communication can help your brand thrive
KONRAD OLSSON
Notes on why we run an editorial agency.
INSIGHTS / CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
”The department stores, these big malls, need to drive young consumers — and how can they do that?”
MIKAEL SÖDERLINDH
On how to turn a Gen-Z audience into DIY designers
OBSERVATIONS
Will Digital Product Passports save fashion?
KONRAD OLSSON
I’m starting to wonder if DPP might just be the one EU law that will have the possibility to really push the fashion industry toward a more sustainable future.
OBSERVATIONS
How to write a pitch deck for your startup
KONRAD OLSSON
My five learnings from a life as a pitch deck ghost writer.
INSIGHTS / FOODTECH
”The beacons give us millimetre accuracy for each row of planting and working”
DANIEL CROSS
On introducing new technologies to feed a growing population
OBSERVATIONS
The need to separate fashion from the fashion industry
KONRAD OLSSON
A few thoughts after visiting the Encouragement For Action award last week.
INSIGHTS / DESIGN
”The persons who make the sofa also deliver the sofa”
CASPER VISSERS
On how to disrupt the interior design market
INSIGHTS / DESIGN
”We actively work against throwaway culture”
KATI IHAMÄKI
On 400 years’ worth of experience in sustainability work
OBSERVATIONS
Circular furniture — is it possible?
KONRAD OLSSON
A dispatch from Designer's Saturday in Oslo: a panel on circularity in the furniture industry at the launch of Minus Furniture.
OBSERVATIONS
Ten Takeaways from Transformation Conference
KONRAD OLSSON
Why you need to learn about Digital Product Passport and other highlights from last week's event.
INSIGHTS / CIRCULARITY
Meet Sweden’s first Doctor in fashion redesign
ANNA LIDSTRÖM
Researcher and designer Anna Lidström’s thesis Redesign Foundations explores all the nooks and crannies of fashion redesign. Its theoretical foundation and experimental design research have landed her the accolade as Sweden’s first Doctor of Fine Art in fashion design, focusing on redesign.
INSIGHTS / MOBILITY
”The cities and the operators are learning to co-exist”
ROBIN BLICHFELDT
On the biggest micro-mobility trends — and what’s next
OBSERVATIONS
Nothing sparks excitement in tech again – will new generations listen?
KONRAD OLSSON
Nothing makes smart phones fun again. I wish I could convert. Plus: the Star Wars connection.
OBSERVATIONS
Why we’re doing the Transformation Conference
KONRAD OLSSON
The case for connecting people across industries. Plus: we are turning 3!
OBSERVATIONS
Why the Swedes are losing the AI debate
KONRAD OLSSON
On clashing AI speculations among physicists and engineers
INSIGHTS / FASHION
”We soon realised that it takes a lot of work to avoid the pitfall of AI biases when creating AI models”
ANETTE MIWA DIMMEN
On lessons learned when creating an AI fashion campaign
OBSERVATIONS
”Having a digital version of me to write my own texts? I tremble at the thought of it.”
KONRAD OLSSON
On why we are launching a new weekly newsletter