5 forward-looking brands we found in Future Lab’s wellness forecast
In case you hadn’t noticed, the wellness industry is booming. The newest trillion dollar market on the planet has even overtaken the pharmaceuticals industry in global annual revenues. From protein bars to vegan burgers, supplements to spas, fitness apps and yoga matts to meditation studios and wellness retreats the number of new businesses emerging and the amount being spent is mind-blowing.
Of course we totally understand why some people find this ridiculous and depressing. Exercise, fresh healthy food, peace and quite and reconnection with nature should be free, not packaged, priced and put on a shelf. But whenever people find a passion it’s natural to want to spend your hard earned wages on it, or make it into a career. And with so many millions of people the world over now defining and aligning themselves with the wellness movement – the way previous generations have around raving and rock’n’roll – it’s no wonder so much effort is being invested into creating new brands to feed the fans.
All of which explains why global business trend crystal ball gazers The Future Laboratory have made Health & Wellness the focus of their latest Futures Report. Naturally at BALANCE we’re pretty up on all this stuff, but even we found a few cool things in it that we hadn’t heard about before, so we thought we share them with you here.
Remember, you heard it here first, well sort of…
EVERYBODY L.A. – The rise of inclusive fitness
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdq0RwlFghY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Thanks in part to the rise of body positive and diverse influencers like Jessamyn Stanley and Lauren Ash, barriers have gradual been broken down in recent years to pave the way for a more inclusive era in yoga, wellness and fitness. Despite this, gyms have remained largely unchanged, still intimidating temples to vanity, fuelled by testosterone, lycra, floor-to-ceiling mirrors and the impossible pursuit of perfection. But if the success of Everybody gym in Los Angeles, is anything to go by, that could all be about to change. The 8,000 sq foot space embraces, ‘all bodies, genders, races, nationalities, faiths, classes, sexualities, sizes, ages & abilities’, both in their membership and staff hiring, and ‘do not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia or oppression of any kind.’ Surely it won’t be long before something similar gives the UK gym scene a welcome shake-up.
SANDOWS COFFEE SODA – A new generation of ‘clean’ energy drinks
https://www.instagram.com/p/BieV554H-W-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Sugar, sugar everywhere, in every drop we drink. With growing concerns, and legislation, around the harmful nature of sugary energy drinks it was only a matter of time before a new product popped up to tackle the problem. Introducing Sandows‘ Cold Brew Soda, the most recent answer to our sugar crisis prayers. Founded in 2014, this cold brew coffee brand, has just launched a carbonated, canned version of their original coffee drink. Falling below the the sugar tax threshold, Cold Brew Soda is set to take on the existing sugar loaded energy drinks on the market and at just £1.99 this low-sugar pick me up could be just what we’ve been looking for. The future looks bright for sugar free energy drinks, a trend you’ll definitely want to keep your eyes peeled for.
anatomē – The modern apothecary with tradition values
As the wellness industry grows, so does the demand for scientifically proven, natural nutritional supplements for everything from sleep and recovery, to balance and stability (and beautiful packaging doesn’t go amiss either). Opened in March of this year, the London based modern apothecary store, anatomē, provides a clear and curated range of products to help support the mind and body. Formed on the belief that, ‘the food that fuels the body and the world around us also helps fuel our stability, balance and emotional health’, anatomē stocks the highest quality contemporary health products including supplements, healthy teas, essential oils and wellness-orientated books. As a relaxing hub, decked out with the an apothecary bar abundant with bespoke teas, cold pressed juices, protein shakes, Monmouth coffee, and alkaline Antioxidant water, this quirky haven is a much welcomed break from hectic city life. Going one step further, this holistic wellness hub also provides bespoke, one-to-one nutrition consultations, giving your average local supplement store a real run for it’s money.
Halo Sport – The high tech personal trainer
With digital technology developing in leaps and bounds we can expect that it will in someway play an integral part in the future of the way we work out. As it turns out, the future is now. In recent months the elite LA gym, Equinox, has begun offering a rather technical new personal training programme in the form of the Halo Sport headphones. Allowing users to capitalise on time by improving their physical prowess and efficiency during workouts, the headset applies a mild electrical current to the brain using transcranial direct current stimulation. In other words, the brain is temporarily put into a state of hyperplasticity, whereby it’s ability to train and learn new skills is boosted. It turns out there’s still time to become a superhuman (incase you were worried).
Hatch – bump friendly beauty for mums-to-be
Despite a plethora of “natural” beauty products on the market, due to lack of clarity on industry guidelines, it can be hard to distinguish which are indeed all natural, and which still contain some rather unpleasant chemicals. This poses a rather serious dilemma for pregnant women as it can not only be confusing, but also difficult to find products that are suitable to use whilst pregnant. Fortunately, the maternity wear brand Hatch, spotted the much overlooked gap in the market and as a result has recently launched a bump friendly collection of beauty products exclusively for mums-to-be. With goodies including the Soothing Leg + Foot Relief, Belly Oil, and the first-of-its-kind Stretch Mark Minimising Sheet Mark, Hatch Mama Beauty is going to be a surefire favourite with expectant mums.
