Scandinavian-style dark kitchen units are increasing in popularity. Photo / Getty Images
Scandinavian-style dark kitchen units are increasing in popularity. Photo / Getty Images
Trend-forecasters may not be able to say what will happen with Brexit, but they do have some predictions for 2019. According to the futurists, we will all be eating lichen, painting our homes black and holidaying in Bhutan.
Here's a peek at some of the things it is tipping for 2019...
Peak Instagram
It's bad news for influencers, as Lucie Greene, worldwide director of JWT Innovation, says that 2019 will mark peak Instagram. "People are starting to push back on brands that use it as a cynical marketing medium," she says, citing the recent launch of the first 'Instagram apartment' in New York, designed purely to stage social media photoshoots and costing £11,500 ($21,554.17NZD) a month to rent.
"There's also rising dialogue about mental health and influencers," adds Greene. In September, fashion house Balmain was criticised for using diverse CGI 'virtual influencers,' instead of employing real models.
Next year, it's all about calamansi, lichen and dulse seaweed.
Calamansi juice - made from the Filippino citrus fruit and hailed as a 'wonder drink', is believed to help with everything from weight loss to diabetes and cholesterol.
Lichen is finding its way onto our plates, as the foraging trend continues. The mossy fungus, which grows all over New Zealand, is considered a possible solution to the global food crisis thanks to its hardy nature (historically, it has been eaten during times of famine) and medicinal properties. A lichen range - including butter, pesto and granola bars - was featured at Vienna Design Week.
Meanwhile Dulse seaweed, which is rich in protein, fibre and antioxidants, is riding a wave of popularity. Forget miso soup, this seaweed - which looks like red lettuce - has been called 'the bacon of the sea', for the salty, smoky flavour it takes on when fried. More likely, though, is that you'll be eating it dried - with flakes added to everything from bread to burgers and salad dressing.
Pampered pets
We've always loved our animals – just not this much. The pet economy is booming, with market researchers Euromonitor putting the world market at £97 billion ($182 billion NZD).
For 2019, expect to see a rise in five star experiences. Recently re-opened Crumb cafe in Grey Lynn offers a "puppercino" (lactose-free fluffy for dogs), dog treats, and offering 10 cents off your coffee when you bring your pup (dog beds provided, of course.)
While CBD oil for pets, and AnimalBiome DNA testing kits to make sure your furry friend is taking the right personalised supplements, are expected to be all the rage.
Expect a rise in five star experiences to make sure your furry friend is relaxed and have the down-time they deserve. Photo / Getty Images
Back to black
Goodbye Gen Z yellow, next year black will dominate in fashion and home furnishings.
Living Etc (UK) magazine has seen searches for black kitchens increase 93 per cent in the past six months, with the 'Scandi Noir' trend influencing everything from crockery to bed linen. "It is a response to the tumultuous times we live in," explains Lucie Greene.
Who says money can't buy happiness? It can if you purchase a ticket to Bhutan - one of 2019's hot travel destinations. The Himalayan kingdom, famous for the spiritual "gross national happiness index" that guides its government, doesn't come cheap and a flurry of five-star resorts have recently opened.
Israel's Tel Aviv is also having a moment, attracting the design crowd, with luxury hotels opening in historic buildings such as The Setai Tel Aviv in a former Ottoman jail. Hobart has similarly transformed Tasmania from an Australian outpost to cultural hub, with an arts and music community growing up around the city's Mona art museum.
Tel Aviv is one of next year's top holiday destinations. Photo / Getty Images
Frozen food gets hot
Frozen food is in from the cold, as we understand the benefits of eating food that was put in the freezer straight away and doesn't contain preservatives. "It was much maligned for a long time, synonymous with affordable processed meals, but that is changing," says Greene.
The industry is expected to reach £243 billion ($456 billion NZD) by 2021globally, according to Technavio market researchers.
Forget blood group diets, get ready for eating plans personalised according to your DNA. Kits are hitting the market that analyse your genetics and promise personalised weight loss advice. The tests are sent off to a lab, which sends a report identifying if you have the "fat genes", along with a diet and menus. In Japan Nestle offers personalised diet plans from an app and home DNA test and US company Habit also collect biosamples, from which it formulates a tailored nutrition programme.
Vegan luxury
Forget hessian shoes, vegan fashion has gone high-end. Trainer brand Veja has seen its turnover increase 60 per cent in the last year (and that was before the Duchess of Sussex wore them). Stella McCartney designed the first pair of vegan Stan Smiths in September and Net-A-Porter has a growing vegan fashion range. Meanwhile, London Fashion Week went fur-free this season and Coach, Versace, Burberry,Gucci and Hugo Boss have announced they will no longer use fur.
Thought posting photos of your meal on social media was just for show? Now, the calorie content can be analysed from your snap. Apps like Pinto will track the nutrients and ingredients, according to your dietary goals, while app Calorie Mama uses Food AI to decode your dinner, giving you a total calorie count. While the NHS'https://apps.beta.nhs.uk/change4life-food-scanner/ can be used to scan barcodes and tell you sugar, salt and saturated fat levels.
Like it or not
Digital 'likes' are about to become about to become big business. Amazon is launching a chain of stores in the US that sells only products with online ratings of four stars or more. Uber has also started banning passengers, in the US, Australia and New Zealand, whose rating falls below four stars (be nice to that driver). While, in China, the government is rolling out a Social Credit System, which calculates an approval rating - with 'likes' for each citizen, based on behaviour. People can be penalised for not picking up after their dog, spending frivolously or smoking, and be banned from certain jobs and travel as a consequence. Move over Black Mirror....
What came true in 2018
Last year The Future 100 report tipped the rise of the wellness trend, which ended up pervading everything from holidays to interiors. "Today wellness is starting to mean something much bigger to people – we're seeing real estate, paint colours, sexual health products all market themselves in the wellbeing space," says Greene.
What didn't eventuate was the arrival of the revolutionary 5G, with Spark nowing saying they want to launch a 5G mobile network on July 1, 2020,
