Meta is expected to double down on AI-powered augmented reality products with new smart glasses at its annual Connect event on Wednesday, even as the company faces scrutiny over its handling of child safety on its social media platforms.
Reuters
At its Menlo Park, California-based headquarters, CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to unveil Meta’s first consumer-ready smart glasses with a built-in display, a device that analysts predicted will retail for about $800.
Internally codenamed “Hypernova,” the glasses are expected to be launched as “Celeste,” analysts said, and will feature a small digital display in the right lens for basic functions such as notifications.
The new glasses are the latest in Meta’s effort to stay relevant in the AI race, where it is lagging rivals such as OpenAI and Alphabet’s Google, but analysts said the device’s hefty price tag could deter buyers.
The product will likely be much less advanced than the “Orion” prototype glasses that Meta showcased at last year’s event, a device that Zuckerberg called “the time machine to the future.”
The company did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on the new glasses.
Meta, which expects to launch Orion in 2027, currently offers two lines of glasses – in collaboration with Ray Ban and Oakley – that incorporate artificial intelligence features, cameras, hands-free control and livestreaming to Meta’s social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram.
Zuckerberg, who has poured more than $60 billion since 2020 into Meta’s augmented reality unit, has said that smart glasses will be the company’s main conduit to integrate superintelligence – a hypothetical concept where AI surpasses human intelligence in every possible way – into everyday human lives.
In the effort to catch up in AI, Zuckerberg has sparked a billion-dollar talent war, aggressively poaching researchers from rivals, while whistleblowers have said Meta was putting profit over user safety.
Reuters reported last month that Meta’s AI policies allowed its chatbots to engage children in provocative conversations about sex and race, and whistleblowers said earlier this month Meta’s researchers were told not to investigate harms to children using its virtual reality technology so that the company could claim ignorance of the problem.
Meta told Reuters previously that it has removed portions in its policies that stated it was permissible for chatbots to engage in romantic roleplay with children.
At the two-day Connect conference, the company is also expected to launch its first wristband that allows users to control the new glasses with hand gestures. It is also expected to show an updated Ray-Ban line that comes with better cameras and battery life and supports new AI features, analysts said.
Meta is the rare Big Tech company to gain consumer traction in smart glasses, selling about two million pairs of the Ray-Ban line it makes with EssilorLuxottica since 2023, in a market where rival bets such as Google Glasses have stumbled. But the unit has posted billions in losses.
CNBC has reported the Hypernova glasses could feature Prada branding, as the Italian label is known for thick frames and arms that could house many of the necessary components. Prada did not respond immediately to an emailed request for comment.
Still, analysts said the expected $800 sticker price for the glasses – much higher than the $299 starting price for the Ray-Ban line and $399 for the sportier Oakley glasses – will mean that the device will have a negligible share of the market.
“These glasses will be somewhat bulky … not the most consumer-friendly design. It is also going to be pretty expensive. So the volumes are going to be fairly low,” said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for International Data Corp’s worldwide mobile device tracker.
He estimated the device would sell “a few hundred thousand units at most” but could help get more developers on board to build apps for it. “This is a step to eventually build a much-better mass-market headset.” As part of efforts to attract developers, Meta is also expected to open its smart glasses to third-party developers with a new software kit.
Lingerie brand Triumph is accelerating its commitment to product transparency with the wider-scale rollout of its Digital Product Passport (DPP).
Triumph
Following its pilot launch last year, Triumph is continuing to expand the initiative with 20% of its European product assortment now featuring a DPP, with plans to extend this further across additional collections in the coming years.
Highlighting detailed information on sourcing, fabrics, supply chain, certifications and factory partners, the DPP offers customers a transparent view into the production of each garment.
Customers can follow an integrated link to explore the full journey of their chosen product, from fabric specifications to the factories where each component is produced.
Vera Galarza, Triumph’s Global head of Sustainability, said: “A bra is a complex product. From different lace colours sourced across multiple countries to the intricate design elements, every component requires thoughtful consideration. The Digital Product Passport empowers consumers to understand the full journey behind their purchase. We continue to find new ways to increase awareness of product provenance, and the expansion of this programme is a crucial step toward responsible and transparent practices across our supply chain.
“This continued expansion aligns with Triumph’s longstanding values: creating high-quality products that stand against fashion-fashion culture. By equipping customers with greater information and visibility, Triumph encourages more mindful consumption and strengthens the emotional connection consumers have with their lingerie.”
The ever-growing premium fashion brand Me+Em has opened its first boutique in Yorkshire, choosing Harrogate’s town centre Prospect Crescent for the new 1,300 sq ft space housed in a Grade II–listed former bank.
Me+Em
In keeping with the “global Me+Em design”, the Harrogate store features traditional English furniture mixed with modern design elements such as neutral-toned soft furnishings in fabrics by London-based designer Rose Uniacke.
The colour scheme for the “immersive space” is based on a rich forest green, a nod to the nearby Yorkshire Dales.
Large-scale haberdashery fixtures are used to showcase accessories and wardrobe staples, while bespoke bronze rails display curated product edits from the seasonal monthly collections.
Founded in 2009 by Clare Hornby, Me+Em’s ethos is that women “shouldn’t have to choose between quality and cost” while based on ‘intelligent style’ with a focus on “ensuring pieces are both flattering and functional, with a wear-forever appeal”.
The move into Yorkshire marks the latest chapter in Me+Em’s expansion, with the Harrogate store joining seven boutiques in London, including Marylebone High Street, King’s Road, Chelsea, Brook Street, Mayfair, Elizabeth Street Belgravia and at Battersea Power Station, plus stores in Manchester, Edinburgh. It’s the first UK store not in a major city. Internationally, the brand has two New York stores, plus Dallas Greenwich, Connecticut, and a soon-to-be-added Beverly Hills, California debut.
Lastest results filed last January showed the business to be progressing strongly. Group revenue increased by 24% to £147.9 million, driven by the success of its international business where revenues increased 50%. Gross profit was up 24% to £82.3 million with an improvement in margin to 56% from 55%.
Copenhagen-based fashion house Ganni has announced the appointment of three executives to key roles: Marcelo Noschese as president, Americas; Marie Valot as director of communications and public relations; and Guillaume Dacquet as director of marketing and image. All three will report directly to Ganni’s chief executive, Laura du Rusquec, and will work closely with the Executive Committee.
Marie Valot, Director of Communications and Public Relations, and Guillaume Dacquet, Director of Marketing and Image. – DR
Based in New York, Marcelo Noschese will be responsible for Ganni’s retail, wholesale, and e-commerce operations across the Americas. He has held senior leadership roles at houses including Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Ferragamo. Prior to joining Ganni, he was CEO of Prada Americas, overseeing operations in the US, Canada, and Latin America.
Marie Valot joins Ganni as director of communications and public relations. She has more than 15 years’ experience in brand communications, VIP and influencer strategies, and international partnerships. She previously led international communications for Balmain, Nina Ricci, and KCD Paris, where she spearheaded global campaigns, media strategies, and cross-functional projects.
Guillaume Dacquet has been appointed director of marketing and image. He joins Ganni from Estée Lauder Companies, where he worked on international rebranding initiatives and long-term communications platforms. He has also held roles within LVMH Beauty, notably for the Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy, Fresh, and Stella McCartney brands, in positions spanning strategic planning, consumer research, and innovation.
These three appointments form part of efforts to strengthen Ganni’s global organisation. According to Laura du Rusquec, the company’s chief executive, these hires are intended to support the implementation of the company’s long-term global vision.
Founded in Copenhagen in 2000, Ganni is a contemporary fashion house stocked by numerous international retailers and operating boutiques in Europe, the US, and Asia. A certified B Corp, the company publishes an annual responsibility report and develops initiatives focused on innovation, notably through its ‘Fabrics of the Future’ programme and projects related to the circular economy. L Catterton acquired a majority stake in the company in 2017.
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