Dupe Culture, 100" AR laptop, Tesla Y, Jeep A. offroading #212 / June 2, 2023(Fri) / Confidential |
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When kids were young, many would start their outdoor adventures with SUVs or minivans for tent camping. As they grew older, a lot of them would upgrade to trailers or RVs. For those who had an even greater passion, off-road vehicles would often capture their interest. California offers the perfect setting to embrace the outdoor lifestyle. Many people view off-roading not merely as a choice but as an essential activity. They can cruise through dry desert trails, explore sand dunes while being serenaded by the sound of the waves, or race through densely packed forest trails without any restrictions. This exhilarating off-road experience is reminiscent of the pioneering spirit and embodies a truly American pastime. Particularly when COVID-19 struck and Americans had to cancel their international travel plans, leaving them disheartened, off-road vehicles provided a fresh outlet for them to discover and enjoy new adventures.
Overlanding vs Offroading?
Both overlanding and off-roading are popular in the United States, but they are often confused with each other. It is important to draw a clear distinction between them because different vehicles are used depending on the purpose. |
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If I had to sum up overlanding in one sentence, it would be a badass adventure where you conquer rough mountains and remote areas for days, weeks, months, or even years, with no one around to help—a survival trip that's hella fun! So, make sure you pack and take care of your cooking gear (aka "eats") and sleeping setup (tent, bed, tools, waterproof stuff, you name it).
Now, off-roading is all about leaving the boring paved roads behind and diving into the wild. You'll feel the excitement in your butt and taste the dust in your mouth. It's an unplanned journey where you conquer unpaved terrains like gravel, mud, or sand. These trips are usually short, lasting just a day or two, and you embrace the unexpected, like getting stuck in a muddy pit or popping a tire on a rock. Unlike overlanding, you don't need a ton of cooking utensils, but you do need essential equipment like tire inflators, traction mats, jump starters, and stuff like that.
To get started with overlanding, there are a few things to consider. First, go for American-made vehicles that are easy to fix and find parts for, even in the middle of nowhere. Luxury rides with fancy tech features are usually a no-go because they won't be much help on your adventure. Second, look for vehicles with 4X4 capability—they're the real deal. Third, vans with plenty of space are often the way to go. Some popular models that balance cost and durability are GM Suburban, Tahoe, Ford Excursion, Jeep Wrangler, Cherokee, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Ford F-Series, Tacoma, Nissan Frontier. Pickup trucks, especially, are loved because you can easily convert the bed with a cap, rack system, rooftop tent, or waterproof gear for sleeping.
Once you've got your overlanding or off-roading beast ready, it's time to check out the trails. Luckily, there are awesome apps for that these days. Take the onX Offroad app, for example. It gives you all the deets on recommended trails, difficulty levels, how long and how far you'll be off-roading, elevation info, cool trail pics, weather forecasts for your travel days, required ground clearance, and more. If you're planning an off-roading adventure, do yourself a favor and give that app a go—download it, my friend!
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🤗 Summary of This Newsletter
01. Consumer Trend - Lululemon embracing the power of disruption in dupe culture
02. UX Design - Laptop with AR Glasses Providing 100" Virtual Monitor
03. Automotive News - Most sold car Tesla Y and supercharger / Jeep Testing Autonomous Off-Road System |
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Consumer Trend - Embracing the power of disruption in dupe culture
Dupe, one of the fashion trends on TikTok, is a term used by Gen Z to refer to a "Duplicator," meaning a replica or knockoff product. The hashtag #Dupe has garnered over 2.7 billion views, dominating the short video platform. When there's buzz about a particular brand's product being great, Dupe refers to recreating that product with similar features but at a significantly lower price through imitation goods. (For example, a Dupe video reviewing an Amazon product that closely resembles genuine Ugg boots.) |
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Back in the day, it was super embarrassing to buy or have obvious fake stuff. But now, Gen Z is all about proudly finding these knockoff items and showing off like it's a major accomplishment. There's this influencer who blew up with over 2.9 million views on their "Doop" videos, where they showcase Target products that look like fancy brands.
So, why is this Dupe culture becoming so popular?
Well, TikTok's main crowd, Gen Z and millennials, are the trendsetters in fashion and beauty. But not everyone has the cash for luxury goods. Dupe products offer affordable alternatives with designs that closely imitate high-end brands, giving people a chance to have something similar without breaking the bank.
But there are some problems with the Dupe culture.
Just like fast fashion in the past, Dupe products are made quickly to keep up with the ever-changing fashion and beauty trends. And to meet deadlines, they often don't meet environmental and social standards. The "Fixing Fashion" report says that these Dupe products contribute to 20% of water pollution from industries, and a whopping 93% of manufacturers don't pay fair wages, causing social issues.
So, how do we handle the Dupe culture?
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UX Design - Laptop with AR Glasses Providing 100" Virtual Monitor
People who've played Pokémon Go realized that augmented reality isn't just some far-off tech anymore. Sightful, a startup, has introduced a laptop that's as portable as a pair of sneakers, with the belief that if we can overcome spatial limitations, our thinking can expand too.
This laptop, used with VR goggles, has a 100-inch monitor boasting 2K resolution. You can even use it in tight spots like a Starbucks. Imagine having a massive 100-inch monitor in economy class—it's mind-blowing. Stockbrokers who need multiple screens at once would totally benefit from this.
By the way, Sightful plans to prioritize the first 1,000 applicants who signed up on their website to buy the SpaceTop laptop. It's priced at $2,000 initially.
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Automotive News - Tesla Y and Tesla Supercharger
For the first time ever, the highest-selling vehicle worldwide has been registered as an electric car. According to market research firm JATO Dynamics, the Tesla Model Y became the best-selling vehicle in the first quarter of this year, with approximately 267,000 units sold. The second spot was taken by the Toyota Corolla, trailing behind the Tesla Model Y by more than a million units. However, it is expected to secure the position of the automaker with the highest overall sales, along with the Hilux, RAV4, and Camry.
Looking ahead, Ford is considering equipping its electric vehicles (EVs) with Tesla-style charging ports, which are considered the standard for charging in North America. This would allow Ford EV customers to charge at Tesla's Supercharger network, which comprises over 12,000 stations spread across the United States. Additionally, they would have access to Ford's own network of over 10,000 high-speed chargers. Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, emphasized the importance of broad accessibility to fast charging, stating that it is a vital factor for the growth of their EV brand.
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Automotive News - Jeep Testing Autonomous Off-Road System
Jeep, which is developing future models, is adding attractive features to its autonomous off-road system. While many details have not been disclosed, they are testing the new system in Moab, Utah, using the Grand Cherokee 4xe, and it is believed to be an autonomous off-road system. It is expected that features such as route guidance that drives the path itself, Lead and Follow functionality that follows the vehicle ahead, and the ability to control the vehicle to traverse obstacles without a driver using a smartphone or tablet will be added. |
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Over the Memorial Day weekend, my colleague from KDC went on a cool off-road trip to Sedona, Arizona, where they're testing out that Jeep autonomous off-road system we talked about earlier. Sedona is known to Koreans as the place where baseball player Park Chan-ho and golfer Pak Se-ri went for vortex therapy during their slumps. But for Americans, it's famous as a paradise for outdoor lovers with over 200 trails.
My colleague and his friends set to try the Devil's Bridge off-roading trail, but darn it, their ground clearance wasn't enough, so they had to change plans and head to Soldier Pass instead, which is known as the most stunning trail in Sedona. They're thinking of getting a kit that lifts their ground clearance by about 2.5 inches for their next off-roading adventure. With that extra lift, they'll be able to tackle almost any off-road course without a hitch. Gear always comes in handy, huh? |
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Kia Design Center America
Written by Jenna Chwee
Email: jchwee@hatci.com
101 Peters Canyon Rd. Irvine, CA 92606
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