Latest news with #cottagecore
Times
15 hours ago
- Times
Life on the farm has never looked as good as this
Mossy dry stone walls have an indescribable charm. Perhaps it's their quiet defiance, the way these ancient feats of engineering have stood long enough to be claimed by nature. As you leave Kirkcaldy, driving up into the patchwork of ancient fields above the Firth of Forth, their charm is heightened by the way the town — best known for its linoleum — suddenly melts into a landscape where these walls seem to be the only human fingerprints. Heading past rolling fields, with spring poking its head above the parapet and only the occasional russet of a Highland cow catching the eye, it feels as if there is nobody else here. Then, rounding a bend, my friend Anna and I happen upon Banchory Farm. Here, dotted around a warm pink farmhouse where owners Jane and Jonathan Manifold live with their two children, six farmhands' cottages have been converted into luxury rental cottages. Our home for the weekend is The Grieves, a two-bedroom cottage named after the farm manager, or 'grieve', who once lived here. A beautiful vase of hyacinths and tulips, as well as a basket groaning with seasonal produce, welcome us in an impeccably appointed, brass-knobbed deVOL kitchen. Cottagecore floral wallpaper, marble bathroom tiles — you'd never guess that The Grieves, now impeccably restored, had rising damp and no central heating a few years ago. Jane explains how they've also installed air source heat pumps, planted 4,500 trees and rewilded field edges around the cottages. We make porcini mushroom pasta from our welcome basket ingredients, run luxurious baths in the master bedroom then slip into linen bedding in our high-ceilinged but cosy double rooms to sleep the sort of sleep you get only after swapping city for deep, dark countryside. The next morning, after a hearty breakfast (again courtesy of the cornucopian gift basket), we follow the Manifolds' helpfully detailed guidebook to Falkland, former seat of Stuart kings and perhaps the most handsome of Scotland's royal burghs. The village, about 30 miles away at the foot of the Lomond Hills in the lovely Howe of Fife, has been frequently used as a filming location for Outlander. Fans of the show will know it as a stand-in for the Highlands where Frank Randall and Claire Beauchamp go on their honeymoon. • Falkland Palace — who can resist the draw of the world's oldest tennis court? After peeking up charming cobbled streets and briefly exploring Falkland Palace, the royal hunting lodge favoured by Mary, Queen of Scots, we tackle East Lomond, site of a prehistoric hillfort that the Picts chose as their lofty seat of power. The final 150 metres have us wedging toes into footholds but the sweeping summit views down over forest, field and the Firth of Forth mean we quickly forget the strain. Back at Banchory, Jane has arranged for Lesley Brown, a touring masseuse, to work out the kinks from our walk. The rest of the day drifts by in a haze of indulgence — a wander around Loch Leven, where we pause to spy on birds from a hide and browse the farm shop on its banks, a dinner of scallops and halibut at the family-run Wee Restaurant in North Queensferry, then Bananagrams in The Grieves' snug sitting room. • 16 of the most beautiful places in Scotland On our final night, which comes far too fast, Anna and I find ourselves in the garden in front of a crackling fire pit. The books, which we really did intend to read, are cast aside in favour of simply sitting in the cool, relaxing air. We are backlit by the warm light from the kitchen of our home-from-home, snug under the blue tartan rugs left thoughtfully in the boot room. We sit there as night falls, looking out beyond the wall at the foot of 'our' garden, laughing and swapping stories until the fire dies to embers and we retreat indoors. It's the kind of night that stays with you. As we pack up the next morning, we lament how quickly the trip has gone. Some places just make you want to linger, gathering moss like those old stone walls above Kirkcaldy. Lottie Hayton was a guest of Banchory Farm ( which has one night self-catering for two from £120
CTV News
10-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- CTV News
At $3,000 a night, luxury farm resorts are the next glamorous getaway
A new image of farming has shifted it from a blue-collar industry to a luxury-coded back-to-nature aspirational lifestyle. (Alberto Mier/CNN via CNN Newsource) Before the rise of homesteading influencers, picturing farm life would have likely brought to mind an arduous and messy day: wheelbarrow loads, pig troughs, late-night calving, and long hours spent seeding or harvesting. But the visual markers of a back-to-the-land lifestyle have changed. 'Living off the land,' as depicted in viral Instagram posts and TikTok videos, comes with a farmhouse-style open kitchen with Williams-Sonoma appliances. Family meals are curated with sunlit tablescaping. Sturdy jeans and mucked-up boots have been replaced with cottagecore dresses and 'clean girl' makeup. Now, a new set of Arcadian luxury resorts are offering a taste of farm life — or a more permanent stay — with all the bounties of organic, locally grown crops, and without the daily 14 hours of labour. In the foothills of Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains, for instance, guests can stay at the idyllic 4,200-acre Blackberry Farm and partake in fly fishing, horseback riding and the property's 170,000-strong wine cellar. In Portugal's São Lourenço do Barrocal, visitors retreat to a pastoral setting with livestock and olive trees, as well as proximity to a nearby stargazing haven. Within Mexico's resort town of San José del Cabo, Flora Farms offers guest rooms and homes to culinary enthusiasts on an intimate family-run property. And on the eastern side of Puerto Rico, the forthcoming 1,100-acre property Moncayo will offer 400 residences, 68 guest rooms, a 100-acre farm and golf courses along its mountain ridges, valley and coastline. Many of these properties' rooms cost between US$1,000 and US$3,000 a night, with built residences on Moncayo starting above US$12 million. 'There will be rounds of golf, there'll be games of tennis, there'll be island hopping on boats,' said Carter Redd, the president of the Moncayo development project, for the firm Juniper Capital, on a video call. 'But I would be surprised if most days don't start or finish with the trip to the farm.' Influencers have played a role in leading the rebrand of farm life, with Hannah Neeleman of Ballerina Farm — one of homesteading's most visible acolytes — attracting more than 10 million followers on Instagram alone. Aspirational posts from her Utah farm often show Neeleman picking fresh vegetables from her garden with her children (she has eight), and whipping up turmeric lattes with creamy milk straight from the cow's udder. Celebrities also take part (these lifestyles are less replicable for the average person without hired hands). Supermodel sisters Gigi and Bella have been known to retreat to the family's 32-acre farm in Pennsylvania — Bella told Dazed in a recent interview that horse poop was her earliest scent memory — while a video tour of Lenny Kravitz's verdant Brazilian fazenda is one of Architectural Digest's most-watched to date. Other celebrities known to participate — or at least be photographed — in the rituals of living off the land include Brie Larson and Shailene Woodley, who are fans of foraging, and Meghan Markle, who harvests honey in her Netflix show and recently posted a video depicted herself of beekeeping with her daughter, Lilibet, on Instagram. Allyson Rees, a senior strategist for trend forecasting company WGSN, thinks that farm stays have wide appeal amid 'a desire for more authentic experiences… and feeling like your vacation has a bit more of a wellness component, and an impactful component to your mental health,' she told CNN over the phone. The global agritourism market, which was worth US$69.2 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach US$197.4 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights, encompasses anything that engages the public with agricultural production, from pumpkin patches and corn mazes to wine tours. But, increasingly, longer-term immersion into the day-to-day of ranches, farms or vineyards has become more appealing. In the US, farm-stay listings increased 71% between August 2019 and August 2024, according to AirDNA, which tracks data on short-term rentals from various platforms. On Airbnb, there were over 1 million searches for farm stays in the first quarter of 2025, per company data provided to CNN, a 20% increase from the same period in 2024. Reconnecting with the land At the heart of many of these agrarian retreats are high-end meals and cooking classes using ingredients grown on site. 'The idea is to have people get more of an appreciation of where local food comes from and what goes into it,' said Kristin Soong Rapoport, a co-owner of Wildflower Farms in the bucolic Hudson Valley area of New York, in a phone call. A former tree nursery, Wildflower's 140-acre plot now offers bountiful crops, meadows and wooded vistas, with dozens of cabins, cottages and suites dotting the land. Beyond more traditional amenities such as a spa and pool, guests can try botanical baking, pressed-flower pottery or take cooking classes with the produce they've freshly picked. This summer, the farm is launching a harvest dinner series, each hosted by a notable figure in the creative or culinary industries — including Oscar de la Renta and Monse creative director Laura Kim and renown chef Flynn McGarry — and featuring ingredients harvested by guests earlier in the day. 'In general, luxury hotels were just touching on… gardening, and it was important for us to really have a farm,' Soong Rapoport said of the early research and planning into the resort. 'I think the size and the ambitiousness of the program was what we thought would make it stand out.' In Puerto Rico, the team behind the Moncayo farm plans to use regenerative agriculture practices and distribute half of its produce to local communities in Fajardo, where it is located, according to its press materials. With 85% of the island's food imported, Moncayo is also positioning itself as 'a learning lab' for agriculture by partnering with local universities, farmers and organizations. 'Our ability to provide fresh produce and fruits locally is really meaningful,' Redd said. The association of locally grown, quality ingredients with luxury is nothing new — and has continued its trajectory ever since organic produce hit the shelves at higher price points, farmer's markets were popularized in major cities, and farm-to-table restaurants proliferated in search of Michelin stars. But now other elements of farm life and homesteading have become aspirational, too, as the lifestyle itself has become less attainable. According to the sustainable food systems thinktank IPES-Food, global land prices doubled from 2008-2022, with 1% of the world's largest farms controlling 70% of global farmland. At the same time, the number of farms worldwide has declined and is projected to continue shrinking. Aside from new luxury properties, agritourism has offered another revenue stream for existing, independent farms. In 2024, hosts of Airbnb farm stays in the US collectively earned over US$500 million, the company said. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has credited the industry with revitalizing the Mediterranean's rural areas and boosting its local economies, while Japan's Farm Stay Promotion Plan has encouraged the same, offering traditional stays where guests learn to cook or ferment vegetables with local farmers among picturesque rice fields and mountain ranges. And in China, a 'rural revival' was accelerated during the pandemic, Rees said. With travel and quarantine restrictions, many Chinese urbanites headed outside of cities, fuelling a rural tourism boom, while influencers like Li Ziqi drew large followings to their posts about the idyllic countryside. Not all farm stays and eco villages are inherently expensive, and part of the luxury is finding an experience that's 'off the beaten track — almost like an if-you-know-you-know type of thing,' Rees added. Slower living and self-sufficiency Similar to China's rural tourism trend, the growing interest in farm tourism is partly due to pandemic travel restrictions, Rees explained, when more people sought out local retreats and open air away from major cities but closer to home. That shift in vacation patterns was important to the success of Wildflower Farms, Soong Rapoport noted, which opened in 2022. New York City residents left in droves and many looked north to the Hudson Valley area, with the small town of Hudson seeing the biggest change in net incoming residents out of all US metro areas, according to The New York Times. 'It was a harder story for us to explain to the general public before the pandemic. And so when we opened, I think a lot of people already got the benefit of it, and so it just made it catch on a lot more quickly,' she said. Rees believes that interest in other aspects of farming and off-grid living, such as growing a personal and sustainable food supply, has only grown since the pandemic. 'People were staying home more, but I also think it's very much tied to the preparedness movement and (the desire) to be much more self-sufficient,' she said. 'It's not really this niche thing. It's not like 'Doomsday Preppers' anymore.' Agritourism marks a departure in luxury tourism that is less about visible wealth and excess, according to Vittoria Careri, a marketing manager for The Hospitality Experience, which owns the Italian countryside escape Borgo dei Conti Resort. It aligns with the movement toward 'quiet luxury' in fashion. Like desiring fewer logos on clothing, resort stays don't necessarily need the ultra-expensive poolside bottle of champagne for a photo op. 'That concept of luxury now is old-fashioned,' she said in a video call. 'These types of customers are searching for something more genuine.' In Umbria, the 'green heart' of Italy, guests at Borgo dei Conti stay at a villa that was formerly the home of the late-Romantic Italian painter Lemmo Rossi-Scotti, and can spend their days suiting up to harvest honey with the property's beekeepers, following truffle-hunting dogs to discover a summer version of the delicacy, or picnicking among the verdant olive trees. At any price point, from multi-thousand-dollar stays to more modest accommodations, Rees credits the popularity of agritourism with the wider slow-living movement online (somewhat ironically promoted by influencers across TikTok) — a reaction to the stressors and pace of modern life and increasingly dense metropolises. And Rees says that while Millennials might be more associated with the trend, 'it's quite Gen-Z focused as well.' Careri believes that younger Italians have lost touch with something generational within their families, and now they are seeking it out once more. 'This kind of farming, (raising) the animals, is something our grandparents experienced. But now the new generations, they don't know it,' Careri said, adding that it gives them 'a sense of wonder.'
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How Traitors star and interior designer FRANCESCA ROWAN-PLOWDEN renovated her five-bedroom home on a shoestring budget
A mash-up of English countryside meets the 1920s meets Morocco,' is how interior designer Francesca Rowan-Plowden, 46, describes the five-bedroom house near Rye, East Sussex, that she shares with her psychotherapist husband David, her four sons (aged between nine and 19), two dogs, two chickens and a cat. Rowan-Plowden may be more familiar to you as Frankie, a finalist in this year's hit BBC reality TV game The Traitors. She's still recognised from the series. 'A guy showed me pictures of his bathroom renovation on the tube the other day.' A theatre actor before pivoting to a career in interior design, Rowan-Plowden appreciates the parallels between the two: 'Theatre is about taking the audience on a journey and putting on a good show. It's the same with interiors.' Despite the 'lived-in', cottage-core vibe, the house was built at the turn of the millennium: every room was painted white; fixtures and fittings were modern. 'It lacked soul,' says Rowan-Plowden, who 'aged' each room, painting woodwork in heritage colours and adding vintage textiles. Silver lever door handles were replaced with aged brass 'beehive' versions. Rowan-Plowden has an impressive design portfolio that includes Goodnestone Park stately home (which she converted into a wedding venue), Battel Hall on the Leeds Castle estate and Kingshill Farmhouse on the Elmley Nature Reserve, all in Kent. Unlike her prestigious clients, however, she had to keep budgets tight for her own home. All spare cash went towards fundamentals like plumbing and rewiring. The main bathroom, which featured a retro jacuzzi that leaked, is a case in point. 'The pumps didn't work, so it was essentially a tub with holes,' she laughs. 'It was like bathing in an egg timer – a race against the clock to get clean before the space flooded.' With most of the budget sunk into the bathroom restoration, affordable decoration solutions were needed elsewhere. One of Rowan-Plowden's tricks is to buy linen from Ikea and transform it into curtains. ('It worked out at £2 per metre.') Tired chairs are now covered in vintage textiles; an old banister has a new life as a lamp. Desirable odds and ends she has acquired over the years include a velvet kissing chair, an antique side table (which makes the living room look 'posher'), and a green wooden armoire. Bought for £70 at a vintage fair, it has seen several incarnations over the years: as a linen cupboard, a toy cabinet and now a drinks bar. 'It's the Madonna of cabinets,' says Rowan-Plowden. In the main bedroom, the bed has been spruced up with an upholstered headboard. 'I design headboards for all of my clients,' she says. 'You can get a bespoke version for the same price as a mass-produced one, but with personalised trimmings like studs, piping and buttons.' An old chaise longue (once covered in a 'hideous print') was reupholstered in leftover curtain fabric from her mum's house. It stands by the bedroom window, in front of striped curtains from Dunelm. 'I'm all about the high and low,' Rowan-Plowden says. 'Get the balance right and it's impossible to tell the difference.' GET THE LOOK Mix bargain and blowout pieces to create a vintage vibe for less Lynton Wide Sideboard Ensia - tall rattan table lamp £129 Shop Cushion £39 Shop Plant Nicolau £60 Shop GP & J Baker Nympheus Made to Measure Curtains, Stone/Pistachio £159 a metre Shop £75 Shop Chair £749 Shop Habitat Herringbone Khaki Border Jute Rug £35 Shop Stone Fireplace Candlestick £24.99 Shop
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
110+ Peaceful Cottagecore Baby Names Full of Tranquility
Cottagecore is taking the style and home world by storm. It was only a matter of time before cottagecore baby names hit the scene. These names evoke an old-soul sort of vibe and are often inspired by nature and the countryside. If you hope to give your baby a slower life with an appreciation for all things simple and natural, one of these bucolic names might be right for your little one. The cottagecore lifestyle focuses on the slow, the natural, and the vintage. These sweet little girl names embody those cottagecore vibes and have the fairy-like quality you may be searching for in your baby girl's title. Adelaide - Noble natured (English) Alice - Noble (German) Amber - Jewel (French) Amethyst - Jewel (Greek) Autumn - Season of harvest (Latin) Beatrice - Bringer of joy (Latin) Belle - Beautiful (French) Clementine - Gentle one (Latin) Esme - Esteemed (French) Fawn - Young deer (French) Florence - Blossoming (Latin) Harriet - Home ruler (German) Hazel - The hazel tree (English) Honey - Nectar (English) Jade - Precious stone (British) Jewel - Precious stone (English) Opal - Precious stone (Latin) Wren - Small bird (English) Related: While the term cottagecore can be defined as "an aesthetic or imagery inspired by an old-fashioned, rural lifestyle," there are lots of nuances to lean into. This means you can get really creative with a cottagecore-inspired baby name. Cottagecore boy names can be strong and often inspired by nature and animals. Choose one of these for a baby boy with an old soul and quality that calls you back to the wonders of nature. Alder - Older (German) Ansel - Protected by God (German) Arthur - Bear (Celtic) Asher - Happy (Hebrew) August - To increase (Latin) Bear - Strong (German) Berkley - Birch tree meadow (Scottish) Clayton - Clay settlement (English) Cliff - Cliff-side slope (English) Ewan - Born of yew (Welsh) Forrest - Of the woods (French) Georgie - Farmer (Greek) Hawke - Wild (British) Hunter - Pursuer (British) Jasper - Treasurer (Persian) Lark - Lighthearted songbird (English) Lupin- Pertaining to the wolf (French) Quill - Feather (English) River - Flowing body of water (English) Rowan - Red-haired (Irish) Shepard - Sheepherder (British) Thatcher - Roof thatcher (British) Wilder - Untamed (English) With so many names inspired by plants, animals, and other parts of nature, it's no surprise that many cottagecore baby names are gender-neutral. Whether you're keeping your baby's gender a surprise or just want a universal name that feels vintage and natural, one of these sweet names might be the perfect fit. Auburn - Reddish brown (English) Beryl - Gemstone (Greek) Fabel - Storyteller (German) Fallon - Superior (Irish) Finch - Songbird (English) Gale - Wind (English) Hawthorne - Where hawthorn trees grow (British) Lake - Body of water (British) Lyric - Songlike (Greek) Merle - Blackbird (French) Ocean - Sea (Greek) Paisley - Church (Scottish) Rain - Abundance from above (English) Robin - Famed (English) Sage - Wise (Latin) Skye - Islands of clouds (Scottish) Storm - Tempest (British) Willow - Freedom (English) An appreciation for the natural world is a large part of the cottagecore aesthetic and lifestyle. Flowers and plants have inspired baby names for a long time and these names might fit the cottagecore style you're hoping to find in your baby's name. Acacia Amaranth Balsam Basil Berry Birch Blossom Camelia Cherry Cedar Clover Cyprus Daffodil Daisy Fauna Fern Flax Flora Holly Hyacinth Ivy Jasmine Juniper Laurel Lilac Lily Maple Rose Rosemary Pansy Peach Poppy Zinnia Dark cottagecore is a niche part of the aesthetic and still leans heavily into nature. You might choose a name inspired by a fairytale or a part of nature that feels a little darker than the sunnier choices. Ambrose - Immortal (Greek) Briar - Brambles (British) Cecily - Heaven (British) Coraline - Beloved (German) Ephraim - Fruitful (Hebrew) Fletcher - Arrow maker (British) Gretel - Pearl (German) Hansel - God is gracious (German) Ophelia - Help (Greek) Orrick - From the ancient oak tree (English) Seraphine - Burning one (Hebrew) Winter - The cold season (English) Related: Many of the cottagecore names lend themselves well to adorable nicknames for your child. If you want to choose a name based on the cute nickname you could use, try one of these sweet cottagecore titles. Finn (Finnegan) Freddie (Frederick) Ginny (Virginia) Lottie (Charlotte) Nellie (Eleanor) Ronnie (Saffron) Rory (Aurora) Teddie (Theodore) Winnie (Winifred) Related: If you're inspired by the fairytale essence and simple living vibes of cottagecore, lean in with your child's name. A cottagecore name could inspire your child to appreciate the beautiful parts of nature and life throughout their childhood.
Gizmodo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Labubu's Creator on the Ugly-Cute Sensation That's Taken Over the World
Labubus have captivated the world under a spell of mischievous fantasy that is making the plush purse baubles a must-have collector's toy. And if you're a Jim Henson creature fan (think Labyrinth and Dark Crystal) or grew up on Where the Wild Things Are with a dash of Donnie Darko's Frank the Bunny, you'll find them hard to resist. Much like the lucky spirits of forest folklore that inspired them, Labubus are everywhere all at once and yet hard to find if you're trying to buy one. Pop Mart, which distributes artist Kasing Lung's beloved characters in vinyl and plush collectible form, releases drops that immediately sell out. Cutesy toy collectors are often having to turn to re-sellers at a steeper mark-up than the $20-30 the keychains usually go for, with prices often reaching hundreds of dollars for elusive variants. And while Pop Mart encourages fans to shop through official outlets, many fall for the trap of the Lafufus—faux Labubus, many of which are so cursed-looking, with eyes that fall out or bald peeled heads, they've garnered their own cult following as well. 'The Monsters,' as the series that spawned Labubu is called, continue to gain global recognition through popularity in the fantasy cottagecore realms of the internet. Labubu is the breakout species of the Monsters crew; the main character is also named Labubu and became the standout of the group thanks to the extreme ugly-cute quality that made her a viral sensation. Other characters in the Smurf-like tribe of Labubu include the rare pink Mokoko and the Labubu leader Zimomo (who has a tail), who also have a cult following of their own. Toy collectors love them, including celebrities like Blackpink's Lisa (The White Lotus), What We Do in the Shadows' Harvey Guillén, and Madame Web's Emma Roberts. io9's conversation with Labubu figure creator Kasing Lung, conducted over email, delves into how Nordic supernatural folklore inspired the fuzzy elven creatures. Also—as fans ourselves, often awake at all hours of the night trying to nab an official Labubu on the Pop Mart app—we were excited to explore with Lung why he thinks the Monsters' enchanting whimsy has taken over the world. Sabina Graves, io9: I've read that the creation of the Monsters was inspired by your time in the Netherlands when you were young. What about that experience inspired the Monsters story book idea, and how did that shift to making them into a physical art form? Kasing Lung: That's right—Labubu was born from my fascination with Nordic mythology and European folklore, which I was surrounded by while growing up in the Netherlands. I've always been drawn to creatures that live in the space between fantasy and reality—figures that are both familiar and mysterious. I wanted to create a character that embodied that duality: mischievous yet endearing, strange yet deeply human. Labubu, like all the characters in the Monsters universe, has an emotional depth that makes her feel alive. When I partnered with Pop Mart, I was able to bring that imagination into the physical world—transforming Labubu from a storybook figure into something people could collect, connect with, and make their own. io9: What makes Pop Mart the ideal collaborator to share the Monsters with the world? Were you a part of collector culture growing up, and if so, what toys did you collect? Lung: Pop Mart's design-forward philosophy makes them an ideal collaborator for any artist. They prioritize artistic integrity and allow creators like me the freedom to develop characters without compromise. That kind of trust is rare. It means every figure stays true to its roots—from concept to final collectible—and collectors can feel that authenticity in every piece. As for collecting, yes—I have always been interested in that world. I was drawn to toys that sparked imagination, whether it was action figures, miniature creatures, or things with unexpected personality. I think that fascination with small, expressive objects has stayed with me. The Monsters are really just a grown-up extension of that childlike wonder. [TK unboxing IG reel link] io9: I'd love to get your perspective on seeing your creations begin to appear in so many places on a global scale, even on fashion and music icons like Lisa. What do you think about the current fashion craze that the Monsters are a part of? Lung: Seeing Labubu embraced by fans worldwide, from dedicated collectors to global icons, is surreal and incredibly humbling. When I first started sketching Labubu, I wasn't thinking about fame or fashion trends. I was just following a feeling, creating something that felt true to me. So to now see people lining up for drops, customizing their collections, and making Labubu part of their daily lives—it's overwhelming in the best way. What's happening in fashion feels like a natural evolution. Today, people want to wear their personalities, to show the world who they are through what they carry, collect, and wear. Labubu speaks to that desire for something playful, expressive, and a little bit rebellious. The fact that the Monsters are becoming part of that cultural language means the world to me. It pushes me to keep expanding the universe, to keep creating characters that surprise people and give them something they can connect with—emotionally and personally. io9: What are your plans to continue to expand the stories for the Monsters characters alongside the figures release? Are there any collaborations and projects related to them coming up that you can share that will open up their story to more fans around the world? Lung: Right now, I'm letting the Monsters story evolve naturally. These characters are always growing in my mind, and every new figure is a chance to explore a different side of their world. I never want to force their direction—it's more about following the emotion behind them and letting that guide the creative process. In terms of collaborations, there are definitely exciting projects in the works. Most recently, we collaborated with One Piece for the Monsters × One Piece Series Figures. While I can't reveal too much just yet, I'm always looking for opportunities to expand the Monsters into new mediums and formats, so fans can experience them in deeper and more immersive ways. To see Pop Mart's selection of the Monsters' blind box offerings and collaborations, visit the retailer's official site.
