CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

New research from Harry’s reveals that humour, football banter, memes and everyday check-ins have become an emotional shorthand for modern British men, highlighting a shift in how men express affection and maintain meaningful relationships.

To mark Father’s Day, the men’s personal care brand has partnered with comedian and actor Asim Chaudhry to launch The Feel Good Hotline, an interactive public installation designed to encourage men to reconnect through the small, everyday moments that often carry the greatest meaning.

The “Dial Up The Feel Good” campaign explores the subtle and often indirect ways men show they care, whether through sharing football scores, sending memes, making quick phone calls or simply checking in with a practical message.

New YouGov research commissioned by Harry’s among 2,000 UK men found that humour and everyday interactions play a significant role in emotional connection.

More than half (56%) of respondents said humour or banter makes emotional conversations easier, while 41% said sending a funny meme or video is their preferred way of saying “I’m thinking of you” without making the interaction feel overly serious.

Open-ended responses revealed that many men express care through casual, everyday communication rather than overtly emotional language. Messages such as “Did you see the result last night?”, “Fancy a pint?”, “Need anything from the shop?” and “Hope the back’s alright” were commonly cited as examples of how affection is often communicated in practice.

The findings also point to an evolving approach to emotional openness across generations. Seven in ten men (70%) said they are more likely than their father or father figure to ask their children how they are really feeling, while 67% said they are more likely to openly tell their children “I love you.”

Bringing the campaign to life, Harry’s and Asim Chaudhry have unveiled The Feel Good Hotline at Shoreditch’s iconic Great Eastern Art Wall. Running from 28th May to 7th June 2026, the large-scale mural and interactive telephone installation invites passers-by to pick up the phone and listen to messages, jokes and conversation prompts recorded by Chaudhry before leaving a voicemail for a father, father figure or someone they care about.

Whether sharing a football joke, a favourite memory or a simple “just checking in,” the experience has been intentionally designed to feel light-hearted, accessible and pressure-free, reflecting the natural ways many men communicate through humour, shared interests and everyday interactions.

The initiative also extends online through Feel Good Hotline, where visitors can access additional messages, stories and prompts aimed at encouraging meaningful conversations and helping people reconnect in ways that feel authentic to them.

The campaign arrives at a particularly significant moment for Chaudhry, who recently became a first-time father.

Commenting on the partnership, Asim Chaudhry said:

“Becoming a dad has definitely changed the way I think about connection and showing up for the people you care about. It’s made the whole idea behind this campaign feel really personal to me.

I think a lot of men feel like reaching out has to become some big serious conversation, when actually it’s often the small stuff that means the most.

That’s what I liked about The Feel Good Hotline. It takes the pressure off and makes checking in feel lighter, easier and more natural. Sometimes a two-minute phone call or a dumb joke genuinely can make someone’s day.”

As part of the campaign, Harry’s is also partnering with men’s mental fitness charity Talk Club, supporting the organisation through a donation that will help sustain four Talk Club groups for an entire year. The funding will create 2,080 opportunities for men to attend sessions, alongside more than 4,000 hours of conversation designed to help participants connect, feel heard and improve their mental fitness.

As the boundaries between tailoring and everyday dressing continue to blur, retailers are increasingly recognising the demand for wardrobes that move seamlessly between formal and casual settings. That shift sits firmly behind the latest launch from  Suit Direct, which has introduced an exclusive Ted Baker casualwear collection available both online and in stores nationwide.

Building on its established Ted Baker suiting offer, the new collection gives customers a more complete way to shop the brand, pairing refined tailoring with premium casual staples designed for modern everyday wear.

The range focuses on versatile essentials that comfortably bridge smart and relaxed dressing. Pieces include 100% cotton T-shirts, polo shirts, chinos, linen-rich Oxford shirts and lightweight outerwear, all designed to work alongside tailoring whilst remaining strong standalone wardrobe options in their own right.

The launch reflects a wider movement within menswear, where consumers are increasingly investing in pieces that offer flexibility across work, weekends and social occasions without sacrificing quality or polish. Smart-casual dressing continues to dominate the contemporary menswear landscape, and Suit Direct’s expanded Ted Baker offer feels well aligned with that demand.

“We are so excited to be introducing our new and exclusive Ted Baker Endurance casual range, which will sit alongside our tailored collections and give customers even more choice when it comes to style, comfort and wearability,” says Amanda Argent.

The collection forms part of the Ted Baker Endurance line, extending the same performance-led philosophy already seen within the retailer’s formalwear offer into more casual everyday pieces. Breathable fabrics, lighter constructions and improved fits feature throughout, helping create a collection that prioritises comfort without losing the sharper aesthetic associated with the Ted Baker name.

“The Ted Baker Endurance casualwear range gives customers pieces they can wear on their own or style with our Ted Baker suits,” explains Charlotte Murphy. “It’s a strong commercial offer that works for smarter occasions as well as relaxed everyday dressing.”

Attention to detail remains central throughout the collection, with signature branding and refined finishes helping elevate otherwise understated essentials. The result is a range that feels wearable and commercially accessible whilst maintaining a premium positioning.

The launch also signals a broader period of growth for Suit Direct as the retailer continues investing in its physical store portfolio and wider menswear offer. Following refurbishments across several key locations, alongside plans for further store openings throughout 2026, the introduction of the exclusive Ted Baker casualwear range strengthens the retailer’s position not only within occasion dressing and suiting, but increasingly within premium lifestyle menswear as well.

At a time when modern wardrobes are expected to work harder than ever, collections that balance versatility, comfort and contemporary styling are becoming increasingly important. Suit Direct’s latest move suggests the retailer understands exactly where the menswear market is heading.

For years, the conversation around children and screen time has felt like an unwinnable battle. Parents want technology that entertains, educates and connects, yet the modern digital landscape often feels increasingly chaotic, addictive and frankly exhausting. Endless scrolling, questionable content, intrusive advertising and concerns around online safety have left many families searching for an alternative.

Now, a company called  Nex believes it may have found the answer.

The Californian tech brand behind the increasingly talked about Nex Playground has officially announced its first major expansion outside North America, with the active play system launching in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland this summer.

And in a market saturated with gaming hardware obsessed with graphics, violence and online competition, Nex is attempting something radically different: making gaming physical again.

Gaming That Actually Gets Kids Moving

At first glance, Nex Playground feels like a nostalgic throwback to the golden era of family gaming. Think less isolated headset culture and more communal living room entertainment. The difference here however is that Nex has wrapped the concept inside a far more sophisticated, privacy-focused ecosystem designed specifically for modern families.

The system uses natural body motion rather than traditional controllers, allowing children — and parents — to physically interact with games through movement. Sports, dance, fitness and educational experiences form the backbone of a growing library now exceeding 60 titles.

And importantly, the content has been curated with intention.

Rather than functioning as an open-ended digital rabbit hole, Nex Playground operates as a closed ecosystem with no advertising, no mature content and no exposure to the wider unpredictability of the internet. In an age where many parents are becoming increasingly anxious about exactly what their children are consuming online, that distinction feels particularly significant.

The timing of Nex’s UK and Ireland launch feels remarkably smart. Conversations surrounding children’s digital wellbeing have intensified dramatically over the past 18 months, with governments, schools and parents all debating how to create healthier relationships with technology. Nex appears to have recognised a growing appetite for products that combine entertainment with physical activity, while also removing many of the concerns attached to conventional gaming platforms.

According to company President and Head of International Tom Kang, trust and safety were central considerations before entering the new markets.

The company’s emphasis on privacy is notable. Motion tracking data remains stored locally on the device, every console includes a physical camera cover, and the platform maintains both kidSAFE+ certification and COPPA compliance in the United States, alongside GDPR alignment in Europe. The included starter bundle also carries PEGI 3 ratings. In other words, this has very deliberately been designed to reassure cautious parents.

Nex’s expansion comes during what appears to be a breakout moment for the brand. Following a hugely successful holiday season in North America, the company is expected to surpass one million lifetime units sold, while recently being named one of TIME100’s 10 Most Influential Companies in Entertainment for 2026.

That level of recognition is particularly impressive given how crowded both the gaming and family entertainment sectors have become.

Part of the appeal undoubtedly lies in the company’s positioning. Nex isn’t trying to compete directly with hardcore gaming consoles. Instead, it is carving out an entirely different category somewhere between family fitness, educational technology and interactive entertainment.

And increasingly, that feels like exactly where the market is heading.

Another major strength is the content strategy itself. Alongside Nex Originals, the platform includes collaborations with brands children already know and trust, including partnerships with  Sesame Workshop,  Hasbro,  Paramount and  NBCUniversal.

Upcoming additions including Bluey mini-games, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Dora the Explorer and Rubik’s further reinforce the family-first positioning while giving the platform ongoing longevity beyond the initial purchase.

The commercial structure is similarly straightforward. The console launches at £269 in the UK and €319 in Ireland, including five starter games, while optional Play Pass subscriptions unlock the wider catalogue of 60+ experiences.

What makes Nex Playground genuinely interesting however is not simply the technology itself, but what it potentially represents culturally.

For the past decade, most consumer tech innovation has prioritised individual immersion. Personalised feeds. Solo streaming. Isolated consumption. Nex, by contrast, is pushing towards shared experiences, physical interaction and collective participation.

It is technology designed not to disconnect families from each other, but theoretically to bring them together.

Whether Nex Playground becomes a mainstream success in Britain remains to be seen. Yet at a moment when many parents are actively reassessing their relationship with screens, its arrival feels unusually well judged.

And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that technology does not necessarily have to mean sitting still.

For years, creatine sat firmly within the world of bodybuilding and performance training. Mention it and the image was often one of heavy lifting, protein shakers and supplement stacks designed for elite athletes. Today, however, that perception is shifting rapidly.

Increasingly, creatine is being embraced by a far broader audience, from runners and wellness-focused consumers to busy professionals and those looking to support healthy ageing. What was once considered a niche sports supplement is now becoming part of a wider conversation around long-term health, energy and resilience.

According to Innermost, the growing popularity of creatine reflects a changing understanding of muscle health and its role in overall wellbeing. Rather than focusing purely on aesthetics or athletic performance, consumers are becoming more aware of the importance of maintaining strength, recovery and energy levels throughout everyday life.

“Creatine has been misunderstood for years,” says Shivraj Bassi. “A lot of people still associate it with bodybuilding culture, but the reality is that creatine can support everyday energy, strength and performance for a wide range of people — not just athletes.”

Part of that renewed interest comes from the fact that creatine monohydrate remains one of the most extensively researched supplements available. Unlike trend-driven wellness products that rise and disappear with changing habits, creatine has decades of scientific study supporting both its effectiveness and safety.

What is also changing is the conversation around how it should be used. Much of the confusion surrounding creatine has historically centred around complicated loading phases, cycling routines and overly engineered formulations. Increasingly, experts are pushing back against that complexity.

“There’s so much noise around loading phases, cycling and expensive formulations, but for most people the most important thing is simply consistency,” explains Maria Ribeiro. “A daily dose of creatine monohydrate can help support strength, exercise performance and recovery over time — without needing complicated routines.”

That philosophy has informed the brand’s approach to product design. The Power Booster keeps things intentionally straightforward, using 100% pure creatine monohydrate with no unnecessary additives or stimulants. Each serving delivers five grams, aligning with the evidence-backed daily amount most commonly used in research studies.

“It’s intentionally simple,” Ribeiro adds. “The science on creatine monohydrate is already well established. You don’t need stimulants, blends or gimmicks — just a high-quality product you can take consistently.”

As conversations around longevity, recovery and sustainable wellbeing continue to shape the wellness market, creatine’s evolution feels significant. It is no longer being viewed solely through the lens of gym culture, but increasingly as a practical everyday supplement that supports energy, strength and performance across a range of lifestyles.

In many ways, that broader appeal reflects a wider shift within modern wellness itself — away from extremes and towards products that deliver long-term, evidence-based support for how people want to feel day to day.