These shoes are made from upcycled sex toys
Finding fresh ways to use old materials will be the challenge that defines our generation. We need to drastically reduce the constant production of virgin plastics and polymers, especially in fashion, which is why one sustainable clothing brand started turning sex toys into shoes. When it comes to upcycling in...
Current in Culture
How to be more sustainable this Valentine’s Day
The 14th of February, while a celebration of romance, brings a great deal of environmental concern. In efforts to tackle climate change, learn how you can make eco-friendly and sustainable choices this year. Valentine’s Day is, for the most part, synonymous with compassion and endearment. However, its focus on...
New York’s notorious prison could be transformed into a green hub
The local council has planned to close New York’s most notorious prison by 2027. In efforts to decarbonise the state, designers have put forward ideas to turn Riker’s Island into a green energy hub. Over the years, Riker’s Island – a 400-acre piece of land located between the Bronx and...
Should banning phones at live shows become the norm?
Artists and comedians are using new technology to prevent fans from video-recording at concerts. Aside from keeping the performance exclusive to ticket-buyers, the goal is to encourage attendees to enjoy the moment without distraction – but is it a good idea? Going to a live show is a privilege, not...
Has health guidance gone a tad too far?
In the last few days, Britain’s Food Standards Agency has compared being around cake in the office to passive smoking. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction has concluded that no amount of alcohol is safe. Yes, our wellbeing is important, but can’t we have fun anymore? Barely a...
Opinion – The Elephant Whisperer is necessary and urgent
Netflix’s latest nature documentary follows the story of Raghu, an elephant in India. It highlights problems within our conservation efforts and the important of nurturing our natural world. Each time we visit my maternal grandparent's house in Talcher, we pass through the districts of Dhenkanal, down the road that...
Procrastination has been linked to poor mental and physical health
Avoiding certain responsibilities might feel rewarding in the moment, but it’s likely worse for our mental and physical well-being in the long run. A breadth of studies have shown that chronic procrastination isn’t just bad for our to-do lists, but also for our mental and physical health in the long term. While most of us give into procrastinating every now and then, the consequences become a lot different when we make...
Why Gen Z is ditching their smartphones on nights out
Death to the drunk Instagram story? Well, maybe. Young people are starting to swap their smartphones for simpler mobile devices on nights out. The benefits extend well beyond dealing with embarrassing social media posts from the night before. A new trend is emerging amongst Gen Z members old enough to hit the club at the weekend. Rather than pocketing an £800 smartphone with their debit card and ID before going...
The problem with Sainsbury’s latest campaign and why it went viral
A new marketing campaign released by Sainsbury’s has gone viral for being completely tone-deaf about women’s safety. The adverts' timing makes its sentiments even more ridiculous, as a culture of violent sexual misconduct by serving Metropolitan Police officers is brought to light. Here we go again. You’d think that with great efforts to improve inclusivity at big corporations, especially inside marketing departments, copywriting oversights like the one spotted in Sainsbury’s latest...
BRIT awards under fire for selecting all-male nominees
In 2021, it was announced that the annual ceremony would be foregoing the gender split for its best artist category. This year, however, only men are in the running. At a time when inclusivity is at the forefront of every conversation, you’d assume that companies, brands, and key industry players would think twice before publicly committing to an act of blatant discrimination. Whether they’re initially ‘trying’ in an effort to...