New report says fast fashion’s value is on a steady decline
According to the latest Brand Finance Apparel 50 report, the value of fast fashion giants such as H&M and Zara is decreasing as sustainability and innovation become the key drivers of consumer choices. Though it may not seem like it if your Instagram is full of influencers flaunting SHEIN hauls,...
Current in Style
Are celebrities finally being transparent about cosmetic procedures?
Ariana Grande has just joined Kylie Jenner in opening up about the work she’s had done to alter her appearance. This poses the question: are we in a new era of A-lister authenticity? As social media continues to wreak havoc on our self-esteem, it can be immensely frustrating to recognise...
Why Pinterest is booming among Gen Z
The platform just saw its best user growth in two years, with young people leading the charge. This is due to recently introduced shoppable content, which has transformed the social media site into a go-to fashion destination for the style-obsessed demographic. According to Pinterest’s CEO, the platform – designed to...
How Gen Z has forced the luxury beauty industry to change
The beauty market is growing and transforming thanks to Gen Z’s unique influence and new spending power. This generation is now overtaking its older counterparts as consumers of luxury beauty, skincare, and hair care products. The luxury beauty industry has witnessed an unprecedented surge in value, with iconic brands...
Why celebrity stylists are unionising
For decades, strict labour laws in the US have hindered unionising efforts in creative industries like fashion. Thanks to the knock-on effects of the Hollywood strikes, however, – where workers are standing up against low wages and poor working conditions – the tide appears to be turning. In July,...
Is fashion’s problem overproduction or overconsumption?
Fashion sustainability guidelines constantly tell consumers to reduce their shopping habits in order to minimise their environmental impact. But should there be a legal limit on how many items fashion companies can produce? Those with an interest in sustainable fashion are probably tired of hearing that they should be reducing...
How the Global South is confronting the textile waste crisis
Every year, millions of tons of unwanted garments are shipped around the world as part of the second hand clothing trade, ending up on landfill sites in Ghana, Pakistan, and Chile. In an effort to mitigate this pollution problem, entrepreneurs from these countries are getting creative. The planet is, quite literally, drowning in clothes. Though recycling programmes have existed for decades now, of the 100 billion garments bought annually, 92...
What you need to know about the SHEIN lawsuits
The ultra fast fashion retailer’s copyright usage, labour practices, and competitive behaviour have come under fire in recent months, threatening to hinder its plans for a takeover of the US market. The linchpin of inexpensive, mass-produced goods with prices even eye-wateringly lower than PrettyLittleThing on Black Friday, SHEIN’s ubiquity – most notably on social media – has catapulted the Chinese conglomerate to cult status among trend-enthusiasts across the globe. Giving ASOS a...
How TikTok is fuelling young people’s obsession with anti-ageing
With more social media users buying into the idea that perceived flaws must be dealt with before they’ve even begun, Gen Z now spends more on skincare than any other generation. At 26-years-old, my skincare routine consists of splashing my face with cold water, aggressively rubbing my makeup off with a towel, and lathering on some moisturiser if I can be bothered. My minimalist approach is worlds away from some Gen...
Could future fashion be grown in a lab?
To eliminate supply chain risks related to human rights, animal welfare, and biodiversity loss, companies around the world have been developing cleaner sources for raw materials. In recent years, most attempts to make the fashion production process more environmentally friendly have fallen short. One that hasn’t, however, is the development of lab-grown biomaterials as an alternative to woven textiles, which poses a viable solution to correcting the industry’s shameful track...