Beauty brands speak out against the Heartbeat Act
Though the industry remains largely silent on this matter, several women-centric companies have publicly vocalised their stance on Texas’ harsh new anti-abortion law. Earlier this month, we reported that one of the most restrictive laws in the United States had gone into effect. Named the ‘Heartbeat Act,’ it bans abortions...
Current in Fashion + Beauty
How jewellery brand YVMIN is treating prosthetics like wearable art
YVMIN has collaborated with model Xiao Yang on a collection of statement prosthesis accessories in the hope that people with disabilities will feel better included in fashion. Regardless of strides taken in recent years to improve upon the absence of disability representation in fashion – namely major brands recognising their...
Cosmetic animal testing could return to the UK
A policy which banned animal testing for cosmetic products in 1998 could be reversed to verify the safety of popular ingredients in makeup and skincare. Animal testing has been considered a controversial practice since the 1960s. While it is generally accepted in global scientific research for the purpose of developing prescription...
Researchers develop garments that conduct Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
The latest in wearable tech is a collection of ‘smart’ clothes designed to enhance connectivity between our devices. How? By turning us into ‘pseudo-human circuit boards.’ Forgive me for stating the obvious, but these days it isn’t often that we’re without our phones or at least some kind of...
Sustainability trailblazer Allbirds steps into activewear
Leading the charge in regenerative innovation, the footwear and apparel company has debuted its first totally eco-friendly athletic clothing collection. As we know from the recent IPCC report, which outlines fashion’s urgent responsibility to drastically decrease its impact on the environment or risk being largely responsible for our planet’s demise,...
Vollebak’s latest t-shirt design absorbs CO2
The innovative men’s apparel brand has partnered with US biomaterials company Living Ink to design a t-shirt dyed with black algae that will continue to absorb carbon dioxide as the consumer wears it. ‘Sustainable fashion’ is complex and although major brands often use environmentally conscious marketing, it doesn’t necessarily mean...
Could bioengineered beauty help the industry’s sustainability problem?
Can lab-grown ingredients and biotech brands solve the industry’s sustainability problem? Though we may be a long way off from 3D printing ourselves a new face every morning, there’s no denying that a new era of skincare is upon us. Namely a super-natural world of beauty in which bioengineered products are the norm. This is thanks to an ever-evolving industry that continues finding new ways of harnessing science and tech to...
Could non-surgical cosmetic work become prescription-only?
MPs have warned that the ‘complete absence’ of regulations for non-surgical cosmetic treatment is dangerous and must end, with a call for new rules to be introduced. In February, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority ruled that social media influencers were, by law, to disclose when using beauty filters to promote products. This was not enough to protect the self-esteem of impressionable young people, however. Thanks to lockdowns and a 'Zoom boom',...
Researchers discover ‘forever chemicals’ in beauty products
Researchers have found signs of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that can cause lasting damage to health and the environment in more than half of 231 product samples. When shopping for cosmetics, it’s pretty standard to see a lengthy list of ingredients on almost every item, but a recent study has uncovered that some of those listed might be more dangerous than you’d expect. PFAS (which stands for per- and...
Beauty brands support LGTBQ+ communities for Pride Month
Pride is different this year, with celebrations cancelled or postponed. Even so, there are plenty of ways to show support by donating to charities or shopping with brands who give back. Time is up for performance activism. As young consumers, we are far more aware of the philosophical values of the companies we choose to purchase from than previous generations. Brands must now align their values with ours, be vocal about...
