Opinion – Clothes should not be a legal issue in 2023
A new Wisconsin Bill marks a milestone for Indigenous students. But we should be questioning why legal intervention is necessary in the first place. Under new Assembly Bill 210, students in Wisconsin will now (legally) be allowed to wear tribal regalia – like beadwork and eagle feathers – to their...
Current in Fashion + Beauty
New York’s cosmetology law is breaking beauty barriers
A new requirement – that students learn to style textured hair as part of their training – is signalling change for the global beauty industry. The beauty industry has always been somewhat of a minefield for the Black community, who often find themselves on the fringes of an ostensibly inclusive business. Despite...
Startup Sulapac develops microplastic-free packaging materials
Seeking to reduce our dependence on oil-based plastics, Sulapac is making bio-based packaging components using recycled and ‘side-streamed’ materials. It’s hoped to boost fashion’s circular economy. Anyone who is even slightly into skincare will be well aware that the environmental cost of beauty cosmetics is huge. Our buy, use, and bin...
Why are toxic chemicals still in our make-up and cosmetic products?
Along with ‘forever chemicals’ that will never break down in our natural environment, many beauty products still contain ingredients that disrupt our hormones and cause harm to our bodies over time. Which chemicals should we steer clear of and what is being done to make them disappear for good? You’d...
Are AI-generated images perpetuating toxic beauty standards?
Viewing photos generated by apps like Midjourney, DALL-E, and Adobe is no longer a novelty. Could frequent exposure to highly idealised – and unrealistic – images of human beings potentially reshape society’s beauty standards? If you’ve ever toyed around with AI photo-generating apps, you may have noticed a trend emerging...
The latest TikTok trend points to Gen Z’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, young people have turned their attention to a new product which promises to offset any future lip creases: a straw designed to prevent wrinkles. It’s no secret that Gen Z...
London-based agency launches sustainably made edge styler
The beauty industry has become notorious for its single-use plastic problem, but one UK design agency is looking to change that with its reusable edge styling brush designed specifically for Black hair textures. A renowned London-based design agency, Blond, has just launched the Edge Slick – an innovative hair styling tool that marries form and function with sustainability. The beauty industry has become notorious for its contributions to single-use plastic waste....
Are modern-day concepts of ‘natural’ beauty a lie?
The rise of makeup-free and fresh-faced looks online and on the red carpet aren’t always the ‘natural’ vibe we believe they are. Ask the girlies anywhere and you’ll hear that many of us are no longer rocking the full-face makeup that had us in a chokehold during the mid-2010s. We’ve traded HD brows, dark lipstick, heavy matte foundation, and contour for softer and more natural makeup looks that incorporate skincare-based products. The...
Boody launches creative campaign highlighting underwear discomfort
It’s estimated that women spend a cumulative 27 years experiencing discomfort from underwear that digs, rubs, and leaves deep impressions on the skin. Offering their organic bamboo-based products as a solution, the B Corp certified brand is confronting this silent burden. ‘The best impression your underwear can make, is no impression at all,’ reads the slogan of a creative new campaign currently running across outdoor billboards, buses, and social media...
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 that we’re being lied to by our favourite celebrities about how they’ve altered their appearances. Take the Kardashians, for example. Despite...
