Has fashion truly addressed its ties to Uyghur forced labour?
In 2020, a coalition of human rights groups said it was ‘virtually certain’ that as many as 1 in 5 cotton products sold across the globe were tainted with modern slavery. Has the apparel industry stopped sourcing so extensively from Xinjiang and are brands’ supply chains as ethical as...
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The implications of a male-dominated fashion industry
Hyper-femininity is one of the dominating forces in fashion right now. But women are not well-represented in top positions at most major brands – meaning that those dictating trends in women’s fashion are ultimately men. Considering that the fashion industry has long been viewed as catering significantly more to the...
Opinion – Consumers are becoming savvy to performative inclusivity
UK beauty brand Pink Honey has come under fire for a recent influencer trip. The backlash proves consumers won’t stand for vapid marketing. Brand controversies seem to be on the rise. Everywhere you look – particularly on social media – a company is facing ridicule for short-sighted campaigns or shallow marketing tactics. But...
Fashion giant Zara hit with boycott after poorly timed ad campaign
Millions of people have been boycotting brands that support the Israeli occupation of Gaza since the start of the bombardment more than two months ago. After posting a questionable ad campaign on its website, the latest brand to be hit with pushback is the fast fashion brand Zara. The Israeli...
Fashion reseller Vestiaire Collective is dumping fast fashion
The luxury second-hand site has launched a striking campaign to announce they’re banning fast fashion giants Zara, Uniqlo, and H&M. Vestiaire Collective has been a solid advocate for the green-fashion market since its inception in 2009. At the time, it was one of the first online retailers that specialised solely in...
Sophia Kianni launches ‘we wear oil’ campaign
Sophia Kianni is calling out fashion’s dependency on oil by educating others on production and manufacturing processes. Clothes are currently made from fossil fuel-derived synthetic fibres at an ‘absolutely horrific rate.’ With COP28 in full swing, phasing out fossil fuels to tackle skyrocketing greenhouse gas emissions is once again receiving...
A model has gone viral for her experience of AI white-washing
With artificial intelligence on the rise, its use in the fashion world raises new moral dilemmas. Shereen Wu is a burgeoning runway model from the US. She’s also a burgeoning influencer, sharing her career and lifestyle with several thousands of followers. But it’s not her content creation or modelling skills that have recently thrust Wu into the limelight. After sharing a recent incident involving designer Michael Costello, Wu has gone viral on...
The major environmental impact of faux leather
As the popularity of ethical fashion grows and consumers continue to seek out vegan clothing alternatives, it’s time we asked ourselves if these products are truly as sustainable as they seem. It’s common knowledge that fast-fashion has long-dominated the style landscape, for the affordable and straightforward way in which it enables consumers to keep up with continually fluctuating trends. However, unlike the rapid nature of these fads – which come and...
Boohoo under fire for breaking promises on ethical overhaul
Following shocking revelations of malpractice at clothing factories owned by the fast fashion giant in 2020, it pledged to reform its operations and launched its ‘Agenda for Change’ programme. A new undercover investigation has found evidence that this was nothing but smoke and mirrors. In 2020, Boohoo, the online retailer at the helm of popular trend-driven fast fashion brands like Nasty Gal and PLT, lost almost £2 billion in...
Beauty brands brace for incoming sustainable packaging regulations
As we inch closer to 2024, significant changes to packaging regulations are on the horizon for both the EU and the United Kingdom. Beauty and cosmetic companies will need to pay close attention. For too long, eco-conscious skincare lovers have felt a pang of guilt when throwing out empty plastic bottles once they’ve reached the end of their favourite products. Their guilt isn’t unfounded either, as 95 percent of all cosmetic...
