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...
Current in Style
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...
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...
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...
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...
Textile waste zombies visit fast fashion shops in the UK
The Or Foundation has teamed up with artist Jeremy Hutchison to create fast fashion zombies that haunt high-street clothing stores in the UK. The aim is to raise awareness about the environmental cost of the industry while demanding greater transparency from retailers. By now, most of us are well aware of the terrible environmental and social costs of fast fashion. The industry is one of the primary polluters of our planet’s...
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 mainstream attention. Transitioning away from coal, oil, and gas doesn’t appear to be happening any time soon, however. Rather than using the...
Is ‘bed rotting’ self-care or self-deprecation?
The latest wellness trend on TikTok caters to burnt-out Gen Zers, encouraging them to escape the demands of daily life by spending extended periods of time under the covers and emerging only when they feel properly rested. At first glance, there’s likely a lot of good that can come from this, but critics are concerned about the potential consequences of young people staying sedentary. 2022 was the year we embraced...
Microdosing psychedelics could help those with ADHD
A new study shows that consuming tiny amounts of LSD or magic mushrooms can improve mindfulness in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Following decades of demonisation and criminalisation, psychedelic drugs are being proved to have profound implications for a field that’s seen few pharmacological advancements since the 60s. I’m talking, of course, about the treatment of intractable conditions such as depression, PTSD, and addiction, which time and time again...
