Are white celebrities ‘retiring’ a Black aesthetic?
A recent article by ‘Dazed’ suggests famous white women, most notably the Kardashians, have abandoned the Black aesthetic they’ve appropriated for the past few decades. But can racial and cultural identity be reduced to a ‘look’? And does the white monopoly over global beauty standards show any signs of...
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Exclusive – Rebecca Cappelli explores fashion’s animal problem
We spoke with award-winning filmmaker and dedicated animal rights activist Rebecca Cappelli about the far-reaching culture shift she hopes to bring about with her latest documentary, Slay. Every year, billions of animals are killed so that their fur, wool, and skin can be passed on to the fashion industry. Lining...
Could outdoor swimming benefit our mental health?
Scientists in the UK have launched a study examining how immersion in cold, open water could work as an alternative option to medication for people with depression. If you’ve even a rudimentary understanding of mental health, likelihood is you’re familiar to the concept of going for walks to improve...
Nigeria’s young designers embrace genderfluid fashion
In a country where homosexuality is illegal, the fashion industry is upending gender norms to explore identity and queer resilience. Before Covid-19 disrupted the fashion industry as we then knew it, a movement was building amongst Nigeria’s young designers. Masculine shapes were swapped for feminine cuts and fabrics. Silk, frills,...
When will we finally close the door on toxic body trends?
While the body positivity movement has never been stronger, an almost overnight rejection of the BBL trend signals that we haven’t completely let go of ever-changing standards for women’s bodies. Few things change faster than society’s view of the ideal woman’s body type, and despite ‘body trends’ being highly problematic,...
Retouched influencer photos may soon come with a warning
In the wake of Norway’s recent legal amendments, the UK is now weighing up whether or not to include transparency warnings on social media posts featuring digitally altered bodies. Despite a welcome emphasis on authentic platforms like BeReal, social media is still plagued with ultra-curated, digitally enhanced content. In...
Farfetch launches sustainability tool with Good on You
Luxury fashion brands can now access a tool called Good Measures to secure a sustainability rating on the Farfetch website. The goal is to increase transparency on the environmental impact of the industry while incentivising brands to improve their practices. Now more than ever, the fashion sector is under immense pressure to sharpen its sustainability practices. With fast fashion giants like SHEIN and Fashion Nova generating more than enough waste to...
Opinion – we should approach compostable beauty with caution
With greenwashing tactics increasingly difficult to navigate, environmentally conscious consumers remain sceptical when faced with new sustainability buzzwords adopted by brands pushing cosmetics and skincare products. As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, so too do the companies eager to generate revenue in the age of hyperawareness. Though it isn’t necessarily a bad thing, in many circumstances this desire to keep consumers interested has amounted in a great deal of...
Are ‘reef safe’ sunscreen brands simply another example of greenwashing?
The term ‘reef safe’ is not regulated, meaning any sunscreen brand can include the phrase on its product labels. What does ‘reef safe’ mean and are these claims greenwashing? If you’ve been keeping up with skincare trends, SPF for your face and body are likely near the top on your holiday packing list this summer. The last few years have seen sunscreen promoted as the most important product in our daily...
Why new documentary ‘Slay’ will make you re-assess fashion
Slay is an eye-opening documentary that will have you looking at your wardrobe in a whole new, probably red tinted, light. Slay is a new documentary premiering on WaterBear, the new environmentally conscious streaming service. Presented and directed by animal rights activist Rebecca Cappelli, the film aims to shine a spotlight on the dark corners of the fashion industry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq5uhqz0IBE In recent years, the disastrous consequences of climate change have become more...