What drives change in fashion? On many occasions, it starts with one – often rather powerful and influential – designer to create a ripple effect. When Gucci decided to drop fur in 2018, names such as Burberry, Versace, Michael Kors, Chanel and Prada all followed suit. And two years later, Gucci still leads the way:...
It’s 8.30am and I’m staring at my laptop, my eyes running over the numbers on its dusty screen while I sip my coffee. There’s still a long way to go, and with each day I’m closer to being forced to face what I’ve always suspected: that we’re not going to make it. My Kickstarter campaign...
In the beginning of 2020, there was a subtle revolution on the menu at one of the best-known fast-food burger chains in the world; the Rebel Whopper entered the Burger King line-up of greasy treats. This wholly plant-based creation was what many vegetarians and vegans, along with quite a few flexitarians, had been anxiously waiting...
In 2018, an unusual story spread through fashion press: retail giant ASOS would be ceasing all sale of mohair, cashmere, feathers, and…silk. While the fashion industry is no stranger to brands banning materials (countless luxury designers have refused to work with fur over the last few seasons, and most retailers have banned angora), a brand...
We are in the midst of what is the biggest public health crisis of our times – and when it comes to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, most experts are unanimous. The disease, which has killed around 300,000 people worldwide at the time of writing, is believed to have started in a Chinese market...
Sustainability has gone from a fringe interest to a crucial factor in today’s fashion industry – brands are racing to prove their eco credentials, and consumers are increasingly seeking out sustainable items. But somehow, as journalist, author and activist Tansy Hoskins notes, the quest for sustainability tends to end at footwear. “I like stories that...
As an unprecedented pandemic sweeps the world, methods of dealing with the public health crisis across the globe differ – some countries, like Spain and Italy, have implemented lockdowns so severe that residents aren’t even allowed out for a walk, while others such as Sweden take a more relaxed approach. Since the beginning of the...
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep the world, many things are changing. Industries are facing difficulties and many people are finding themselves in situations that they couldn’t possibly have seen coming. Businesses close as entire countries go into lockdown, and the economy is cracking under the pressure of this unprecedented crisis. One of the...
In a time when we are constantly questioning fashion’s impact on the environment, many people are becoming more aware of the devastating consequences of the industry – but some aspects of it seem to have evaded the scrutiny. As we learn more about the provenance of our clothes, some knitwear materials are still seen as...
You might be one of the 400,000+ people who tried Veganuary this year. And like many people who pledge to eat plant-based for a month, you may have decided to stick with vegan living once January was over. Your reasons might have ranged from cruelty to animals – we kill 70 billion land animals for...
Just a few seasons ago, you would never have used the terms “Fashion Week” and “sustainability” in the same sentence. Fashion Week used to stand for all things frivolous, superficial and decadently glamorous. And in many aspects, it still does: industry insiders still travel, in quite an unsustainable manner, from all over the globe to...
Contrary to what many people still believe, wool production is far from “a haircut for the sheep”. Firstly, sheep are only “in need” of shearing because they have been bred to produce up to ten times more wool than they would naturally need. In their natural state, sheep produce just enough wool to protect themselves...