The bioluminescent dress. Credit: Molly SJ Lowe, for Iris van Herpen A very special look was presented earlier this week by fashion designer Iris van Herpen at the Paris Haute Couture Week. The garment: a bioluminescent dress, created from 125 million living algae. Biodesigner Chris Bellamy collaborated with researchers Nico Schramma and Mazi Jalaal from…
The Hong Kong newt is Hong Kong’s only native salamander species, and listed as near-threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Credit: Lingnan University The Hong Kong newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis), which has an orange-spotted belly and is typically 15 centimeters in length, is Hong Kong’s only native salamander species. The newt, listed as…
In a recent study, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sociology professor Brittney Miles explored the ways in which Black women’s beauty is connected to their social and political experiences. Credit: Fred Zwicky Black women’s beauty and fashion are complex, meaningful acts, deliberate strategies for engaging with the world that make bold statements about identity, political resistance…
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain When featuring models with disabilities in advertising, brands walk a fine line—how should they convey a message of inclusivity without coming across as exploitative and insensitive? The underrepresentation of people with disabilities in media adds to the challenge, as little is known about the factors influencing how different portrayals are received…
Japan has strict building codes to minimize damage from earthquakes. Unfounded online rumors warning that a huge earthquake will soon strike Japan are taking a toll on travel firms and airlines who report less demand from worried Hong Kongers. People from Hong Kong made nearly 2.7 million trips to Japan in 2024. Although it is…
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain “Vegan” and “plant-based” are not just food labels anymore; they are fashion’s latest buzzwords. Imagine walking into a high-street fashion store, drawn to a stylish bomber jacket labeled “100% vegan.” You flip the tag, looking for material details, only to find none. Nearby, a luxury handbag proudly announces it’s made from…
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain As fast fashion continues to fill wardrobes and landfills at a staggering pace, new research from the University of Portsmouth suggests that the future of fashion might lie not in fabric, but in pixels. In a multi-study paper published in the International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management, a team of…
Alt. Leather’s innovative green technology makes natural fibres mimic the 3D network structure of animal leathers. Credit: Alt. Leather As the material left the curing oven, the Alt. Leather team knew it had worked—what they held in their hands looked and felt just like leather. That moment marked a breakthrough for the Melbourne-based start-up, which…
Credit: Terje Sollie from Pexels Renting clothes can reduce the fashion industry’s enormous environmental impact, but so far, the business models have not worked very well. The best chance of success is for a rental company to provide clothing within a niche market, such as specific sportswear, and to work closely with the suppliers and…
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain As dog ownership continues to rise, the need for effective training solutions and a better understanding of dogs’ welfare needs has become increasingly important. Behavioral problems in dogs can bring major welfare concerns for both dogs and their owners and, in the worst possible cases, can lead to relinquishment or euthanasia…