Black women's beauty, fashion choices intertwined with Black history, politics

Black women’s beauty, fashion choices intertwined with Black history, politics

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…

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Fashion brands gain edge by embracing disability representation

Fashion brands gain edge by embracing disability representation

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…

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A beginner's guide to vegan fashion (and how to spot 'greenwashing')

A beginner’s guide to vegan fashion (and how to spot ‘greenwashing’)

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…

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Curing fashion's reliance on leather with an eco-friendly plant-based alternative

Curing fashion’s reliance on leather with an eco-friendly plant-based alternative

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…

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Nutrition labels meant to promote healthy eating could discourage purchases

Nutrition labels meant to promote healthy eating could discourage purchases

Treatment package design. Credit: Food Policy (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102804 Some food labels designed to nudge Americans toward healthier food choices can have the opposite effect, new University of Florida research shows. The study is particularly compelling because it comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration weighs whether to require front-of-package food labels. Through a…

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China plans to retrieve Mars samples by 2031

China plans to retrieve Mars samples by 2031

The launch of the Tianwen-1 mission, Wenchang City, south China’s Hainan Province, July 23, 2020. Credit: CFP China’s growing presence in space has been undeniable since the turn of the century. Between sending the first “taikonaut” to space in 2003 (Yang Liwei), launching the first Chinese robotic mission to the moon (Chang’e-1) in 2007, and…

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