Tory No Show: An Empty Podium at the Climate Debate Told Us Everything We Need To Know

We are facing the most critical crisis of all time; unprecedented global warming, ecological breakdown and the sixth mass extinction – all caused by human activity. 

This year alone we have seen bushfires ravish Australia, Africa, America and Asia. The Arctic is melting at record speed, and recent studies show that sea levels are rising faster than previously predicted. The IPCC have stated that we have just over a decade to prevent global warming beyond 1.5ºC. Temperature rises beyond this target will take us into dangerous territory; resulting in more extreme-weather disasters, the loss of entire cities to rising sea levels, and severe droughts ultimately leading to famine. 

All over the world, people are waking up to the seriousness of the situation. Today, thousands of people have taken to the streets in more than 100 towns and cities in the UK for the Global Climate Strike. During the last strike climate strike in September, around 100,000 people turned out on the streets of London alone. As for the British Prime Minister; he couldn’t even spare one hour of his time on Thursday night, to talk about his plans to address the climate emergency on live TV. 

MM6 Gives A London Pub A Futuristic Makeover

MM6 Maison Margiela's London Fashion Week show saw silver-lacquered garments presented inside a central London pub that had been entirely decked-out in tin foil.

For the brand's Autumn-Winter 2018 show, every element of The Running Horse pub in Mayfair – from beer pumps to chairs and tables – was wrapped in silver foil by set designer Derek Hardie Martin.

This futuristic backdrop was intended to represent the collection's concept – that something classic can be completely reinvented when recreated in silver metallic.

World Refugee Day

The Climate and Ecological Crisis has already left thousands of people displaced worldwide. Climate refugees are forced to leave their home region due to changes in the local environment.

The societal effects of climate change are already being experienced by many living in the Global South; sadly, this will only get worse as the world’s temperature continues to rise.

From extreme weather to droughts, raging forest fires and coastal deterioration – it is becoming increasingly difficult or even dangerous for people to live in the place they once called home.

Over the next decade, tens of millions of people will be forced from their home in the biggest refugee crisis ever to be seen on Earth.

Extreme droughts are already thought to have played a considerable part in the build-up to the Syrian war. Today the city of Chennai, in India, is facing a similar water crisis after it’s main water reservoirs have run completely dry.

Meanwhile, in Australia, dried-out rivers are forcing Aboriginals out of their ancestral homes; rivers are a significant part of Aboriginal culture and provide a life source for small communities.

For those already suffering at the hand of this crisis, taking action on the climate crisis cannot wait any longer. It’s time to act now.

Fashion Votes for the UK to Remain in Europe

With the national referendum just weeks away and the possibility of a ‘leave’ majority growing more likely, influential figures across the globe are stepping up to encourage voters to support the remain campaign.

We’ve already heard warnings from major banks and corporations about the potential risks of a ‘leave’ result. Today, we’re learning that the possible outcome may also cause harm to the British fashion industry.

Will the COVID-19 Pandemic Fuel a Freelance Revolution?

As the UK begins its fifth week of lockdown, many self-employed and gig-economy workers are already feeling the financial consequences.

The self-employed are amongst those who have been hit the hardest financially by the COVID-19 pandemic, with money from the Self Employment Income Support Scheme not expected to reach those in need until June at the earliest. Often facing unregulated low wages, high business expenses and unreliable payment schedules, many of the self-employed already live hand-to-mouth. For these individuals, a three-month wait for a taxable grant is simply not good enough.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a large number of societal issues; from a problematic and inadequate benefits system to an undervalued and underpaid essential workforce. Life as a freelancer has suddenly been exposed for what it really is. Far from the blissful, boss-free life often imagined, freelancing at its worst can be a rollercoaster of uncertainty and insecurity. In a post-COVID-19 labour market, what will life as a freelancer look like?

How Do The Arts Benefit Society?

So much joy can come from visiting galleries, watching dance or playing an instrument – without these things, life would be static and unexciting. But what about the more measurable impacts that arts have on our society? Arts and culture don’t just enrich our lives - they are also a strategic resource to create healthier, happier communities.

At ArtSocial, we’re very familiar with the positive impact art can have on health and wellbeing. We’ve seen first-hand how childrens' health can improve after receiving art therapy sessions. At the end of a project providing art therapy to children at St Mary’s Hospital last year, one Mother told us how her child’s stress-related eczema healed almost completely after just a few sessions. 

Multiple studies have shown that higher levels of engagement with arts improve levels of subjective wellbeing. In 2011, research showed that those who had attended a cultural event within the last 12 months were nearly 60% more likely to report good health than those who hadn’t. Time and time again, we've seen the positive impact arts can have on health conditions such as dementia, depression and Parkinson’s disease. 

Why Should We Worry About Deforestation?

Deforestation is out of control. According to the Global Forest Watch, 120,000sq km of forest were lost in 2018.

As trees grow, they absorb CO2 from our atmosphere but release it back into the air when they are killed.

Consistent forest clearance and wood burning is dramatically increasing the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere.

Tropical forests are currently shrinking at the equivalent rate of 30 football pitches per minute, meaning there are now far fewer trees to absorb our huge CO2 emissions.

The Bad News About ‘Biodegradable’ Sheet Masks

There's no denying the increasing popularity of sheet masks over the years. Relaxing, soothing and packed with skin-transforming ingredients such as vitamin C and retinol, it's no wonder the hot Korean beauty buy has become a weekly must-have in many Western beauty regimes.

While experts and skincare obsessives alike extol the virtues of a good sheet mask, we all acknowledge that they are a single-use product. Amid the ongoing climate crisis, many of us are already actively seeking out reusable, eco-friendly replacements for our mainstays, such as shampoo bars and metal safety razors. So why not sheet masks?

It might surprise you to know that the majority of popular sheet masks on the market are made from paper (with a thin plastic film and plastic packaging) or plastic microfibres and I don't have to tell you that once these end up in landfill, they stay there. In a bid to go green, however, brands are producing eco-friendly biodegradable options. Another quick search shows that such alternatives are usually made of cotton or bio-cellulose: a natural fibre with a gel-like texture, derived from a strain of bacteria. By opting for these biodegradable options, we as consumers believe that we are making better choices. But is this really the case? 

JW Anderson Makes A Case For Slow Fashion

JW Anderson's London Fashion Week presentation combined both menswear and womenswear, as part of the designer's effort to slow down the pace of fashion.

JW Anderson, the eponymous brand headed-up by Jonathan Anderson, presented its Autumn-Winter 2018 collection as part of this year's London Fashion Week.

Anderson, who is also the creative director of Loewe, used the show to announce his plans to scale back the number of times his brand shows per-season.

8 Hacks For Looking Chic When It’s Baltic Outside

Dressing for the cold can be a challenge. Just how do you keep warm and look great? Team ELLE have compiled our best tips for practical Winter dressing without sacrificing your style.

1. Leave the house in your duvet
Well, not literally… But a blanket scarf will do!

Armani Bans Real Fur In Future Collections

Amazing news for animal lovers: Giorgio Armani has announced that as of Autumn/Winter 2016, the designer does not intend to use fur in any of his future collections.

In a statement, Giorgio Armani announced ‘that the Armani Group has made a firm commitment to abolish the use of animal fur in its collections.”