A group of influencers have come under fire after posting glowing videos from their paid trip to a factory owned by controversial fast fashion retailer Shein in Guangzhou, China. Shein, which has been previously accused of labour abuse and admitted to breaching rules around working hours, brought the group of six fashion influencers from the US to tour its “Innovation Factory”. Influencer and model Dani Carbonari was one of the influencers who went on the trip and posted a video tour on her social media last week. After facing criticism from her followers – of which she was more than 481k on Instagram and nearly 300k on TikTok – Carbonari appears to have deleted the post. In her original post, she wrote in her caption that the trip to Shein’s factory gave her the opportunity to see with her “own two eyes what the entire process of Shein clothing looks like from beginning to end”. “I feel more confident than ever with my partnership with Shein. There are so many companies not taking half the initiative Shein is. They are aware of every single rumour and instead of staying quiet they are fighting with all of their power to not only show us the truth but continue to improve and be the best they can possibly be,” the “confidence activist” continued. The video showed a brightly lit factory, with staff working in clean, dust-free conditions and automated bots that assisted with processing and packaging orders. The other influencers, Destene Sudduth, Aujene, Fernanda Stephany Campuzano, Kenya Freeman, and Marina Saavedra, also shared similarly glowing Instagram posts about their visit. Viewers have pointed out that the influencers appeared to use a “script” for their posts, as they involved similar language. In her post, Saavedra said: “Like many others, I’ve heard a lot of misinformation”, while Carbonari wrote: “You have to remember our country is filled with so much prejudice – we want to believe we’re the best and no one else can be better.” @shein_us Get a glimpse of the process of how your purchases are packaged directly from our facility and delivered to your doorstep. Watch as our partners discover the cutting-edge tech that streamlines our operations and receive a hands-on experience in packaging. Stay tuned to the #SHEIN101 series to learn more of what goes on behind the scenes at #SHEIN #SHEINOnTheRoad ♬ original sound - SHEINUS But viewers have pointed out that the influencers’ comments about the Shein factory they saw – one of 6,000 factories that the online retailer has, according to Time magazine – do not address the allegations that have been levelled over Shein’s labour and environmental impact. Channel 4 launched an investigation last year that involved an undercover worker filming inside two Shein factories in Guangzhou and found that workers receive a base salary of 4k yuan per month (approximately £434) to produce 500 pieces of clothing per day. The investigation also found that workers in both factories were working up to 18-hour days regularly and were only given one day off a month. Later, Shein said that after conducting an independent investigation, it found that employees indeed working longer hours than the local laws allowed. Shein found that staff at one factory were working up to 13-and-a-half hour days with two to three days off a month, while those at the second site worked up to 12-and-a-half hour days with no fixed structure for days off. It said that “while these are significantly less than claimed in the documentary, they are still higher than local regulations permit”. At the time, Shein vowed to invest US$15m (£11.8m) to improve standards at its supplier factories. On Twitter, one person wrote: “Shein is sending the influencer girlies to China to some (PR) ‘innovation’ factory where it looks pristine and super clean and the workers are having fun while sewing and the company saying they pay a ‘competitive’ wage lol.” Another said: “The funniest part of the Shein debacle to me is the influencers acting like they went undercover to investigate. You were invited, of course, it’s PR.” A third added: “Them Shein influencers getting cooked and Shein ain’t [sic] defending them. Meanwhile the girls are doing their best to explain to us why Shein ain’t too bad. It’s sad.” The Independent has contacted Shein, Carbonari, Sudduth, Aujene, Campunazo, Freeman and Saavedra for comment. Read More Give Greenpeace a chance: Art and activism join forces for Glastonbury’s campaign for the future Harry and Meghan’s ‘lack of productivity’ left Spotify and Netflix bosses ‘underwhelmed’, report says A woman stopped cleaning after her husband accused her of doing ‘nothing’. Then she filmed the results Princess Diana’s ‘black sheep’ jumper predicted to sell at auction for up to £70,000 The best onstage fashion at Glastonbury Glastonbury 2023: All the best fashion at the biggest UK festival of the year

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 26, 2023--

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By Sybille de La Hamaide PARIS Research into alternatives to neonicotinoid pesticides, found to be toxic to bees,

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 26, 2023--

The Supreme Court on Monday left in place a lower court opinion that invalidated a code of conduct at a North Carolina publicly funded charter school that required girls to wear skirts in order to "preserve chivalry" based on the belief that every girl is a "fragile vessel."

A jumper worn by Diana, Princess of Wales is predicted to sell at auction for up to £70,000. The famous red and white “black sheep” sweater, which had been lost for decades, is being offered at auction for the first time at Sotheby’s in New York on September 7. Diana first wore the woollen jumper – with its black and white sheep motif – to a polo match of her fiance, the then-prince of Wales, in June 1981. It was one of the first pieces designed by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne for their knitwear label Warm & Wonderful, and helped to catapult their brand into the public eye. They said: “Much to our amazement, the first we knew of Lady Diana Spencer wearing the sweater was when we saw her on the front page of one of the Sunday newspapers. “Her influence was impactful almost immediately thereafter, leading to a surge in sales and public awareness of our small label, for which we will be forever grateful.” A few weeks after its first appearance, the pair received an official letter from Buckingham Palace requesting either a repair or a replacement for the sweater as it had been damaged. They knitted a new sweater for the late princess, but the whereabouts of the original remained unknown until they rediscovered it in March this year in their attic, tucked away in a small box beside a cotton bedspread. Warm & Wonderful stopped producing the black sheep style in 1994, but it was reissued in 2020 as a collaboration with the brand Rowing Blazer. The actress Emma Corrin wore a replica of the sweater when she played Diana in the fourth season of Netflix’s The Crown in 2020. Meanwhile, a sweater of the same design is part of the permanent collection of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. Sotheby’s is offering the original sweater as part of its inaugural Fashion Icons sale which will run during New York Fashion week from August 31 to September 13. The auction house holds the record for the most valuable Diana dress ever sold – an aubergine ball dress which was bought for 604,800 dollars (around £474,870) in January 2023. It also sold Diana’s Attallah Cross to Kim Kardashian in the Royal and Noble auction in London in January for £163,800. Speaking about the jumper, Sotheby’s global head of fashion and accessories Cynthia Houlton said: “This exceptional garment, meticulously preserved, carries the whispers of Princess Diana’s grace, charm, and her keen eye for fashion.” Read More Gongs, chanting and Celtic Shamanism: What I learnt from a day at the Glastonbury Healing Field A woman stopped cleaning after her husband accused her of doing ‘nothing’. Then she filmed the results Taylor Swift ‘declined Meghan Markle’s personal letter’ to appear on Archetypes Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 26, 2023--

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A host of musicians and artists graced the many stages of Glastonbury this weekend, showing us their best festival fashion. This is what the best dressed wore while performing their hearts out… Lizzo About Damn Time singer Lizzo went full rock and roll for her first look. She appeared on stage with long emerald green hair parted down the middle, futuristic sunglasses and a black leather jumpsuit with a skirt over the top and pink lace-up detailing, designed by Michael Ngo. She then changed into a shiny pink boiler suit and a black bedazzled baseball cap, ending with a final costume change in a gold draped dress and lace-up boots. Elton John Elton John walked out in a metallic gold suit for his ‘last ever UK show’, in front of a huge crowd at the Pyramid Stage. He kept the rest of the look simple, with a black shirt underneath and a pair of his trademark glasses. Lil Nas X Featuring extravagant costume changes, American rapper and singer Lil Nas X’s set truly stunned fans. One look was a gold plated top and white trousers with furry leg warmers, while his hair was braided back in cornrows and pulled into a kinky Afro textured ponytail. He then performed topless in a metallic blue skirt that had a bull at the centre, knee pads and another pair of furry leg warmers, accessorised with a spiked choker necklace in the same colour. Tilda Swinton Tilda Swinton joined composer and pianist Max Richter at Glastonbury in a sky blue suit with flared trousers – an outfit she’s previously worn before – with a white and black pinstriped shirt and gold tie. She paired the look with Ahlem Quai Branly sunglasses. Cate Blanchett Swinton wasn’t the only actor at Glastonbury – Cate Blanchett brought star power to the stage when joining US pop-rock duo Sparks for a performance of their recent track The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte. The Oscar-winning actor – who also features in the music video – danced onstage in a bright yellow suit with a black shirt underneath. Becky Hill On The Other Stage, singer Becky Hill wore a three piece sequinned co-ord set that included a smiley face jacket, bralette and mini skirt. She paired it with black knee-high boots, a gold body chain and hoop earrings. Sophie Ellis-Bextor The 44-year-old singer wowed fans on the Worthy Farm stage in a disco-inspired gold sequinned leotard embellished with plenty of tassels. She paired the outfit with baby pink strappy heels, pulling her hair back in a messy ponytail. Bellah R&B singer-songwriter Bellah made her Glastonbury debut in a red distressed co-ord jacket and mini pleated skater skirt, with leather shorts underneath and a bejewelled black mesh top. She wore her hair in a bob with subtle red highlights and finished off the outfit with black knee-high leather boots. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sarah, Duchess of York has operation for breast cancer: What to know about mammograms Wild swimming: When is it safe to go in? Prince of Wales to launch initiative aimed at ending homelessness

The biological age of our brains is a health factor that many people neglect – but as young people these days are expected to live longer than ever, it’s getting more and more important. It turns out that switching to a diet full of fresh vegetables and low in processed foods could do wonders for what’s going on up there, new research has found. According to a team of scientists from universities in Israel, Germany and the US, eating a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, seafood and whole grains can slow the signs of accelerated brain ageing which are typically seen in obese patients. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Scans taken after 18 months showed the participants’ brain age appeared almost nine months younger than expected, compared to estimates of their brain’s chronological age. The study involved imaging the brains of 102 people who were taking part in a larger clinical trial. Scans were taken at the beginning, and again after 18 months, along with tests of liver function, cholesterol levels and body weight. Groups ate one of three diets: a Meditterranean diet of nuts, fish and chicken instead of red meat, a similar diet but with a few added extras like green tea, or a diet based on healthy dietary guidelines. Brain age estimates were based on an algorithm that had been trained using brain scans from a separate group of nearly 300 people. People in the trial lost an average of about 2.3kg. For every 1 percent of body weight lost after following a set diet, the participants’ brains appeared about nine months younger than their chronological age. However, it is still unknown whether changes in brain age actually translates to improvements in brain function. "Our study highlights the importance of a healthy lifestyle, including lower consumption of processed food, sweets, and beverages, in maintaining brain health," said neuroscientist Gidon Levakov of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. The study was published in eLife. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.