As the new post-pandemic normal settles in and people adapt to a context of uncertainty, constant adversities, and pessimism, we are moving away from a moment in which consumers expected brands to rise up to society's challenges and into one when they’re demanding genuine allyship from businesses.

Being stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to reevaluate their lives, leading some to embrace a simpler way of living by starting a vegetable garden or figuring out an effective work-life balance. Will this change in habits spark a minimalist resurgence in the long term?

Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021 may have been a historic occasion, but it was style, rather than politics, that dominated media coverage. In the pandemic era, how are cultural icons communicating through their style? And what impact does their messaging have on the way we dress?

The fashion world was upheaved by COVID-19 as people reexamined their buying habits and switched up the ways they participated in culture. How might a decentralized approach to influence impact style? And how can brands respond to the shopping habits of younger generations?

As people realise the eco and socio-economic cost of the fashion industry, both brands and shoppers are reevaluating their role in it. To keep things green and community-focused, designer Thebe Magugu prioritises local production and local talent – from textile mills to printmakers to pleaters.