Burberry Hero, the Brand’s New Scent, Is Here + More Beauty News You May Have Missed

Burberry Hero has arrived

 

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Unless you’ve been living under a (social media-free) rock, you’ve likely been acquainted with Burberry’s new men’s fragrance launch, Hero, which dropped on August 2. With an ad campaign that features actor Adam Driver as an enigmatic, strapping centaur set against a moody coastal backdrop, it’s pretty hard to miss. To learn more about the new fragrance, we spoke with Aurelien Guichard, the nose behind the scent.

“Hero is a scent that embodies hope, strength, power, but also a real sensibility,” he says. “We wanted to create a fragrance that embodies freedom, and at the same time adds a dimension of softness and care for the environment.” To touch on the environmental element, Guichard included upcycled ingredients like Atlas cedarwood oil from North Africa, extracted from cedarwood waste.

“We combined three different qualities of cedarwood oil. Virginia, which is dry and vibrant, Atlas, to add an amber-y, soft olfactive profile, and finally, cedarwood oil from the Himalayas, which is almost honey-like. The combination of these three cedars creates an imaginary fourth cedar, and we really built a fragrance around this woody identity. Cedar is also an interesting ingredient as it symbolizes freedom, strength and incorruptibility — to me, an element that is very proper to the modern hero.”

The scent, which combines cedar with bright notes of juniper and Italian bergamot, wholly embraces the idea of contradictions and duality (note the selection of Driver as the face of the fragrance, who is simultaneously bold, and subtle, in appearance and in character). “I think the project is all about that — it’s about finding ingredients that are masculine, but not just strong and boring. It’s about being subtle, refined, but still very masculine.”

Beautycounter’s Think Big All-In-One Mascara is here

 

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Hot on the heels of its Lid Glow Cream Shadow launch, certified B-corp brand Beautycounter has dropped Think Big All-In-One Mascara, a creamy, tripeptide-infused formula that conditions and strengthens lashes while adding substantial lift and volume. Created with true black pigment — a carbon black alternative that adheres to the brand’s 12 rigorous safety standards — the weightless formula includes a mix of rice bran, calendula flower extract, and carnauba waxes for a lightweight, non-irritating feel. Plus, it’s housed in a stunning golden vessel made with 31 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) and features a flexible wand to coat every lash hair with incredible precision.

Amika drops Power Hour Curl Refreshing Spray

 

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In need of a mid-week curl reboot? Consider adding Power Hour Curl Refreshing Spray, the latest addition to Amika’s best-selling curl collection, to your hair routine. This lightweight, shine-enhancing spray features tapioca starch and linseed extract to redefine waves, curls and coils, while hydrolyzed wheat protein and soybean extract seal in moisture to smooth away frizz. Spritz it on second (or third, or fourth) day curls to instantly bring them back to life. On freshly washed hair, cocktail it with Amika’s Curl Corps Defining Cream and Curl Corps Enhancing Gel before diffusing to achieve definition, bounce and touchable softness for days.

Touchland relaunches its Power Mist Moisturizing Hand Sanitizers

 

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Up your hand sanitizer game with Touchland, the trendiest germ-buster since… well, ever, really. Since launching in 2018, the brand has gone viral (no pun intended) for its playful packaging, non-sticky feel and delightfully addictive scents. Now, in collaboration with Swiss perfume house Givaudan — responsible for hits like Pink Sugar and well as top-shelf fragrances from luxury brands Diptyque and Etat Libre d’Orange — Touchland has reinvented its OG collection with updated versions of its signature scents, along with five new fragrances, including fresh apple, velvet peach and rainwater. To celebrate the relaunch, the brand is unveiling a racy campaign across all its social media channels, featuring sexy imagery — in direct contrast to its squeaky clean purpose. “As we are all learning how to navigate a post-COVID world, our relaunch comes at a time when the desire to touch is higher than ever. We want to empower people to have a good time, without being reckless,” says founder Andrea Lisbona. You’ll definitely want to get your hands on this one.

Moon Juice has arrived in Canada

Canadians can finally (!) hit “add to cart” on wellness brand Moon Juice. Now exclusively available at Sephora Canada, the holistic beauty brand boasts an array of adaptogenic skincare and wellness supplements, to help de-stress your body from the inside out. Choose from seven of the brand’s best-selling supplements, skincare, and haircare products, including SuperYou, an ashwagandha-packed supplement designed for energy and focus; Magnesi-Om, a calming berry-flavoured drink mix; and Cosmic Cream, an elasticity-boosting moisturizer that offers blue light protection. Moon Juice’s entry into Sephora Canada marks the first time the retail giant is including supplements in its lineup of offerings, potentially opening the door for further expansion into the wellness category down the line. Gear up for some major self-care.

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Montreal’s La Canadienne Is Coming to Toronto + More Fashion News

It’s August and while we love summer, that can only mean one thing: fall fashion is on our — and many brands’ — minds. Come fall, several new retail spaces (including the beloved Montreal-based footwear mecca La Canadienne) will be opening in Toronto. Plus, read up on the Coach Foundation’s initiative committed to granting more students a higher education.

La Canadienne opens a storefront in Toronto

Photography courtesy of La Canadienne

Women’s footwear brand La Canadienne has been based in Montreal for over 30 years, and is now expanding its retail presence to the streets of Toronto. On August 9, the brand will debut their Fall 2021 collection in a two-storey, 4,000-square foot, heritage-inspired building in prestigious Yorkville Village. The assortment of autumn goodies will include La Canadienne’s trademarked City Dry footwear, luxurious Italian-crafted outerwear, handbags and a slew of accessories.

“We have known our Toronto customer for quite some time. Now she has access to us right on her doorstep!” said president of La Canadienne Nicholas Niro in a press release.

Emerging brand Soi and Others is redesigning cashmere

Photography courtesy of Soi and Others

Meet genderless cashmere brand Soi and Others. Crafted using the highest quality of cashmere handpicked in Mongolia by founder Alison Currie, the selection of contemporary pieces — including scarves, tops, sweaters, pants, hats and more — is entirely gender-neutral. “We want people to feel strong and confident — that’s what true beauty is to us,” the Toronto-based founder said in a press release. Currie has over 20 years of experience in the cashmere industry, making her an expert in all facets of the business, from sourcing materials and designing to sales and marketing. And like the name suggests, Soi and Others is a collaborative brand. Anchored by partnerships with local and international artists, a creative spirit lies at the heart of each collection. The debut Fall 2021 launch is decorated with Canadian visual artist Rundi Phelan’s abstract designs, marrying soft romantic florals with a punk influence. Browse the collection here.

Birkenstock and Proenza Schouler reissue their collab in bold, new colours

Photography by Collier Schorr

German-bred footwear brand Birkenstock and New York’s ready-to-wear label Proenza Schouler are continuing their partnership with a new collection of unisex shoes. This time, the duo is using bold and experimental colours from Proenza Schouler’s signature palette (think vibrant cobalt blue, rustic luggage burgundy and elevated neutrals) that will make transitioning from late summer to early fall a walk in the park.

“Birkenstock and Proenza Schouler both share a common respect and admiration for the craftsmanship and detailed work that is integral to all of our products,” said Proenza Schouler founders Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez in a press release. “We are excited to pick up where we left off and expand on the collection with fresh colourways that feel very in-the-moment and true to our brand.” Musician King Princess appears in the new campaign, embodying the strength and individualism that is embedded in both brands. The capsule collection will be available starting August 6 at 1774.com, proenzaschouler.com, select Birkenstock and Proenza Schouler retail locations, as well as select retailers worldwide.

Soia & Kyo reveals they will be going fur-free this fall

Photography courtesy of Soia & Kyo

Luxury outerwear brand Soia & Kyo has announced their latest efforts toward a more sustainable future with the news that they will be 100 percent fur-free, beginning with this year’s fall and winter collections. This first-time venture will include the introduction of sustainable lightweight downs, eco puffers and a wide range of sustainable knitwear. With their complete collection of versatile and easy-to-layer pieces, customers will have major outfit options as the weather cools, whether they’re lounging by the fire or bundling up in nature. The fall collection is available to shop on August 16, and the Winter lineup will be available on September 16.

Ellie Mae’s Archive Pop-Up Shop opens at Stackt Market

Photography courtesy of Ellie Mae

On August 5, Ellie Mae launched a pop-up in Toronto’s Stackt Market, housing its 2016 to 2020 collections at up to 70 percent off. The pieces, which can be shopped online as well, range from one-of-a-kind gems to vintage treasures. The sale is ongoing until August 31, giving shoppers just a month to snap up some locally-made wardrobe items.

The Coach Foundation commits to financially supporting 5,000 students with scholarships by 2025

Photography courtesy of the Coach Foundation

The Coach Foundation, a philanthropic pocket within the Coach brand, has committed to supporting 5,000 students with scholarships by 2025 via their global Dream It Real initiative. This goal is rooted in the foundation’s mission to eradicate cycles of inequality by empowering youth and giving opportunities of higher education. In addition to partnering with global non-profits to make this possible, Coach is donating five percent of its North American sales (up to $1 million) to the Dream It Real Fund, as well as five percent of sales in the U.K. (up to $150,000) to the U.K. Youth charity. This will take place throughout the week of August 9 to 16 as the first of many “Dream Weeks.” What’s more, customers can personalize their Coach bags in-store, with limited-edition artist-designed motifs that were inspired by the stories of Dream It Real students.

Looking for more fashion news?

You’ll need your vaccine card to get into New York Fashion Week

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Knix Launches Ashley Graham-Approved Activewear

It’s fair to say we could all use a bit of a confidence boost. As it turns out, 18 months of binge-drinking, -eating, -watching, and -sitting doesn’t do wonders for your self-esteem. Add being locked inside for much of that time with only your thoughts and a looming pandemic, and many of us are coping with mental and emotional scars.

As we slowly make our re-entry into (hopefully) post-pandemic life, a new form of power dressing has emerged: activewear. Gone are the days of relying on shoulder pads and pinstripes to channel your inner boss lady — comfort-driven dressing has become a work-from-home staple (thanks, Zoom calls!) and an unexpected source of empowerment.

The most recent addition to the activewear category is Knix Active, an assortment of workout-ready gear from Knix that includes their iconic leakproof technology (hello, period-ready leggings and biker shorts!). And the Canadian brand that started with intimates has partnered with a bona fide fashion world powerhouse to launch the 30-piece collection: supermodel, entrepreneur and mother Ashley Graham. As Knix’s first global ambassador, the activist will now be the face of campaigns, collaborate on future collections, and participate in brand initiatives such as the Life After Birth Project, which highlights birthing people’s postpartum journeys.

Photography courtesy of Knix

While technological innovations in fabrics, cooler silhouettes (hi, matching sets!) and the ever-popular athleisure trend have contributed to activewear’s popularity, the body-positivity movement has been fundamental to its success. As brands like Ivy Park, Savage x Fenty and Girlfriend Collective began embracing real bodies, the effect on social media was instantaneous. Many women who had often felt excluded from the athletic narrative were not only being included, but celebrated. This inclusive ethos has been embraced by Knix since its inception.

And although it’s the label’s first full collection of activewear, founder and CEO Joanna Griffiths says it’s something she’s always wanted to explore, testing the waters with the wildly popular Catalyst sports bra.

“When I first started Knix, we had the idea to launch with leakproof underwear. One of the main reasons people needed this product was for when they were active, so I always knew that Knix and active were kind of synonymous with one another,” says Griffiths over Zoom. “And then we made our sports bra, which was two years in the making, and the design brief was literally, ‘when people see this sports bra, I want them to feel like they’ve had that Nokia phone and they’ve just seen the iPhone for the first time.’ We wanted to change the game, and then we did.”

Graham credits that very sports bra for making her a Knix fan for life and motivating her to become an investor in the brand.

“I’ve been a customer for a couple of years now, and it all started with the high impact Catalyst sports bra [that Griffiths mentioned]. I purchased it — it was #notpaid — and it just literally contained my boobs so well! It didn’t give me a uni-boob or quad-boob — it was super easy to put on and also take off,” Graham says with a smile over video chat. “So I posted it [on social media], then Joanna and I started talking on DM. We quickly realized how much we actually had in common and how we want to change the industry. So that’s really where it all began. Plus, I love Canadians!”

Photography courtesy of Knix

It might come as no great surprise that Graham’s previous experiences shopping for size-inclusive activewear have been less than ideal. While the body positivity movement has gained traction in recent years, many brands still cater to a minimal size range.

“I think being a curvier woman, in general, makes it really difficult to find clothes that fit you the way that you want to appear,” says Graham, citing she’s often “on the hunt” for apparel that fits her body type.

For Griffiths, it was never even a question that Knix Active would be size-inclusive. The debut collection, which includes Go with the Flow ️ leggings and shorts, seamless bras, and high-rise bike shorts, is available in sizes XS to XXXXL and is designed to fit bra sizes 28-44 and cups A to H.

And Griffiths says they’re just getting started when it comes to size inclusivity. “I’ll be honest with you — we still have work to do. I always say, the expansion of our size range is never done, and we’re constantly adding new sizes,” admits Griffiths. “But I think it’s so important for this specifically because [activewear] is a category that has historically been very fatphobic. We needed to have an appropriate size range so that we were signalling from the very beginning that this is a place where everyone is welcome.”

Motherhood was one of the many ways Griffiths and Graham bonded. Graham was an investor during a round of funding when the Knix founder, who was pregnant with twins at the time, made a rule that any potential financier who commented negatively on her pregnancy would be ruled out. How’s that for empowering? Graham herself recently took to Instagram to share the news of her second pregnancy. However, it was during her first pregnancy that her relationship with the brand began.

 

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“I became pregnant soon after [discovering Knix], and it was a brand that could grow with me as I got bigger and bigger. And then it also was a brand that sustained me through postpartum. To me, that was really comforting because when you’re putting on clothes, you’re making a conscious effort every morning, whatever emotion you’re going through. When you’re pregnant, your emotions are out of this world all over the place, and there was a comfort in Knix — not just physically, but emotionally,” says Graham.

That sentiment is echoed in Knix’s core mandate (“designed to make you feel more comfortable in your own skin”) and can be seen throughout the entire activewear collection. From lightweight material built with four-way stretch to bonded inner seams that prevent chafing, it’s impossible to miss the care that has gone into designing Knix Active’s pieces.

“I always say that [most intimates] were designed to be worn for five minutes and then have someone take them off you. And you know, there’s a time and a space for that a hundred percent. But then there are also the products that you want to wear for 15 hours and be comfortable in to live your life. [Women] wear all these different hats, and I think the category hasn’t always acknowledged that,” says Griffiths.

As two women who wear many different hats themselves — Graham has her own podcast, models and is raising her son Isaac with another baby on the way; Griffiths is a CEO and mom of three — they agree there is power in comfort. Yes, comfort within the clothes you wear but by extension, comfort in being true to yourself.

 

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“What’s most important is that everybody needs to be their most authentic self. This brand is exactly that — an authentic collection of who we are, and hopefully, that’s exactly how you will feel [when you wear it],” says Graham. “You don’t have to be an athlete to wear this activewear line. You don’t have to be a mother. You don’t even have to like moving. It’s really, truly made for everybody and every type of person at any stage of your life.”

While authenticity and empowerment are easy to preach, activewear brands often have trouble putting those sentiments into action. With a complicated history of toxic weight loss, dieting practices, and fat-shaming, the male gaze has plagued this category for years, as both the media and brands perpetrated the myth that women’s bodies weren’t their own but something to be commented on. A topic that Griffiths could discuss endlessly, the phrase “Because you’re not doing it for anyone but yourself” was a constant source of inspiration for the new launch.

Photography courtesy of Knix

“You shouldn’t be doing anything for anybody except for yourself,” Graham says. “I can say that if I’m not doing something for myself, I’m not going to be a better mother for my son. But I think that you can pour so much into all the facets around you, but until you really take care of yourself, that’s where you prosper and [find] happiness.”

For Griffiths, it wasn’t until she discovered that outlook that Knix Active truly came to life.

“There was just this shift for me a couple of years ago where I started exercising again and for the first time in my life, and I was working out because I just wanted to feel stronger. I wanted to have more energy, and it had nothing to do with the number on a scale. It had nothing to do with impressing somebody or fitting into that dress and all of the reasons I used to work out before. It was the first time that I was doing it just for myself, and that was such an empowered feeling. And it made me enjoy it so much more because it wasn’t like this calories in, calories out kind of message. We’ve been programmed to think [those things], and so like Ashley said, we have to come to a place where we’re doing it for ourselves.”

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These Are the August 2021 Beauty Launches We’re Looking Forward To

We’ve got about a month left of summer heat and humidity before we head into transitional weather, so we suggest you soak up the sun and load up on the beauty products that will help you get the most out of it. From one of our favourite sunscreen launches of the year to a new bold fragrance, and must-try brands making their Canadian debut, there’s lots to get excited about. These are the August 2021 beauty launches you need on your radar.

Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair

 

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Want to indulge your skin in a treatment that’s more nourishing than a serum but more potent than a cream? Enter: Tatcha’s new Indigo Overnight Repair, a serum-in-cream formula that’s designed to calm irritation and balance the microbiome overnight, thanks to its ultra-soothing blend of Japanese Indigo, Mondo Grass and ceramides.

Calvin Klein Defy

 

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“I wish I could bottle up that first-day-of-vacation feeling, when you wake up and look out at the ocean for the first time,” says Richard Madden. The actor — who is most well-known for his portrayal of Robb Stark in Game of Thrones and his Golden Globe-winning performance in Bodyguard — is the newest addition to the Calvin Klein fragrance family, as the face of Calvin Klein Defy, the brand’s latest men’s scent. The fragrance explores the concept of contrasts, pairing deep, woody notes with fresh citrus and delicate lavender. Madden says he was drawn to the unexpected duality of notes because of the parallels to his own personality, specifically when it comes to balancing confidence and vulnerability. “I can get onstage in front of thousands of people and act, but if I have to stand up in a room of like, six people, I can be very shy and self-conscious,” he says. “I find it can be easier to get on a stage and be someone else, use someone else’s words and wear someone else’s clothes, than to be in a small room and be yourself.”

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex

Did you know that facial muscles are the only group of muscles in the entire body that are directly attached to skin? These muscles are responsible for creating dynamic facial expressions (like blinking and squinting) and these repetitive micro-movements can actually decrease natural collagen levels and increase irritation. What’s more, the eye area skin is thinner than the skin on the rest of your face, so it’s one of the first areas to show signs of aging. That’s why Estée Lauder’s new Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex supports skin’s natural nightly repair process and provides antioxidant protection, promoting its natural production of new cells and collagen to improve elasticity over time. Plus, the product’s custom applicator, which is made of stainless steel, is specially engineered to grab onto the perfect amount of product, allowing for precise and easy application around the delicate eye area, while the cryo-steel wand simultaneously cools skin by two degrees Celsius, providing a de-puffing effect.

Noble Panacea launches at Nordstrom Canada

 

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If you’ve been eyeing the luxury skincare line Noble Panacea, now’s your chance. The skincare brand that’s famously backed by Nobel Prize research (it was founded by Nobel Laureate, Sir Fraser Stoddart!) just launched at Holt Renfrew last month, and this month it’ll be making its debut at Nordstrom Canada. Stoddart’s contribution towards “the design and synthesis of molecular machines,” including Organic Molecular Vessel technology, is used in all Nobel Panacea formulations. How’s that for science-backed formulations?

Kristin Ess Hair has landed at Shoppers Drug Mart

 

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Huge news for haircare fanatics: Kristin Ess Hair, the eponymous brand of products founded by the beloved celebrity stylist who’s behind the lush manes of Lauren Conrad, Lucy Hale, and Jenna Dewan, is making its way north of the border, to Shoppers Drug Mart, this month. The haircare line includes everything from glosses to accessories, conditioners to styling tools, and so much more. Get ready to stock up and have the best hair days of your life.

Biossance Squalane and Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen

 

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On the hunt for the perfect sheer, non-sticky sunscreen that will get you through the heat and humidity? Look no further than Biossance’s new Squalane and Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen. The easily absorbable, comfortable to wear broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen is super hydrating thanks to the addition of squalane in its formula. Trust us — once you try it, you’ll never complain about having to put on sunscreen again.

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Are Women’s Sports Achievements Still Not As Highly Valued As Men’s?

On July 31, Canadian history was made at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. During the women’s 4×100-metre medley relay, Canadian swimmers Kylie Masse, Sydney Pickrem, Maggie Mac Neil and Penny Oleksiak finished with a time of 3:52.60 — breaking a national record, winning a bronze medal for Canada, and officially securing Oleksiak’s place as the most decorated Olympic athlete in Canadian history.

✨ PENNY OLEKSIAK MAKES HISTORY (again) ✨

After winning 🥉 in the 4x100m medley relay, Penny Oleksiak is now #TeamCanada's most decorated Olympian of all time 🤩🤯🎉

🏊‍♀️ into the details ➡️ https://t.co/6UvSEBMVb4 pic.twitter.com/CNUTLu8K9V

— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) August 1, 2021

At just 21 years old, Oleksiak now holds a total of seven Olympic medals. But despite her record-breaking victory, Oleksiak’s achievement as the newly minted most-decorated Canadian Olympian ever did not receive the fanfare that one might expect. On August 1, the lead story on CBC’s The National was about Olympic sprinter Andre De Grasse, who ran his personal best and won a bronze medal. The second, much shorter story of the show was Oleksiak’s historical news. On August 2, The Globe and Mail’s front page displayed a picture of De Grasse holding the Canadian flag with a headline about his bronze medal win. Further down on the page was a line in smaller font, with no photo, nodding to a story about Oleksiak’s victory.

These may seem like small details, and while De Grasse’s performance is certainly worthy of praise (he even went on to win a gold medal in the men’s 200-metre final on August 4), Oleksiak’s record-smashing win taking a backseat is symbolic of how women’s sports achievements are often not valued as highly as men’s. A 2014 study of major media outlets found that only four percent of all sports coverage went to women’s sports. This study was conducted during an Olympic and Paralympic year — when women’s sporting events are among their highest. Media coverage of women’s sports is lacking in both quantity and quality, says Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO of Canadian Women & Sport, an organization committed to achieving gender equity in sports.

“[Female athletes] are more often described in relation to men: so in relation to their husbands, in relation to their coaches, in relation to their children. Women in photographs are more [likely] to be portrayed in a passive, objectively beautiful shot, whereas men are shown in the heat of the moment doing the sport,” says Sandmeyer-Graves. “Even when women do show up [in media coverage], they show up effectively through the male gaze. And they show up in ways that don’t centre their athleticism and their performances, but rather centre other aspects of their identities.”

With a long history of being sexualized in the media, women in sports still deal with their womanhood being tied to their performances as athletes. In sports media, grown women are often referred to as “girls” and “ladies,” which implies expectations of femininity, Sandmeyer-Graves says. “There are these subtle ways in [which] women in sports are covered that just sort of diminishes them.” During the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Toronto Sun printed a cover story of a 16-year-old Oleksiak with the headline “Pretty Penny,” after she won two Olympic medals. This type of coverage, which focuses on a female athlete’s appearance, takes away from their sport-related achievements. Men, on the other hand, typically don’t have to worry about this type of unwanted attention.

“Men’s sport participation is celebrated daily … on dedicated channels and dedicated sections of the newspaper. And women don’t get that same kind of positive reinforcement for their involvement. It reflects a very different valuing of their participation than men’s participation in sport,” says Sandmeyer-Graves. When sports media coverage is constantly skewed towards men’s achievements, it teaches us not to value female athletes in the same way.

The Olympics’ commitment to showcasing women in sports increased this year, with schedules changed to air women’s sporting events during primetime slots, instead of in the off-hours, as done in previous Olympic Games. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics are the most gender-equal yet, with added events bringing women’s participation up to 49 percent for the first time ever. Sixty percent of athletes on Team Canada are female, and consequently, Canadian women have been dominating the Olympics. Some media outlets are also making efforts to increase their representation of women in sports beyond the Olympics, like CBC’s commitment to gender-balanced coverage.

“It’s so exciting to see strong, powerful, aggressive women on our TV screens [during the Olympics],” Sandmeyer-Graves says. “So many different body shapes and types, all performing at the absolute top of their game and giving it their all. That is such a liberating thing to see.” However, she notes that this is not an accurate representation of female athletes’ participation overall in Canada. A recent study found that one in four girls who actively participated in sports before COVID-19 aren’t committed to returning. We’re still operating under a sport system that caters to male players and male audiences, Sandmeyer-Graves says, and this is what’s causing girls to leave.

1 in 4 girls are not committed to returning to sport.

If we don’t act now to counter this trend, we could see over 350,000 girls sitting on the sidelines post-COVID-19.

Learn more in the COVID Alert: Pandemic Impact on Girls in Sport report ⬇

🔗https://t.co/448NSLGAWW pic.twitter.com/3qgAEKcmj1

— Canadian Women & Sport | Femmes et sport Canada (@WomenandSportCA) July 13, 2021

Because representation for women in sports is still lacking, it’s invaluable that women and girls have athletes like Penny Oleksiak to look up to. When she became Canada’s most decorated Olympian on July 31, Oleksiak said “this is only the beginning for team Canada in swimming,” adding that she’s excited for what future Olympics will hold. When those events come, and Oleksiak inevitably secures more wins, it’s crucial that she and her achievements are celebrated loudly, in the same way a male athlete would be.

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Homophobia Is Alive and Well in Hollywood

Carmen Logie remembers the very first time she heard of HIV/AIDS. It was the mid-1980s and she was about 10 years old when she saw a billboard that read “AIDS kills.” This jarring introduction to an unknown concept confused her. She remembers thinking, “What is this? AIDS kills?” Now an associate professor in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto and a Canada Research Chair in Global Health Equity and Social Justice, she says this kind of HIV/AIDS messaging in the media contributes to the othering of LGBTQ+ communities. After seeing recent headlines about well-known celebrities using homophobic slurs and perpetuating HIV/AIDS stigma with harmful comments, Logie says she’s reminded of how far we still have to go in challenging our biases.

On August 2, rapper DaBaby apologized for homophobic comments he made during his performance at Rolling Loud music festival on July 25. “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two or three weeks, put your cellphone light in the air,” he announced in the middle of his set, as reported by Newsweek. He made additional derogatory remarks about women’s bodies and members of the LGBTQ+ community. DaBaby received backlash for his comments and has since been dropped by several upcoming music festivals he was scheduled to perform at. In his apology, he said his comments were “misinformed” and that he had needed education and guidance on these topics.

Actor Matt Damon has also come under fire for an anecdote he shared in an interview with the U.K.’s Sunday Times on August 1, where he said he only recently stopped using “the f-slur for a homosexual” thanks to his daughter educating him on the offensiveness of the term. Damon later released a statement to Variety asserting that he’s never actually used the term in his personal life, but that as a child, he “heard the word ‘f*g’ used on the street before I knew what it even referred to.”

Both stories taking place within the same week, though different from one another, point to a common trend: lack of knowledge regarding LBGTQ+ issues that lead to misinformation and casual homophobia. Despite developments in research and scientific knowledge around HIV and AIDS, lack of representation and understanding in media contributes to underlying biases toward LGBTQ+ people, explains Logie.

At the beginning of the HIV crisis in the 1980s, the often limited coverage from media was stigmatizing and damaging. Uncertain of the origins of the disease, media outlets dubbed HIV “gay cancer,” perpetuating prejudice and alienating LGBTQ+ communities. Discrimination was also placed on drug users, as the virus could spread through needle injections. Both of these marginalized groups were seen as the sole targets for HIV, and some media outlets echoed conservative sentiments that the virus was God’s way of punishing them for their “sins.” Over the intervening decades, science has made significant strides in terms of understanding the disease, but media and Hollywood representation hasn’t quite followed suit.

“We have done a really bad job of having the media align with science,” Logie tells FASHION. “There’s a lot of silence around HIV. I don’t really see, in any of the big blockbuster movies that I’ve seen, anybody living with HIV.” She commends the impact of TV shows like Pose, which explores HIV in a complex way and stars Billy Porter, who is open about living with HIV himself. However, we rarely see movies and TV shows feature characters living HIV-positive when it’s not their main, often tragic storyline. But the thing is, HIV can just be a part of someone’s life.

“The strongest level of evidence you can have shows that when a person living with HIV is taking their medication and [it’s] virally suppressed, there’s no chance they can transmit the virus,” explains Logie, whose research focuses on HIV and stigma. “There’s every chance that, given a healthy diet and secure housing — the social determinants of health, a person living with HIV can live a long, healthy and happy life. You could have a partner who is HIV-negative, if you’re HIV-positive, and not transmit the virus if you are undetectable on your medication. You can have children and not transmit the virus to children. There’s so much hope. And there’s so much progress, scientifically, that it is disappointing when I see that social progress is behind the science.”

She says Damon’s conversation with his daughter represents an important generational shift away from harmful language, something she didn’t see when she was young. “When I was growing up in a small town, [the f-slur] was a very common insult that was used all the time. I witnessed the harm of that word, as somebody [who is] a part of the gay community,” Logie says. “I have very strong memories of hearing that word.” She explains that straight people, like Damon, often don’t have to confront their own LGBTQ+ biases or the way that slurs like this hurt marginalized groups, because it doesn’t affect them personally.

Slurs and outdated falsehoods about HIV and the LGBTQ+ community are part of a harmful homophobic narrative. It’s one that can perpetuate a dangerous culture of anxiety and silence surrounding the virus specifically, explains Logie, pointing to DaBaby’s remark that the virus will kill you in a matter of weeks. “It just creates more fear around HIV, and that fear could fuel more stigma towards people living with HIV. It’s [also] going to dissuade people in that audience from getting tested. We know that fear of HIV [and] fear of learning you’re HIV positive … is a deterrent from getting a test. And you need to get tested in order to be able to start your medication if you’re living with HIV,” says Logie.

In Canada, approximately 13 percent of people living with HIV are undiagnosed. And HIV stigma is more dangerous for people with intersecting identities, who are on the receiving end of both racism and LGBTQ+ discrimination. With HIV stigma comes the criminalization of HIV in the media, which has historically disproportionately impacted Black communities. An Ontario study that analyzed 1,680 Canadian newspaper articles between 1989 and 2015 about HIV non-disclosure criminalization cases — when an individual doesn’t tell their partner they have HIV — found that Black people were overrepresented. Despite Black men making up only 20 percent of people charged, the study found that Black immigrant defendants made up 62 percent of the media stories told about prosecution for non-disclosure.

Comments that play into the harmful tropes about gay people and HIV are indicative of how much destigmatization efforts are still needed, says Logie. “For me, [DaBaby’s comments] felt like a really big step back, and also just a wake-up call of how much work we still have to do to bring science into popular culture.”

Logie says information regarding HIV is available, but obtaining that knowledge is only half the battle. The other half is challenging our underlying biases and the stigmas we were taught to bear, which involves removing harmful words from our vocabulary. She adds that the most meaningful step in challenging stigma is doing the work yourself before asking others to educate you.

“Read a book, read a newspaper article, listen to a podcast,” says Logie, who has a podcast dedicated to unpacking different kinds of stigma. “If you don’t know about HIV, there’s a lot of places you can learn that about it. You can go to the UN AIDS website, you can look for some people who are openly living with HIV, like Billy Porter’s story, watch Pose — go educate yourself a little bit. Start to unpack some of the ways you were raised to think of what is normal, what is natural, what is acceptable.”

The post Homophobia Is Alive and Well in Hollywood appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

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New York Fashion Week’s Must-Have Accessory? Proof of Vaccination

The one accessory guests can’t forget to stuff in their Bottega Veneta handbags at this fall’s New York Fashion Week is their vaccine card.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) is working with IMG this year to organize the live shows for the highly anticipated return to in-person NYFW. On August 2, IMG announced that all those in attendance must present proof of being fully vaccinated, as first reported by WWD.

Designers are responsible for enforcing the rule, which applies to staff, models, photographers, makeup artists, and anyone who will be present at the shows. Attendees who are under the age of 16 will be exempt from providing vaccine proof but will be required to show a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival. The rules will be strictly enforced, IMG said, and those who don’t comply will be denied entry.

Mask requirements and other COVID-related rules for NYFW will be determined in the coming weeks and outlined in a full health and safety plan to be released by the CFDA and IMG.

The news comes just after the announcement that New York City will require people to show proof of vaccination in order to enter gyms, restaurants, movie theatres and other indoor spaces. The rule will reportedly be phased in over several weeks in August and September and was established as part of a push to get vaccine rates up as the Delta variant leads to more infections across the U.S., and here in Canada.

NYC’s vaccine proof requirements comes amid growing speculations surrounding Canada’s own plan for vaccine documentation. While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is implementing vaccine passports for international travel, a mandate around domestic vaccine passports remains a question mark. The federal government is allowing provinces to decide whether they will require vaccine passports, and as of now, the topic remains contentious. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said no to the concept, along with Alberta and Saskatchewan, while provinces like Quebec and Manitoba have announced plans to move forward with a domestic vaccine passport. Though still divided, data shows that more than half of Canadians are in support of domestic vaccine passports.

In a statement released on August 3, the CFDA encouraged “the broader industry to follow suit” with vaccine-proof requirements like the ones they’re enforcing at NYFW. “It is imperative to place the safety of guests and those working events in the highest priority,” the statement read. NYFW is scheduled to begin September 8 and run through September 12, followed by an in-person (*gasps*) Met Gala on the evening of September 13.

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