A group of students from New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology have developed a biologically derived filament that can be knit, whether by hand or machine, to create a new breed of textile. Composed of alginate, a polysaccharide found in the cell walls of brown algae, the material led the so-called “Bioesters” team to…

Fashion and cultural appropriation are more than passing acquaintances. The latter, which is typically bandied about with terms like “borrowing” or “inspired by,” refers to the unauthorized adoption of elements from another, often minority, ethnic group. The issue came to a head in February when the Navajo Nation sent Urban Outfitters a cease-and-desist letter demanding…

Bhava’s newly launched convertible boot was made for mileage. Crafted in Spain from 100 percent vegan-friendly materials, including a solid wood heel, the “Editor” is three boots in one. The secret to its versatility? A pair of stirrup-like shafts, which transform the shoe from an ankle boot to a knee-high or over-the-knee boot in a…

“No leathers, feathers, or fur.” That’s the Stella McCartney promise. It’s also an ethos that helped make 2015 its most profitable year to date, according to the British fashion label, which published its first global Environmental Profit & Loss Account this week. Despite laggardly growth in the United Kingdom, plus a 35 percent reduction in…