Articles by Anna Roos van Wijngaarden
Trompe-l'œil, 'fools the eye': an exploration of illusion in fashion
The catwalk is flooded with looks using trompe-l'œil ('tromp-loy'). The French term literally means 'deceive the eye'. In fashion, it is a technique where a designer creates an optical illusion by playing with perspective and dimension, making 2D appear 3D. In other words, you see something that is not there. Who invented this trick and how is...
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Investigation: exotic animal skin industry protected by lobbying
Research by the animal rights organisation Collective Fashion Justice (CFJ) reveals that lobbying has distorted the perception of the exotic animal skin industry. Executives from two departments of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an NGO founded in France in 1948, held commercial interests in continuing the harvesting...
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US judge bans AI bot from shopping on Amazon
A US federal judge has temporarily banned Perplexity AI from using its Comet browser for purchases on Amazon. Comet is an AI agent that independently performs tasks on the web at the user's request, including logging into secure Amazon Prime accounts and completing the transaction. Amazon sued the company for computer fraud. The lawsuit does not...
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Milder reactions to Duran Lantink's second collection for Jean Paul Gaultier
Since his appointment as Jean Paul Gaultier's successor, The Hague-native Duran Lantink seems to be playing a game of cat and mouse with the fashion world. His debut was loud, provoking global reactions. In contrast, his second appearance at Paris Fashion Week was remarkably composed. Instead of a spectacle of colour and form, including trompe...
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European competition plan overlooks textiles
The European Commission unveiled the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. In the presence of leaders from the Committee of the Regions (CoR), executive vice president Stéphane Séjourné presented an initiative designed to fundamentally strengthen the EU's competitive position against major powers such as China. Strategic...
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European fashion embraces live shopping: strategies for brands and retailers
A new battle has erupted among the leading social platforms. The prize is becoming the market leader in live shopping (LS), the real-time selling of products via video. This involves live videos on social media where interested parties can purchase products directly through a link, a product tag, or even an integrated shop within the app. For...
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ZDHC expands MRSL with chemical watchlist
ZDHC, known as the publisher of the Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL), has published a new guideline for chemical substances: Chemical Watchlist V1.0. While the MRSL indicates which chemical substances are not permitted in production processes, the Watchlist offers a broader reference of almost 1,700 substances that may pose risks...
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Fashion brands reaffirm support for Pakistan Accord for factory safety
Consultations between over 100 brands, retailers and trade union representatives have led to an extension of the Pakistan Accord, a country-specific agreement within the International Accord. With the new signature, the fashion companies confirm their joint commitment to improved labour and safety standards in the Pakistani supply chain. The...
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Merryl Tielman: “I design innovatively, but not pretentiously”
Designer Merryl Tielman began her career as a creative exploring her path at the Rietveld Academy. After one year of fashion design, she switched to audiovisual studies, stating: “I felt limited in fashion.” Several jobs and a footwear design course later, it turned out she was closer to her calling than she had realised. She started making bags...
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On appoints Frank Sluis as new chief financial officer
Swiss sports brand On has appointed Frank Sluis as its new chief financial officer, according to a statement released by the company. Sluis, who is Dutch-born, succeeds Martin Hoffmann. Hoffmann has handled financial duties until now, in addition to his role as chief executive officer (CEO). Sluis will take up the position on May 1, 2026. Global...
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