NewsFusion | 091

NewsFusion for January 2026

Science...

• New CRISPR technology can activate genes without cutting DNA | Science Daily
• WIRED's CES Live from 2026 in Las Vegas | WIRED
• Cornell receives grant from Bezos Earth Fund for using AI in wildlife conservation | Cornell Chronicle

Design...

• Wallpaper publishes 2026 design fair calendar | Wallpaper
• Dwell's collection of modern farmhouses | Dwell
• Vintage style experts share their secrets | W Magazine

Culture...

• South American literature is the latest must-read | Monocle
• Beloved Kumu Hula Nālani Kanakaʻole crosses over | Hawaii News Now
• Grand Egyptian Museum opens at long last | Al Jazeera

NewsFusion | 090

NewsFusion for November 2025

Science...

• Moss survives in space for 9 months | Live Science
• Sunday Robotics' Memo robot makes coffee and cleans up the house | Wired
• AI is transforming wildlife conservation | Yale E360

Design...

• Fashion statements at 2025 Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week | VIFW
• What's going wrong with design | Dezeen
• Art, science, and sponsors in F1 livery design | New York Times

Culture...

• Women in Austrialian motorcycle culture | The Guardian
• Channel 4's Game of Wool "right old stooshie" highlights important of culture and tradition in Fair Isle knitting | The Conversation
• Washington State History Museum opens permanent exhibit, This is Native Land | WSHM

NewsFusion | 089

NewsFusion for September 2025

Science...

• Artemis II astronaughts prepare for mission to Moon | BBC
• Tiny vibrations and technology could help with earlier earthquake warnings | NBC News
• Astronomers haven now identified over 6,000 exoplanets | Wired

Design...

• If you love design, it's time to visit Detroit | Architectural Digest
• Giorgio Armani honored at CNMI sustainable fashion awards | Vogue
• Copenhagen collaborative Other Circle engages creatives from across design industries | Monocle

Culture...

• Queens Arts & Culture Map showcases diverse arts and culture across the borough | Flushing Town Hall
• Indigenous-owned Alaskan Dream Cruises features culture as it's unique selling point | Travel Agent Central
• Culture and technology digital art installations in Prague and Bucharest this October | Travel and Tour World

NewsFusion | 088

NewsFusion for July 2025

Science...

• Vera Rubin Observatory poised to find many more intersteller objects (Space.com)
• First robot soccer match was action (and AI) packed (Gizmodo)
• Synchron brings new functionality to brain-computer interface (WIRED)

Design...

• Shade in the city: heat waves inspire adding more shade to urban planning (Fast Company)
• Mediterranean gardens are trending in outdoor spaces (Veranda)
• Rezoning threatens NYC's garment district (Business of Fashion)

Culture...

• Indigenous youth launch kayak journey to celebrate dam removal (AP News)
• Morvern Graham shares Scottish myths and folklore through storytelling (morverngraham.co.uk)
• Maasai-owned Oldarpoi Mara Camp offers unique perspective on community, culture, and conservation (oldarpoimaracamp.co.ke)

NewsFusion | 087

NewsFusion for June 2025

Science...

• Heatherwick Studio and Aurelia Institute offer visions of off-world agriculture (Wired)
• Infared contact lenses allow users to see at night (DW)
• Keeping robots charged up (The Conversation)

Design...

• Native Fashion Week celebrates community (Vogue)
• Milan's San Siro Stadium getting attention for it's optical illusion (Yanko Design)
• Design Shanghai 2025 is set to wow the world once again (Designboom)

Culture...

• Ethiopian culture retold through blockchain (Wallpaper)
• Arts of Oceana galleries reopen at The Met (metmuseum.org)
• More Native students wearing Regalia at graduation ceremonies (Indian Country Today)

News Fusion | 086

NewsFusion for May 2025

Science...

• Space debris is an ever increasing problem for space travel | SpaceNews
• Swiss and Italian researchers create RoboCake, a robot with edible parts and battery | New Atlas
• US FDA approves CRISPR pigs for food | Gizmodo

Design...

• Projecting the human factor in fashion design | BoF
• Expo 2025 is promising six months of exciting innovations | Expo 2025
• How a Kingfisher helped reshape Japan's bullet train | BBC

Culture...

• Mindar the android priest in Japan's Kodaiji Buddhist temple | NHK World
• Māori youth learn traditional medicines and share with Elders | NZ Herald
• Rabat is the new must see city in Morocco | Afar

NewsFusion | 085

NewsFusion for February 2025

Science...

• Blue Origin completes 10th human spaceflight using the New Shepherd rocket system (Geekwire)
• Meet Rosie, a new pharmacy robot (WWMT)
• A new generation of scientists find projects that opt out of big-city life (Nature)

Design...

• First ever NASCAR EV Pacecar at 2025 Daytona 500 (Car and Driver)
• Singapore's best and worst buildings (Financial Times)
• The best street style from 2025 London Fashion Week (The Cut)

Culture...

• VR's role in reviving endangered languages and culture (The Conversation)
• National Nordic Museum hosts 7th annual Sámi Film Festival (National Nordic Museum)
• Opening ceremony for new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) set for July 3, 2015 (Cairo Scene)

NewsFusion | 084

NewsFusion for November 2024

Science...

• New sea slug discovered (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)
• Austin's Avride & Uber partner for robot deliveries (KXAN)
• Small tech matters, nanocientist Debbie Senesky shares her thoughts (Stanford Report)

Design...

• Darlington school in Sydney wins 2024 World Building of the Year (The Guardian)
• BoF releases The State of Fashion 2025 | BoF
• Innovations ahead for Forumula 1 car design (Sports Illustrated)

Culture...

• First Lahaina, Hawaii residents returning in time for Christmans (KHON)
• Native American Veterans reflect on military service and family ties (MPR News)
• The Met announces reopening of Arts of Africa Galleries (The Met)

SeanChron | Event | Co-creating a Circular Fashion System: Solutions & Actions

SeanChron - I'm super excited to be part of a panel discussing circular fashion that is part of 2024 PNW Climate Week. To kick off PNW Climate Week we'll be having a discussion with sustainable fashion experts from diverse backgrounds, including design, repair, activism, and academia.

Details:

• Date | Sunday, July 7, 2024
• Time | 2:00pm - 4:00pm
• Location | Anchorhead Coffee & Bakery, Capitol Hill Location
• Registration | Free but space is limited, register at: https://lu.ma/bjoup74y

More Information from the Invitation:

Are you aware of the (many) problems with fashion but want real, tangible solutions? Then join us for a hopeful and action-oriented discussion on co-creating a circular fashion system!

The Topics:

• Current and future solutions for individuals and businesses
• How you can affect positive personal and systemic change

The Panelists:

• Janelle Abbott, Zero-waste Designer:
  https://janellerabbott.com
• Calley Dawson, Founder of The FXRY:
  https://www.thefxry.com
• JeLisa Marshall, Re/make Community Organizer:
  https://remake.world
• Sean Schmidt, Founder at Future-ish:
  https://www.future-ish.com/
• Moderated by Timothy Parent, Founder at Reforme U:
  https://www.reforme.style/

This 2 hour event will feature time to connect with fellow attendees, a panel discussion, a Q&A session, and a chance to check out some pre-loved clothes from the Clothing Swap organized by panelist JeLisa Marshall (same day, same place from 11am - 1pm!).

The Schedule:

• 2:00-2:30 - Networking & Clothing Swap
• 2:30-3:15 - Panel Discussion
• 3:15-3:30 - Q&A
• 3:30-4:00 - Networking & Clothing Swap

**Capacity is limited so please register ASAP to guarantee your spot!

News Fusion | 082

NewsFusion for May 2024

Science...

• Sierra Space spacecraft "Dream Chaser" prepares to visit International Space Station (Scientific American)
• Robotic fish to aid in underwater ocean research (Hakai Magazine)
• New nanotech to help in transition to optical computers (The Week)

Design...

• Argentine visual artist Andrés Reisinge explores design in science fiction (Designboom)
• Conservation International publishes new guide for fashion industry to better work with Indigenous Peoples (Conservation International)
• Downtown LA reimagines "A Downtown for All" (Urban Land)

Culture...

• Cambridge returns spears taken by Captain Cook to Indigenous community in Australia after 254 years (CBC)
• "The Aunties": a Contemporary Indigenous Storytelling Series (Indigenous Performance Productions)
• Mongolian artist Ochirbold Ayurzana featered in La Biennale di Venezia (La Biennale di Venezia)

NewsFusion | 080

NewsFusion for March 2024

Science...

• RNA interference (RNAi) pesticide being studies for Colorado Potato Beetle (Entomology Today)
• Want to know who is in space right now? Check whoisinspace.com (Who Is In Space)
• Is New Zealand's virtual BabyX too human? (CBC)

Design...

• Dallas urban design competition focuses on loneliness (Bloomberg)
• Designboom's guide to 2024 Milan Fashion Week (Designboom)
• New innovative designs features to protect homes in weather disasters (The Cool Design)

Culture...

• New video by Seattle's Urban Indian Health Institute links data, tradition, and Ancestors (UIHI)
• Finland tops Happiest Country in the World for 7th year in a row (World Happiness Report)
• The New Perth Museum in Scottland opens exhibit on cultural history of unicors (The Guardian)

Future-ish Case Study | Chanel’s Fashion Faux Pas: Cultural Appropriation in Fashion

Future-ish Case Study | 24-03

Author | Sean G. Schmidt

Publication Information | Future-ish, 2024. Published in Schmidt, S. G. (2024). Future-ish: case studies and context for exploring the science, design, and culture shaping the future (2nd ed.). Innovative Ink Publishing.

Abstract

Cultural appropriation in the arts, particularly in the fashion industry, is a centuries-old problem. Colonialism created power-dynamic situations in which colonizers endeavored to eliminate some aspects of existing Indigenous cultures while co-opting, using, and misusing other elements of the existing Indigenous culture for their own, usually financial, benefit. This practice was extremely harmful mentally, spiritually, and culturally in the past and remains harmful today. Cultural appropriation was common and, for the most part, unchallenged up through the late 20th century. This dynamic changed in the early 21st century, and cultural appropriation began to be identified and questioned intensively. In 2013, Chanel, a French haute couture fashion brand, was one of the first fashion houses called out in a major way on multiple social media platforms for cultural appropriation, just as the era of bloggers and influencers began. Specifically, Chanel was criticized for using ‘Native-American-inspired’ headdresses in their 2013/2014 Metiers d'Art show in Dallas, Texas. The show received backlash from both fashion professionals and fashionistas worldwide and sparked a new chapter in identifying and addressing cultural appropriation in many industries.

---

Contact Future-ish for more information or the full text of this case study.

NewsFusion | 078

NewsFusion for January 2024

Science...

• Birds of prey in Africa experiencing population collapse (The Guardian)
• Researchers find that genes related to male bisexuality linked to having more children and risk-taking (Phys.org)
• Robots are becoming a bigger part of the Texas workforce (CBS News)

Design...

• How Gen AI Is Reshaping Fashion’s Creativity (The Business of Fashion)
• The 50 Most Iconic Cars in Modern Motoring History (Gear Patrol)
• Kempegowda International Airport's new terminal takes inspiration form it's city's garden heritage (Design Boom)

Culture...

• Navajo Nation expresses concerns about human remains being placed on the Moon (Spacepolicyonline.com)
• Exploring Black History in Portland, OR (Travel Portland)
• After Devastating Wildfires, Maui Pushes for Honoring Its Past (New York Times)

NewsFusion | 077

NewsFusion for November 2023

Science...

• Patrol and delivery robots to share sidewalks in South Korea | The Register
• UK is first to approve CRISPR treatments | Nature
• Women in wildlife conservation; the importance of mentorship | The Wildlife Society

Design...

• Sustainability is the common thread at 2023 Lakmé Fashion Week in India | BBC
• Students reimagine South Miami in studio course | University of Miami
• 2023 Dubai Design Week - wrap up | Wallpaper

Culture...

• Nigerian architect Tosin Oshinowo prioritizes cultural identity and sustainability in her designs | CNN Business
• Kohala community, Hawaii Land Trust working to save voyaging temple on Big Island | SF Gate
• Chilean Indigenous Startups Shine at the 2023 World Indigenous Business Forum in Papua New Guinea | Contxto

NewsFusion | 076

NewsFusion for August 2023

Science...

• Fusion energy created a second time | PopSci
• Heritage algorithms infuse science with art, design, and culture | The Conversation
• China's Fourier Intelligence set to mass produce humanoid robots | South China Morning Post

Design...

• Rokeya Khanum shares insights into her successful slow fashion brand | Harper's Bazaar
• SkyX drone recharging stations extend range for drone-as-a-service offerings | Core77
• Toyota Rsearch Institute invites AI into automobile design strategy and planning | Toyota.com

Culture...

• Wildfires in Hawaii impact individuals, families, communities, as well as history and culture | PBS News Hour
• Native America Calling: podcast on the importance of tribally owned and operated museums | Indianz.com
• It's a wrap on the 2023 Paddle to Muckleshoot Tribal Canoe Journey in the Pacific Northwest | Muckleshootcanoejourney.com

News Fusion | 075

NewsFusion for April 2023

Science...

• New research on mammal genomes help identify genes involved in human diseases | Nature
• John McFall, from Paralympic bronze medalist to first disabled astronaut | Smithsonian Magazine
• AI, drones, and citizen scientists help conservation in Australia | Cosmos Magazine

Design...

• Winners of the German Design Award Announced | Arch Daily
• Zaha Hadid Architects using AI to help design buildings | Curbed
• Cowboys going green, Twisted X's sustainable Western wear upcycles bottles, recycles leather, and much more | Cowboys & Indians

Culture...

• Kiope Raymond shares thoughts on history of Hawaiian language immersion program | Maui Now
• New York schools to ban Native American mascots | NPR
• Remains of over 7,000 Native Americans in Ohio may finally be laid to rest | WBNS TV

NewsFusion | 072

NewsFusion for August 2022

Science...

• Artemis gets green light | CNN
• China building largest array of telescopes to study sun | Space.com
• Robots could help reduce chemicals in farming | ABC 10 News San Diego

Design...

• The 2022 Seattle Design Festival is in full swing | Seattle Design Festival
• Harvard Design Magazine's 50th Issue | e-flux
• Victoria and Albert Museum featuer innovative fashion from Africa | NPR

Culture...

• Korean pop culture fest, KCON LA, wows online and offline crowd | Variety
• Vogue's favorite artists from 2022 Santa Fe Indian Market | Vogure
• Hawaiian cultural leaders offer powerful testimony on the Thirty Meter Telecope (TMT) project on Mauna Kea | West Hawaii Today

NewsFusion | 070

NewsFusion for January 2022

Science...

• China's Tianwen 1 Mars orbiter snaps some great selfies | Space.com
• MIT PhD student Rachel Bielajew is helping to make nuclear fusion a reality | SciTechDaily
• Federal wildlife officials approve 'unprecedented' plan to feed Florida's starving manatees | USA Today

Design...

• Designing buildings to prevent bird crashes | Bloomberg
• Urban design planners to make cities more 'lovable' | Forbes
• All the things Vogue is looking forward to in 2022 | Vogue

Culture...

• Māori journalist, Oriini Kaipara, makes history as first primetime broadcast anchor with ancestral moko kauae | Hawaii News New
• Hawaii is rethinking tourism, giving visitors the real Hawaii | Bloomberg
• Diné, Cheyenne River Sioux are first students in program to boost Indigenous women in physics | Navajo Times

NewsFusion | 068

NewsFusion for September 2020

Science...

• Phosphine gas in the cloud decks of Venus | Nature Astronomy
• Austrian trains to test hydrogen cell engine | CNBC
• Scientific American makes first political endorsement in 175 years | Scientific American

Design...

• The Pendleton Problem: When Does Cultural Appreciation Tip Into Appropriation?
| Dwell
• Pontilly Neighborhood Stormwater Network project will reduce flood risk and beautify green spaces in New Orleans | nola.gov
• British Vogue Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful on race, fashion, and a changing world | Time

Culture...

• Lost Villages Project brought Unangax̂ survivors of World War II back to their communities in the Aleutian Islands they were forced to leave during WWII | KUCB
• USA Today's Women of the Century - Hawaii list celebrates mana wahine | USA Today
• Gather, a new documentary on indigenous food celebrates Indian resilience | Indian Country Today

Vogue's Annual Forces of Fashion Event | November 16-17, 2020

It's time again for Vogue's annual Forces of Fashion event, November 16-17, 2020. The event goes virtual this year, but promises once again to offer thought-provoking conversations on everything from creativity and sustainability to social responsibility and fashion's role in our rapidly changing world.