Latest news with #Paraiso
Vogue
01-07-2025
- Business
- Vogue
These Designers Are Redefining Swimwear Through Sustainability
Swimwear is not an inherently sustainable category in fashion. The materials needed to make pieces that hold up in water and heat are made from fossil fuel-based fabrics like nylon and polyester. They are often produced at high volumes, with hundreds of billions of units created yearly, driven by quickly changing trends and tight margins. When these pieces aren't built to last beyond one season (which many are not), they break down, ultimately ending up in landfills or global second-hand markets. 'These materials carry a range of environmental impacts because they are produced from crude oil, from the release of microplastics to difficult end-of-life disposal, many of which currently lack viable solutions,' Michelle Gabriel, MS Sustainable Fashion Program Director at IE University in New York City, tells Vogue. The irony is that for swimwear to have a purpose, we need healthy water systems and a liveable climate. SIGALDuring PARAISO Miami Swim Week last month, dozens of designers put this needed shift at the forefront of their collections, consistently highlighting an understanding that sustainability is a baseline principle, not a marketing technique. And not all interpretations of sustainability were the same; while some incorporated artisan handwork and local manufacturing, others made a point to use recycled and bio-based materials and low-to-no-waste cut and sew techniques. Vitamin A founder Amahlia Stevens is considered to be a pioneer in the swimwear category, particularly for her focus on impact. The brand, which was acquired by Swim USA in 2023, was innovating on materials ten years ago in ways that many other brands are still trying to chase today. Stevens explains that there are three things to consider when looking at sustainability in swim: materials and process innovation, communication and transparency, and giving back. This means third-party auditing of supply chains, localized production, and incorporating bio-based materials. Designer Leslie Amon understands this well. 'Sustainability isn't a trend, it's a commitment to responsibility, craftsmanship, and empowerment.' Her eponymous brand features both swim and resort, and this season her collection featured hand-beaded garments and accessories, and garments produced in small quantities, working with community-based manufacturing groups in India and Bali. '90% of our supply chain is women-led—because we believe that empowering women economically is one of the most impactful ways to foster sustainable development,' she says.
GMA Network
20-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
DICT to probe alleged ‘overstaying' 400 Chinese working for DITO
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is launching an investigation into the alleged 400 Chinese working for DITO Telecommunity Corp. without the necessary working visas. DICT spokesperson Assistant Secretary Renato 'Aboy' Paraiso admitted that the agency has 'no visibility on that particular issue' until columnist Ramon Tulfo posted on Facebook his claim that DITO Tel was allegedly employing Chinese nationals who 'have over-extended their tourist visas.' 'Now that we have [knowledge] we will investigate… The DICT-CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center) will formally do an investigation,' Paraiso said. The post said the 400 allegedly 'overstaying' Chinese might be endangering our national security as they work for a telecom company.' Paraiso said the DICT would reach out to the Bureau of Immigration 'because the first allegation is the over[staying] visas.' '[But] since this is a telco that we are talking about, our attached agency which is the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) would also be an active partner in this investigation,' he said. The DICT official said the investigation, to be led by CICC and NTC, 'would investigate as far as our ICT infrastructure and systems are being used illegally by overstaying foreigners.' GMA News Online reached out to DITO Tel through its Viber media group. In response, the telco's media communications team said, 'discussing internally and we will get back to you.' DITO Tel is 60% owned by DITO CME Holdings Corp., a unit of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy's conglomerate Udenna Group, while the remaining 40% is owned by state-owned China Telecommunications Corp. DITO Tel, dubbed as the 'third telco' or new major player in the country's telecommunications space to disrupt the so-called duopoly of Globe and PLDT-Smart, has grown its subscriber base to 14 million as of end 2024 since its commercial launch in March 2021. –NB, GMA Integrated News
