Revered in Ancient Cultures, Whales Were Hunted Worldwide by Man’s Desire for Dominion Over Nature

Revered in Ancient Cultures, Whales Were Hunted Worldwide by Man’s Desire for Dominion Over Nature

AOC continues to learn more about the history and evolution of whales, inspired by supermodel Vittoria Ceretti’s revelation in the April 2025 issue of Vogue France, that she was a whale in another life.

In this article, Anne learns about the early transition and evolution of an ancestral group called the cetaceans dating back 50 million years ago into modern world mammals. We also explore the relationship that indigenous peoples had with whales worldwide.

In 19th century Britain, cultural attitudes towards whaling were shaped by a combination of economic necessity, imperial ambition, and a burgeoning environmental awareness that was only beginning to emerge. It lacked a storied romanticism about the heroic whaler himself — a concept fundamental to the American story.

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The Paradise of El Hierro: Maria Khan by Xavi Gordo for Bazaar Spain

The Paradise of El Hierro: Maria Khan by Xavi Gordo for Bazaar Spain

The Paradise of El Hierro: Maria Khan by Xavi Gordo for Bazaar Spain

Harper’s Bazaar Spain [IG] May 2025 devotes an issue to the theme of water, with model Maria Khan lensed by Xavi Gordo [IG] in ‘Acqua’.

The island of El Hierro embraces and awes, like the crystal-clear, dark-bottomed water that surrounds it. Among its volcanoes and extraordinary natural sculptures, model María Khan finds peace in this swimwear story, an ode to the power of nature in the most sustainable corner of the Canary Islands.

Over the past few decades, this island has embraced a pioneering approach to sustainability, driven by a commitment to renewable energy and environmental conservation and its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status.

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Highgrove X Burberry Supports The King’s Foundation with 4th Capsule

Highgrove X Burberry Supports The King’s Foundation with 4th Capsule

Highgrove X Burberry Supports The King’s Foundation with 4th Capsule

Burberry has launched its fourth capsule in partnership with Highgrove, the foundation dedicated to funding Highgrove Gardens, which surround the private residence of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

This ongoing collaboration with Highgrove also promotes the work of The King’s Foundation, a charity founded by then Prince of Wales in 1990 to support now King Charles III’s philosophy of Harmony: that by understanding the balance, order and relationships between ourselves and the natural world, we can create a more sustainable future.

The latest 28-piece Highgrove X Burberry collection has collaborated with British artist Helen Bullock [IG], who has created four artworks inspired by the Kitchen Garden at Highgrove. Bullock said in a statement: “The Gardens are so vast and rich it was hard to decide where to start. But I soon fell for the tangled sway of wildflowers and that special combination of dancing poppies and cosmos.”

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How Desert Surfing Captured AOC’s View of Zimmermann’s Spring 2025 Campaign

How Desert Surfing Captured AOC’s View of Zimmermann’s Spring 2025 Campaign

How Desert Surfing Captured AOC’s View of Zimmermann’s Spring 2025 Campaign

It makes sense now that AOC has struggled to discuss the gorgeous Zimmermann 2025 Ad Campaign, featuring model Abeny Nhial as inspired by the ‘70s cult surfing film ‘Morning of the Earth’. Not until Anne queried ‘desert surfing’ was AOC in sync with Benny Horne’s exquisite Zimmermann campaign images shot in Morocco.

Conceptually, desert dunes have long captured the human imagination with their striking landscapes and haunting beauty. In the Arab world, these natural formations hold significant physical and cultural importance.

Keep in mind that these magnificent images of Abeny Nhial, wearing Zimmermann’s Illuminate Macramé Gown, capture the very contradictions expressed in the 21st century reality of desert surfing.

Properly-lined for a more modest audience than Hollywood, the Illuminate’s DNA is in perfect sync with new fashion waves being created in the ‘foreign lands’ of Zimmermann’s most successful store.

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Barbour x ERDEM Spring 2025 Loveliness and Re-Loved Initiative at Harrods

Barbour x ERDEM Spring 2025 Loveliness and Re-Loved Initiative at Harrods

Barbour x ERDEM delivers exquisite, modern loveliness in the form of a new capsule collection with four key utilitarian, wax jackets from Barbour [IG] and romantic, garden-inspired, poetic dresses and skirts from ERDEM [IG].

Throughout the lookbook, each jacket buttons over ERDEM billowing, lustrous cloud-like chiffon skirts and dresses styled by Felix Paradza and lensed by Jackie Nickerson [IG]./ Hair by Maki Tanaka; makeup by Amy Conway

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Arizona Muse Is Honored by ELLE Spain for Changemaker Activism in Fashion Industry

Arizona Muse Is Honored by ELLE Spain for Changemaker Activism in Fashion Industry

Arizona Muse Is Honored by ELLE Spain for Changemaker Activism in Fashion Industry

Arizona Muse takes three covers for the January 2025 cover of ELLE Espana [IG] and the accompanying fashion story ‘Fiel A Sí Misma’ [‘True to Herself’]. Muse is styled by Barbara Garralda in the all-Chloé fashion story, and lensed by Xavi Gordo [IG]. / Hair by Pedro Cedeño; makeup by Antonio Romero

Arizona Muse’s Heritage

‘Muse’ remains one of the top environmental activists in the world. Born in Tucson in 1988, Arizona Muse grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her English mother, a therapist; her American father, an art dealer; and her younger brother, now a pro snowboarder.

When beloved photographer Peter Lindbergh photographed Muse in the Mojave Desert, named for the indigenous Mohave people, and located in southeastern California and southwestern Nevada, with small portions extending into Arizona and Utah, he told Vogue: “The way she moves is very different from other runway models.”

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Humanist Industry Leader Moncler Tops Dow Jones Luxury Sustainability Index

Humanist Industry Leader Moncler Tops Dow Jones Luxury Sustainability Index

Humanist Industry Leader Moncler Tops Dow Jones Luxury Sustainability Index

For the sixth consecutive year in a row, Moncler Group topped the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for World and Europe in the "textile, apparel & luxury goods" sector. On the consolidated list of 500 most sustainable businesses across all sectors, Moncler was #3.

Moncler’s top guy Remo Ruffini embraces many historical humanist values besides responsibility to the environment. What we’ve learned about humanism from Brunello Cucinelli surely applies to Ruffini.

What is so impactful is his generous praise of other business leaders, including Bernard Arnault and Ralph Lauren. Business relationships built on trust is a key word in AOC’s analysis. Anne is back in her AI for scholars this moment, looking for alignment between humanism and freemasonry across Europe.

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Elizaveta Porodina Contributes to Atmos Magazine Vol. 09 'Kinship Issue

Elizaveta Porodina Contributes to Atmos Magazine Vol. 09 'Kinship Issue

The uber-talented Elizaveta Porodina [IG] shares a glimpse into her fantastical inner life in the pages of Atmos Magazine [IG]. The climate and culture magazine brings multiple covers — perhaps six — to Volume 09, dedicated to an exploration of kinship. The cost of Atmos is $30 with free shipping to me on the East Coast.

Models in Porodina’s fashion story include Ajak Dhieu, Peng Chang and Signe Michaelsson, styled by Victoria Sekrier. / Hair by Ali Pirzadeh; makeup by Valentina Li; set design by Emilia Margulies

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Meet WASTE.Paris: Valentine Hotton's Chic Clothes Born of Textile Waste

Meet WASTE.Paris: Valentine Hotton's Chic Clothes Born of Textile Waste

Seeing images from WASTE Paris [IG] on Models.com just now, Anne said “This brand with the terrific name better be sustainable.”

Paris-based, Ukrainian female photographer/videographer Julia Romanovskay [IG] is behind the lens, capturing model Jildou Lisa.

WASTE Paris co-founder Valentine Hotton launched the brand in 2022, defined by her experience as founder of COLLECTIF CHIFFON, a consulting agency in 2019.

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Isa Boulder SS 2024 Campaign Lensed by Guen Fiore Prompts Anne's Bali Reverie

Isa Boulder SS 2024 Campaign Lensed by Guen Fiore Prompts Anne's Bali Reverie

The Spring/Summer 2024 Isa Boulder campaign that got our attention just now, featuring models Komomo Nakazono and Michiko Foy.

SJ Todd, art director of AnOther Magazine provides art direction for the campaign, with styling by Morgane Camille Nicolas. Talented photographer Guen Fiore [IG], who promotes herself as based in Paris but very Italian, captures the raw but sophisticated spirit of Isa Boulder. / Hair by Akemi Kishida; makeup by Anthony Preel

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Crista Cober Covers Madame Figaro's Eco-Conscious Fashion May 2024 Issue

Crista Cober Covers Madame Figaro's Eco-Conscious Fashion May 2024 Issue

Model and mom Crista Cober covers the May 24, 2024 issue of Madame Figaro, lensed by rising photographer Catherine Louis [IG].

The issue is devoted to eco-conscience with Cober wearing a Thiane [IG] jacket with Chopard earrings on the cover. The Thiane brand is made in France, using existing fabrics, upcycling and patchwork designs.

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LVMH and CFDA Launch 'Voices of Impact' Six-Part Series on Sustainability

LVMH and the Council of Fashion Designers of America launch ‘Voices of Impact’, a co-created video series of conversations about sustainability as it intersects with fashion and luxury.

The six-part series goes live on Tuesday, airing on cfda.com and CFDA’s YouTube channel, as well as lvmh.com. The series consists of six digital episodes with specific, sustainability topics: Powering a Just Transformation; Biodiversity; The Heart of Innovation; Circularity x Regeneration by Design; Creative Capital: Designing Purposeful Growth, and Climate Action: Fusion Energy.

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Kiko Mizuhara in 'By Her Rules' Lensed by Zhong Lin for Vogue Taiwan April 2024

Kiko Mizuhara in 'By Her Rules' Lensed by Zhong Lin for Vogue Taiwan April 2024

American-Korean, Texas-born model, actor, singer and designer Kiko Mizuhara covers the April 2024 issue of Vogue Taiwan .

Today, Mizuhara manages her own pure beauty brand Kiiks and a fashion brand Office Kiko and her 8 million IG followers.

Prominent photographer Zhong Lin [IG] captures ‘By Her Rules’, with a familiar ‘popsicle’ image cluing AOC to search for the environmental connection in the editorial, styled by Chen Yu.

Staying with Vogue Taiwan’s April 2024 issue and Kiko Mizuhara’s environmental commitments, the talent explains the evolution of her own environmental passions.

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Gemma Ward Takes Her 38th Vogue Cover While AOC Heads for the Australian Outback

Gemma Ward Takes Her 38th Vogue Cover While AOC Heads for the Australian Outback

Australian model and actor Gemma Ward, mother to three children with her partner David Letts, covers the April 2024 issue of Vogue Poland [IG]. It’s Ward’s 38th cover, lensed by Virginie Khateeb [IG], with styling by Lorna McGee./ Hair by Roku Roppongi; makeup by Sandra Cooke

Knowing that AOC featured Gemma and David and their [then] two kids Naia and Jet in a cover story of the December 2019 issue of Vogue Australia, we made it our Renewed feature for March 27.

The family is photographed in the Australian Outback at Ti Tree Lake, and AOC was on the trail. Who did we discover in Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, on the ground in a huge restoration project? Louis Vuitton.

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Stella McCartney Summer 2024 Garbage Heap Campaign by Harley Weir

Stella McCartney Summer 2024 Garbage Heap Campaign by Harley Weir

Designer and eco-activist Stella McCartney [IG] releases her summer 2024 campaign, starring fellow Gaia lover Cara Delevingne.

The summer 2024 collection is Stella McCartney’s most sustainable ever, crafted from 95% conscious materials. Below, Cara holds the Frame bag, crafted from a leather alternative, made from apple waste.

Photographer Harley Weir [IG] captures the model-actor at VeoliaUK’s [IG] South London recycling center.

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AOC Revisits Jennifer Garner's Once Upon a Farm As PBC Kids Food Company

AOC Revisits Jennifer Garner's Once Upon a Farm As PBC Kids Food Company

Healthy Food for Kids Unites Jennifer Garner and Ron Finley

It’s been over five years since AOC wrote about Jennifer Garner’s co-owned business ‘Once Upon a Farm’. Our focus in summer 2018 was the actor’s support of Ron Finley, the Gangsta Gardener of the Ron Finley Project.

Jennifer Garner got AOC’s attention today after seeing a Fortune Magazine headline that Once Upon a Farm is now a $100 million business eyeing an IPO.

AOC knew in 2018 that Once Upon a Farm had B-Corp status. But we were confused reading today that the company also registered as a Public Benefit Corporation [PBC] in 2021.

Of course, we asked: What’s a PBC? Now we have some answers.

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Candice Swanepoel's Business Savvy Takes Tropic of C Henna into Art Basel Miami

Candice Swanepoel's Business Savvy Takes  Tropic of C Henna into Art Basel Miami

Candice Swanepoel’s Tropic of C swimwear shares a new henna pattern, giving us a light touch different from typical swimwear prints and patterns. The henna pattern also sits well against the weathered surfaces of Villa Parodi Delfino [IG], available for rental on the Amalfi coast, a 50-kilometer stretch of coastline along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula, in the Campania region.

Swanepoel also lives in Miami, and she launched the Tropic of C henna collection with curator Kimberly Drew, and Vogue's Elise Taylor.

The trio gathered an intimate group of friends for a luncheon with Vogue100, hosted at Jason Wright’s private residence.

Kimberly Drew is best known as the former social media manager for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and her use of the social media handle MuseumMammy [IG].

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Candice Swanepoel's Tropic of C Sustainable Lace Drop Holiday 2023

Candice Swanepoel's Tropic of C Sustainable Lace Drop Holiday 2023

Supermodel, businesswoman, mom Candice Swanepoel leads us into 2024 with a new Tropic of C Sustainable Lace collection of black and white, made-to-be seen innerwear that renders lace lovers as sensual creatures who are also kind to Mother Earth.

All of Candice’s fabrics are sustainable, with this lace fabric coming out of Portugal and making its way into existing C collection styles. Note the ‘movie poster’ image with the photoshoot credentials and specific information about the fabric. Tropic of C has never veered off course in leading with sustainability.

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Billie Eilish for Horsebit 1955 Demetra Bag in Tyrell Hampton Campaign November 2023

Billie Eilish for Horsebit 1955 Demetra Bag in Tyrell Hampton Campaign November 2023

Billie Eilish is back at Gucci and let’s applaud that move. Without question Billie is a bridge between the respective visions of the two creative directors — Alessandro Michele and now Sabato De Sarno.

For Gucci, Billie Eilish has teamed up on a greenish version of their iconic Horsebit 1955 bag. The new version is crafted from Demetra, a 75% plant-based, animal-free material that has been produced in Italy since 2021.

Gucci launched sneakers made of Demetra two years ago. The bags also use recycled ECONYL nylon made from regenerated ghost nets, carpets, and pre-consumer waste. Prada and Burberry were leaders in the development of ECONYL with products coming to market in 2019. Demetra is tanned in accordance with Gucci’s century-old standard practices.

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The Slow Living Movement: Rejecting Chaos with Simplicity and Embracing Humanism

The Slow Living Movement: Rejecting Chaos with Simplicity and Embracing Humanism

One of the key tenets of the slow living movement is mindfulness. It encourages individuals to fully engage with each experience and prioritize being present and connected to those around us.

In the past, Americans and Europeans just do not see a high-quality life in the same way. Slow living is just another word for laziness in the minds of many Americans.

However, in our post-COVID world, accompanied by growing climate violence, there are signals that American attitudes may be changing.

Even financial markets and consulting companies like McKinsey are watching Italian brands in particular, drilling down to two brands very important at Anne of Carversville: Brunello Cucinella and Loro Piana.

When Mr. Cucinelli, also known as the King of Cashmere, makes a speech about humanism and the ‘heart’ of a humanistic enterprise, by definition he is speaking in harmony with the slow living movement.

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