Are 'Ghost' Models the Future of Fashion?

www.ozy.com Sponsored by Thursday, July 16, 2020 It’s Day 124,483,949,393 of the pandemic. Yeah, we’ve lost track, as we’re sure you have. “Gloom and doom” appear to be all around us — White House officials have reportedly even bestowed Dr. Anthony Fauci with that nickname. But amid the quarantine fatigue that’s seeping in, bold new ideas are taking shape, fresh fault lines are being drawn, novel markets are offering hope, and innovations promising to reshape our future are emerging. Here’s a roll call of some of the brightest ones across different spheres that could change the way we live and our perspectives on the world. Reply to this email to let us know a big idea that we missed. Eromo Egbejule, Africa Editor money matters [1. Too Much Debt Won’t Kill You]( This kind of economic thinking is [quickly gaining traction amid the pandemic-induced recession](. Traditional monetary theory — which guides most central banks — argues against countries accumulating too much debt, insisting that this leads to inflation. That position has spurred austerity measures in the past. Now, prominent economists such as Stony Brook University’s Stephanie Kelton and Bard College’s L. Randall Wray are pointing out that there’s little evidence in recent years of inflation in countries that have accumulated debts, and that central banks need to ease up if we’re going to drag the global economy out of its current mess. [Read more about Kelton on OZY]( 2. Bacardi Sanitizers? The crisis is making brands break out of their comfort zones and pivot to new products. Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen and Fiat Chrysler are now [producing face shields](; Chanel and L’Oreal make [face masks](; Bacardi, Diageo and Anheuser-Busch mix hand sanitizers. That versatility is what might define the future of manufacturing. 3. Killing ‘Em Softly Around the world, state-owned businesses are benefiting from bailouts, gaining an edge over private rivals. But there are increasingly vocal calls in South Africa to use the crisis to kill off long-struggling public sector companies, from South African Airways to [power distributor Eskom](, that are bleeding tax revenues. [plant two trees without leaving your house]( Doing your part for the earth has never been this easy. Our partners at [Cariuma](are planting a pair of trees in the Brazilian rainforest for each pair of their stylish sneakers purchased by OZY readers. They’re finally back in stock so [get $15 off](your next pair of Cariumas and help replant the rainforest. [Order now with code OZY-15.]( [Buy Now]( tech forward 20 [1. The Future of Fintech Is in Latin America](20) Did you know that the world’s largest fintech company outside China is in Brazil? Nubank already has 5 million subscribers, just five years after it was founded. And it isn’t alone. Brick-and-mortar banks have long monopolized Latin America’s finance sector. Now a wave of rapidly growing fintech startups in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia is challenging that dominance, riding on growing public frustration with traditional banks. [Read more on OZY]( 2. Predicting Rainfall With Mobile Towers Many developing nations lack reliable rainfall measurements because of inadequate resources and technology. But [scientists have now found]( that mobile phone towers, which use microwave frequencies, can help predict rainfall. It could be a game-changer for agriculture, particularly in the developing economies of Asia and Africa. 3. China’s Facial Recognition Pushback The communist nation has used facial recognition in law enforcement since 2017. Now, as the technology is used for myriad other applications, citizens are pushing back. In November, a professor [filed a rare lawsuit]( against a zoo that requires visitors to submit themselves to facial recognition. Research shows [growing unease]( about the technology among Chinese nationals. Under pressure, the government is [strengthening regulations]( against deepfakes. [A Cat Parent Gift Guide (Last Chance: 20% OFF)]( Are you that friend who bails on the group to spend Saturday night with the cats? Or the one who has more photos of kittens than humans on your Instagram page? Here are some ways to spoil your precious pet with some purrrfect accessories. Hurry while supplies last and use the promo code OZYPETS for 20% off on gifts for your furry friend from the OZY Store! [Shop Now]( politically speaking 1. Will an African Finally Head the WTO? It looks very likely. Three of the eight contenders seeking the top job at the World Trade Organization, which opens up in August, are from the continent: Egypt’s Hamid Mamdouh, Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Kenya’s Amina Mohamed. [China is likely to back an African candidate](. But that support could prove a double-edged sword, as it might provoke the U.S. and other Western nations to challenge Beijing’s plans. A usually bureaucratic race is this time turning into a high-stakes geopolitical battle. [2. Troll Them Not](20) China’s troll army has in recent years forced apologies and retractions from governments and major organizations — including the NBA — when their leaders or stars made comments on social media that Beijing didn’t like. Now an increasingly collaborative counterforce of volunteers from Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Japan is taking on Chinese trolls, using humor and sarcasm to blunt their most aggressive attacks, offering up a resistance strategy to nations whose governments can’t afford to formally take on Beijing. [Read more on OZY]( 3. Millennial Masters of the Economy As Latin America grapples with the recession brought about by the coronavirus, the future of several key economies [rests in the hands of millennial ministers]( — many of whom were students when the 2008-09 financial crisis struck. Can Peru’s María Antonieta Alva (35), Argentina’s Martín Guzmán (37), the Dominican Republic’s Juan Ariel Jiménez (35), Ecuador’s Richard Martínez (39) and Venezuela’s Simón Zerpa (37) steer their countries out of troubled waters? 4. Mythbuster Historian James W. Loewen studied 12 textbooks for his book Lies My Teacher Told Me. In an[ interviewÂ](with Katie Couric, James debunks common myths — and explains why disinformation is so dangerous. Start your mornings with [Katie Couric’s Wake-Up CallÂ](for access to interviews like these — and the news you need to know for the day. winning culture 1. A Walkway Into the Future Congolese fashion designer Anifa Mvuemba was scheduled to showcase her designs at New York Fashion Week this September. That won’t happen now, thanks to the pandemic. So the 29-year-old pioneered a futuristic [3D fashion show]( where clothes are draped on “ghost” models, drawing the industry’s attention. Will other designers follow suit? [2. Singing ‘Bout a Revolution]( A rising tide of gender-fluid musicians is challenging Brazil’s conservative social norms and being embraced by millions of fans, both in and outside the LGBTQ community — even as President Jair Bolsonaro’s government threatens gay rights. [Read more on OZY]( [3. TikTok Film School]( Will films ever be made in the same way again? There’s a new Hollywood disruptor on the block, and it’s the app that’s addicting the globe. TikTok’s easy-to-use interface, combined with an algorithm that allows people with tiny followings to go viral, is fostering the next generation of independent filmmakers. [Read more on OZY]( clean and green [1. Can Nanoparticles Make Fossil Fuels Cleaner?]( Cutting coal, oil and gas is seen as critical to saving the planet. But new scientific research in the U.S., Europe and India suggests nanoparticles can help us break CO2 back into fossil fuels. This revolutionary discovery could for the first time allow the fossil fuel industry to grow without damaging the environment. [Read more on OZY]( [2. A Racing Solar Journey]( A new age beckons — of photovoltaic roadways. These expressways, being tested in the Netherlands, China and the U.S., could with a single stone kill two birds or three: improve infrastructure, power cities and do it cleanly. [Read more on OZY]( [3. Can Death Lead to Salvation for Elephants?](20) When Botswana lifted its ban on hunting last year, the move drew criticism from conservationists worried that it could endanger an elephant population on the rise. But other experts argue that the new law, which allows strictly monitored trophy hunting, incentivizes local communities to ensure a sustainable population of elephants. How this debate unfolds could influence global conservation policies for years to come. [Read more on OZY]( [TV]( | [Podcasts]( | [News]( | [FESTIVALS]( Modern Media Company OZY Media, 800 West El Camino Mountain View, California 94040 This email was sent to {EMAIL} [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Read Online](