SXSW is underway in Austin, Texas celebrating all the pieces new and glossy – this yr ChatGPT, AI and psychedelics are in, whereas NFTs and the metaverse are out – Publicis Groupe’s Le Truc is there to remind delegates of extra critical points.

Le Truc has created a “discounted lives” set up which reveals two racks of t-shirts, one at $4.99 and the opposite at $44.99. Receipts present the reductions, together with compelled labour and human rights violations, that account for the large worth distinction.

Céline Assaf-Boustani, president of the Human Rights Basis, stated: “The widespread use of Uyghur compelled labour within the vogue trade is alarming. What you save prices them all the pieces — their our bodies, their households, their complete identities, and even their lives. It’s excessive time for each corporations and customers alike to now not tolerate such modern-day slavery.”

There are some massive attention-grabbing names (Tilda Swinton, New Order, Def Leppard) showing this yr, however like most festivals, SXSW is predicted to be a little bit subdued because the financial local weather makes journey and bills tougher to justify. Elon Musk’s Twitter, often an enormous presence in Austin, appears to be like to be staying away fully, however the organisers might most likely do with out the distractions.