The Know Daily - Tuesday 24 February 2026

_{Read in 4m 12s ∙ Listening to Lykke Li ∙}

Dolly’s done it again! Every child under five in Camden will get a free book each month, delivered straight to their door. And it’s all thanks to the icon herself, a.k.a. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which aims to makes storytime easier, more magical and packed with all the good stuff – from building confidence and language skills to sparking a lifelong love of reading 💖

🪡 Skin-first fashion

London Fashion Week often brings fresh ideas for our wardrobe wishlists – but this year it showcased something slightly different: clothes designed with your skin in mind.

Tell me more…
At LFW, the concept of transdermal absorption was a hot topic (no, really!). It’s the idea that substances pass from our clothes into the bloodstream through the skin, which is where the brand Sylva comes into its own. Launched in 2024, the brand creates pieces using a blend of seaweed and lyocell. The founder, who has psoriasis, says she wanted pieces that soothed rather than aggravated sensitive skin – all without sacrificing style. The conversation around clothing and skin health is growing, particularly as concerns rise about synthetic fabrics and chemical additives that can trap heat and sweat against the body.

Is this new?
Fashion has always cared about texture, but this is a more intentional approach. Sylva’s seaweed-infused fibres, for example, are designed to be breathable and moisture-wicking, with naturally occurring compounds preserved in the fabric. At the more experimental end, French brand Coperni has launched a “carewear” line, embedding probiotics and prebiotics into stretch fabrics. They even say that body heat activates a gradual transfer of “friendly” bacteria to the skin.

What about the science?
Skin is the body’s largest organ and home to a complex microbiome that supports barrier function and immune response. Friction, trapped moisture and certain chemicals can contribute to irritation. Breathable, softer fibres may help reduce those triggers. But microbiome-infused textiles are still early-stage, and while they are dermatologically tested for safety, long-term data is still quite limited. 

Is this more than a niche idea?
Yes! Interest in bio-based and skin-compatible materials is growing, with brands investing more in textile innovation as consumers become increasingly ingredient-aware. But it's not all about the effects on skin, lots of shoppers and designers are thinking more about how the textiles they use impact the environment. The idea isn’t that clothes replace skincare – but that what we wear for hours each day can influence comfort. However, the need for more data to prove its benefits is also a factor that can influence people buying these skin-friendly garments, as they’re often a lot pricier and so not accessible to everyone.

So what does this mean for my wardrobe?
In practical terms, it’s about paying attention to fabric composition and how garments feel over time. Skin-first fashion can simply be a shift in thinking: style and skin comfort don’t have to be at odds, and we can choose to be intentional with what we wrap ourselves in.

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👩‍🏫 Mainstream schools in England will receive extra funding to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

• The bigger story: The funding boost – part of a wider £4bn package – aims to help mainstream schools better support pupils with SEND, reducing pressure on families and improving access to education in local communities. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has said the government wants to create a system where SEND students have no limits on what they can achieve. However, some campaigners and educators say success will depend on how quickly the funding reaches schools.

🇺🇦 Today marks four years since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Here’s a breakdown of what’s happened over that time and the current situation.

🐝 A “wedding flight” takes place every summer in this Belgian town as 1,000 virgin bees descend to mate, helping to boost the revival of the endangered European dark bee.

🍷 Watching influencers’ relationships with alcohol on social media can change young people’s attitudes towards alcohol, a study has revealed. (We get it, watching Sex and the City makes us want a cosmo too!)

🤖 AI overviews can be helpful, but sometimes they’re just not what you need. Here’s a hack to avoid the Google summaries.

🧬 An inhalable gene therapy that helps shrink lung tumours has just been fast-tracked by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US.

🎼 Music taste based on where you live in the UK is a real thing! Here’s what everyone in your area is listening to.

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Trivia answer: B) It’s been a big year for Bad Bunny! His new role is in a historical movie, Porto Rico, based on his home country.

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