Red carpet events every year are at the heart of showcasing the latest fashion pieces, with celebrities sharing new and old fashion trends. However, over the past decade, the move towards a greener and more sustainable carpet could be on the horizon. Especially last year when we saw more and more celebrities opting for a ‘green carpet’.
Some celebrities use their platform for the greater good by advocating eco-friendly lifestyles, leading to the notion of a greener wardrobe. Since the fashion industry is a $2 trillion industry, it is responsible for 10% of the global carbon footprint. Therefore, being more conscious about what we buy and how much we buy could have a dramatic impact, with celebrities paving the way.
Below is a look back at the most influential environmentally sourced pieces that have appeared on the red carpet in 2020.
Five iconic eco red carpet looks of 2020
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
In early 2020, Phoebe auctioned off her Golden Globe outfit in aid of the Australian wildfires. The suit sold for $40,000 on eBay with only one bid. The tuxedo was designed by Australian designers Ralph & Russo, personally for Phoebe. The dress helped to aid the relief of thousands of Australian residents with the donation split by a few charities.
Joaquin Phoenix
With awards season being a high profiled event with the battle as to who’s the best dressed. In 2020, Joaquin decided to make a big statement. He wanted to prove a point about reducing waste by wearing his Stella McCartney tux to every awards show. This helped to reduce the possible waste of other suits being worn only once. Who said you can’t wear an outfit more than once?
Saoirse Ronan
At the 2020 BAFTAS attendees were encouraged to wear an eco-friendly outfit. Saorise opted for a custom made Gucci dress that utilised discarded satin. This dress was then further repurposed for the Oscars the same year, with her dress being made out of some of the material from that dress. Waste not want not.
Daisy Ridley
At the BAFTAs, she wore a custom made Oscar de la Renta gown which was made out of sustainable fabric. Small changes like this could impact a wider community and possibly influence future designers.
Léa Seydoux
At the Academy Awards, Léa partnered with Suzy Amis Cameron’s Red Carpet Green Dress initiative with TENCEL Luxe. The dress she wore was a custom made gown made by ethical and eco-friendly filament yarn and organic silk.
2020 wasn’t the only year to offer greener looks. Lady Gaga is known for her shocking and outrageous outfits, but one eco-friendly look that will be forever remembered is her coffee filter dress. Yes, coffee filters.
Back in 2014 on Jimmy Kimmel, she wore an entire outfit made from recycled coffee filters by Gareth Pugh. If you were thinking coffee filters was a shock, how about recycled plastic bottles? This is something that Emma Watson and Lily Cole did back in 2016. Both of their gowns were made using yarns crafted from plastic bottles.
What is red carpet green dress?
In 2009, Red Carpet Green Dress was launched Suzy Amis Cameron at the wheel – a women-led global change-making organisation. It prompts and challenges designers to produce eco-friendly garments, in partnership with the Oscars.
This can either be through having zero-waste items, a clear supply chain, fair treatments of manufacturers or using materials that can be easily recycled. They’ve worked with ambassadors such as Emma Roberts, Sophie Turner, Naomie Harris, Olga Kurylenko and Priyanka Bose.
“The fashion industry has a disastrous impact on the environment. In fact, it is the second largest polluter in the world, just after the oil industry. And the environmental damage is increasing as the industry grows. We can all make a difference, and we all need to.” RCGD
Young Initiatives
As well as working with the Oscars, RCGD works with emerging designers, fashion colleges, and students. Teaching them about the importance of having more positive impacts on the fashion industry.
They try to inspire the future of the fashion world and shape the future minds. To date they have collaborated with 21 countries including Australia and Brazil.
What does this mean for the future?
Well the future’s looking slightly greener for now, but there is definitely more we can all do. Whether that’s repurposing, buying less or buying more sustainably, celebrities are offering an influential voice to people all over the world.
Hopefully in the future green could be the new red. You never know.