9 celebrities championing sustainability on the red carpet
Whilst sustainability and eco-friendly options are becoming more and more popular among the general population, it's hard to believe that the countless outfits for each awards season could be helping increase awareness of the part fashion plays in environmental concerns.
That being said, a number of celebrities and stylists are putting their all into ensuring that their red carpet dresses and outfits are in line with their sustainable beliefs.
The rise in popularity of vintage dresses, and the use of cruelty-free and eco-friendly materials has meant an increasing number of stars have been choosing sustainably when looking to use their presence in the public eye for good.
From utilising upcycled household items like plastic and glass bottles to keeping sustainability at the forefront throughout the manufacturing process, these are the celebrities paving the way for sustainable dressing on the red carpet.
Take a look at the most daring, dramatic and environmentally-sound pieces to have appeared on the red carpet in recent memory.
Gisele Bundchen in sustainable Versace
For the 2018 Met Gala 2018 supermodel Gisele Bundchen upped the style stakes for sustainable fashion, showing just how sexy an eco-friendly option can be. Her custom Versace gown was completely sustainable throughout its supply chain; from the organic silk and cotton mix to the crystals created out of recycled glass bottles from Brazil, Gisele definitely added sex appeal to sustainability on the red carpet.
Zendaya in vintage YSL Haute Couture
What's the most sustainable way to buy clothes? Wear something you already own, of course. Or in Zendaya's case, something her trusted stylist Law Roach owns. The famed celebrity stylist lent the Euphoria star a vintage 1982 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture gown from his personal archive originally owned by the trailblazer Eunice Johnson for the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards.
Meryl Streep in upcycled Lanvin
Meryl Streep stepped out in an upcycled Lanvin gown to win her third Best Actress gong for The Iron Lady at the 2012 Oscars. The gilded eco-certified fabric was shaped into a ruched wrap style by the late Alber Elbaz for Lanvin.
Sustainable fashion veteran Emma Watson in Calvin Klein
Long-time sustainability advocate Emma Watson has been wearing eco-friendly iterations on the red carpet for years now, but her 2016 Calvin Klein dress at the Met Gala really stole the show.
The custom black-and-white corset, train and matching trousers were created with yarns crafted from recycled plastic bottles, in partnership with Eco-Age. Every element of the outfit was forged from recyclable materials, down to the zips made from recycled metals.
Saoirse Ronan’s recycled Gucci gown
Though the 2020 BAFTAs encouraged an eco-friendly dress code, few attendees actually took note. Saoirse Ronan, however, led the charge in a custom Gucci gown that utilised discarded satin.
The Little Women actress took it one step further for the Oscars later the same year; her Gucci gown featured the same black fabric that was upcycled from her BAFTAs dress.
Margot Robbie in Calvin Klein
Not only does actress Margot Robbie do a tremendous job of making sustainable fashion look fabulous on the red carpet, wearing a white Calvin Klein column dress made from recycled plastic bottles at the 2016 Met Gala, but she also regularly flies the flag for wearing vintage fashion on the red carpet.
Cameron Diaz in Stella McCartney
No sustainable fashion list would be complete without including Stella McCartney – the London-based fashion designer has been championing sustainability since she launched her eponymous brand in 2001 – but one of her most memorable designs was a gilded gown for actress Cameron Diaz to wear for the 2012 Met Gala.
Billy Porter in recycled curtains
Yes, really. Billy Porter is known for his eye-catching red carpet looks, but at the 2019 Tony Awards ceremony he took it up a notch by weaving the velvet curtain from the hit musical, Kinky Boots, into his look. Celestino Couture designer Sergio Guadarrama transformed the curtain into a two-piece suit complete with a matching gown and train.
Cate Blanchett rewearing Esteban Cortazar and Alexander McQueen
An avid rewearer, actress Cate Blanchett was hellbent on proving that fashion can be sustainable on the red carpet for the Venice Film Festival in 2020. The jury president not only rewore her Esteban Cortazar gown at (originally worn to a premiere in 2015) but also reworked an Alexander McQueen corset into her looks for the week-long event.
Watch: How to make more environmentally friendly choices when it comes to your wardrobe
