For the past few years, we have witnessed big transformations in the fashion industry. Curvy and ethnically diverse models have been given a chance to shine through a white washed industry, which is, obviously, a great achievement. But there are still issues that need to be addressed and brought to the public eye, sustainable fashion being one of them.
It has been estimated that the value of unused clothing in wardrobes could be as much as £30 billion, with further estimates suggesting £140 million worth of clothing goes into landfill each year. There has been a growing trend when it comes to questioning where our clothes come from, who makes them, what materials are used and where they will end up. Customers are aware of the importance of ethical habits and decisions. With this in mind, brands need to not only listen to their customers’ needs and preferences, but also to the needs of a planet that is constantly being damaged by the human kind’s unconscious and reckless decisions.
Thankfully, many voices have been heard and designers are making a change in their business model. Stella McCartney was one of the first designers to adopt sustainable options, not only in her collections, where organic cotton is used as much as possible, but also in her stores, studios and offices in the UK that are powered by wind energy. Also, abroad, renewable energy is used to power their offices and stores. As Stella said, her goal is“toportray who we want to be and how we carry ourselves; our attitude and collective path. Our man-made constructed environments are disconnected and unaware of other life and the planet which is why there is waste.”
One of the reasons why environmentally conscious products are the latest buzz in fashion is because many celebs are raising awareness about this issue. When we talk about eco-friendly celebrities, it is impossible not to mention Emma Watson, one of the pioneers of this revolutionary movement. Back in 2011, Emma said “I will work for anyone for free if they’re prepared to make their clothing fair trade and organic. It’s really hard to get people interested.” In 2015, the Hollywood star signed up for the Green Carpet Challenge, where she agreed that every single piece she wore on the red carpet would be sustainable. Since then, Emma has walked the runaway with unique and sustainable designs, such as her iconic 2016 Calvin Klein Met Gala dress made out of recycled water bottles.
Singer and Actress Miley Cyrus, also known as a strong vegan advocate, is a big fan of sustainable clothing brands, including Stella McCartney, who designed Miley’s 2018 Met Gala dress. Fellow vegan activist Paris Jackson also attended the 2018 Met Gala in a vegan and sustainable gown by Stella McCartney.Actress Alicia Silverstone is also very cautious when it comes to choosing which clothes or products to purchase, “I have some guidelines when it comes to clothes, or anything really,” the actress said, “First, I try to find it used so I’m not creating more waste. If I can’t find it used, I’ll make sure it’s made with an eco-material.” Another famous actress who agreed to jump on the bandwagon is Anne Hathaway, who announced she would only wear eco-friendly clothes for the press tour of her movie Colossal, back in 2017. All of these are great examples to follow.
When it comes to jewelry, the story is no different. Pollution caused by gold mining is a real issue and it is important to fight this. Fortunately, beautiful and environmentally-friendly pieces are increasingly being made and celebrities are loving it!
The brand Zoe Chicco is as sustainable as it gets. Every piece is 100% made from recycled gold and conflict-free diamonds. Elizabeth Banks and Hailey Baldwin are some of the celebs who wear these items. Jlani is another sustainable jewellery brand, which is made with stainless steel metal, being 100% recyclable and nickel free. Beyoncé and Kourtney Kardashian are usual customers.
Last but not least, Meghan Markle has also shown her support for sustainable jewelry. The Duchess of Sussex has been seen wearing different go-to ethical jewelry brands, such as Bal Jewelry, which avoids chemicals in the process of manufacture. Meghan has also worn stud earrings from Pippa Small made by Afghanistan-based artisans in a charity set up by Prince Charles, Turquoise Mountain Foundation. The Duchess also wore a gold ring by i+i Jewellrey, which donates 10% of all profits to SetBeautiful Free, an Indian charity that aims to help free women and children from sex slavery.
As an eco-friendly jewelry designer myself, I make sure that my brand, YagoEco, has all its products made of single-used plastic carrier bags collected in a local community, and I’m more than happy to see fellow designers embark on the adventure to make the world a better place.
With the help of conscious citizens like the brands and celebrities mentioned, it is possible to turn the fashion industry into an eco-friendly place. As the state of the environment becomes an ever-pressing issue, seeing famous people use their platform for good inspires us to do the same, and gives us the hope that more and more people are becoming aware of this issue and are also willing to help.
