Emma Watson has championed sustainability on the red carpet for years. (Getty Images)
As sustainability and eco-friendly options continue to grow in popularity among the general populace, it’s hard to believe that the myriad of outfits available for each awards season could help raise awareness of the role fashion plays in environmental concerns.
That being said, a number of celebrities and stylists go out of their way to ensure their red carpet dresses and outfits live up to their sustainable beliefs.
The rising popularity of vintage dresses and the use of cruelty-free and eco-friendly materials has led more and more stars to make sustainable choices when using their public presence for good.
From using upcycled household items like plastic and glass bottles to considering sustainability throughout the manufacturing process, these are the celebrities paving the way for sustainable clothing on the red carpet.
Take a look at the most daring, dramatic and eco-friendly pieces to hit the red carpet in recent times.
Gisele Bundchen in the sustainable Versace
Gisele Bundchen on the 2018 Met Gala red carpet for the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala in New York City. (Getty Images)
For the 2018 Met Gala, supermodel Gisele Bundchen upped the style stakes for sustainable fashion, showing just how sexy an eco-friendly option can be. Her bespoke Versace dress was fully sustainable throughout the supply chain; From the organic silk and cotton blend to the crystals made from recycled glass bottles from Brazil, Gisele definitely added sex appeal to sustainability on the red carpet.
Zendaya in classic YSL Haute Couture
Zendaya Channeled Sustainable Dressing at the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images for ESSENCE)
What is the most sustainable way to buy clothes? Of course, wear something you already own. Or in Zendaya’s case, something owned by her trusted stylist, Law Roach. The famed celebrity stylist lent the Euphoria star a vintage 1982 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture gown from his personal archive, originally owned by trailblazer Eunice Johnson, for the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards.
Meryl Streep in upcycled Lanvin
The story goes on
Actress Meryl Streep poses after winning the Best Actress Award for The Iron Lady at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. (Corbis via Getty Images)
Meryl Streep appeared in an upcycled Lanvin dress to win her third prize for best actress at the 2012 Oscars for The Iron Lady. The gold-plated, eco-certified fabric was shaped into a ruched wrap-around style for Lanvin by the late Alber Elbaz.
Sustainable fashion veteran Emma Watson in Calvin Klein
Emma Watson attends the 2016 Costume Institute Gala “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (Getty Images)
Longtime sustainability advocate Emma Watson has worn eco-friendly iterations on the red carpet for years, but her 2016 Calvin Klein gown at the Met Gala really stole the show.
The bespoke black and white corset, train and matching pants were made in collaboration with Eco-Age using yarns made from recycled plastic bottles. Every element of the outfit is forged from recyclable materials, right down to the zippers made from recycled metals.
Saoirse Ronan’s recycled Gucci dress
Saoirse Ronan at the 2020 Oscars. (Getty Images)
Although the 2020 BAFTAs called for an eco-friendly dress code, few attendees actually took notice. However, Saoirse Ronan led the charge in a custom Gucci dress that used discarded satin.
The Little Women actress went one step further for the Oscars that same year; Her Gucci dress was made from the same black fabric upcycled from her BAFTAs dress.
Margot Robbie in Calvin Klein
Margot Robbie attends the 2016 Costume Institute Gala Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology. (Getty Images)
Not only does actress Margot Robbie do a great job making sustainable fashion look fabulous on the red carpet by wearing a white Calvin Klein column dress made from recycled plastic bottles at the 2016 Met Gala, but she regularly flies the flag for wearing it of vintage fashion on the red carpet.
Cameron Diaz in Stella McCartney
Cameron Diaz attends the Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Getty Images)
No sustainable fashion list would be complete without Stella McCartney — the London-based fashion designer has been committed to sustainability since launching her eponymous brand in 2001 — but one of her most memorable designs was a gold-plated dress for actress Cameron Diaz at the 2012 Met-Gala.
Billy Porter in recycled curtains
Billy Porter attends the 2019 Tony Awards in New York City. (Getty Images)
Yes, really. Billy Porter is known for his striking looks on the red carpet, but at the 2019 Tony Awards ceremony he made it even better 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 with a matching dress and train.
Cate Blanchett wears Esteban Cortazar and Alexander McQueen again
Cate Blanchett poses on the red carpet during the 77th Venice Film Festival 2020 in Venice, Italy. (Getty Images)
An avid rewearer, actress Cate Blanchett was keen to prove fashion can be sustainable on the red carpet at the 2020 Venice Film Festival, and reworked an Alexander McQueen corset into her looks for the week-long event.
Watch: How to Make Greener Choices When It Comes to Your Wardrobe
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