Sustainable fashion was the focus of this year's prestigious Met Gala Ball which was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City this past week.This year's theme showcased fashion in the age of technology in the show-stopping exhibit, 'Manus x Machina' and saw all of fashion and Hollywood's elite donned head-to-toe in eco-friendly gowns crafted with sustainable living and the environment in mind.The 'Green Carpet Challenge' saw quite a few celebrities fully embracing the theme, among them some of our favourite gowns of the night. Below we have selected some of the most beautiful designs and offer some suggestions to add your own sustainable twist to your wardrobe!
Emma Watson
GlamCorner's 'peoples choice' was the timelessly beautiful Emma Watson who's five-piece outfit by Calvin Klein was made from New Life, a unique yarn engineered from 100 percent post-consumer plastic bottles. The lining of this gorgeous black and white gown was also ethically-sourced, made from organic silk and cotton, while the zippers and bodice detailing was made by recycled plastic. The entire outfit is completely recyclable, with Emma commenting, "Luxury to me means peace of mind," "Being able to re-purpose this waste and incorporate it into my gown for the Met Gala proves the power that creativity, technology and fashion can have by working together," Emma shared in a Facebook post, adding: "Plastic is one of the biggest pollutants on the planet."
Lupita Nyong'o
Cutting a striking figure in a mermaid-esque green sequin gown, Lupita Nyong'o once again fails to put a foot wrong in this sustainable outfit also from the Calvin Klein Collection. Lupita's jade dress with velvet straps was assembled entirely with the ethical ethos in mind, crafted from recycled materials and taking hours of crafting at the designers New York atelier.
Margot Robbie
Along with Lupita and Emma, Aussie babe Margot Robbie also wore a sustainable dress by Calvin Klein. The sustainable crepe strapless gown with cut-out details was fashioned from New Life yarn woven in Italy, lined with organic silk and featuring zippers made from recycled materials.For a full gallery of all the outfits worn at the 2016 Met Gala Ball, visit the online slideshow at Vogue.
Sustainable Fashion at Home
Sustainable fashion isn't limited to only the 'Green Carpet'. In a society where 'fast-fashion' and planned obsolescence is the norm, it is ever so important to look at ways to reduce our collective footprint on the Earth by opting to 'green clean' our wardrobes and look at ways which can allow us to be more environmentally friendly when it comes to our fashion and storage choices.
With Australians sending more than $500 million worth of clothing to landfill each year, the over-consumption of clothes is leading to a significant negative impact on the environment. In order to make more ethically aware choices in the future, we can do a few things:
Choose organic or eco-friendly products
As technology improves, fashion brands and designers no longer have an excuse to manufacture or use alternative materials. Thankfully these Australian & New Zealand fashion labels manufacture and sell eco-friendly clothing with the environment and longevity in mind.
Make space in your wardrobe
Donating old clothes or items of clothing you do not want anymore to charities is an ethically-aware way of introducing sustainable fashion. Learn how to declutter your wardrobe here, and help to introduce less waste to local landfills by donating your quality used clothing to those in need.
Rent clothes instead of buy
Using a dress rental company such as GlamCorner allows you to rent quality pieces and outfits without falling into the trap of over-consumption and buying clothing that you do not need. By renting outfits instead of buying, you know that you are getting a quality outfit that can be re-used. Renting reduces impulse purchases and over-consumption by fully utilizing an individual garment and ensuring that it is worn on a sustainable level.
