The first-ever virtual Green Carpet Fashion Awards (GCFA) took place on October 10 from a digital-rendering of Milan’s iconic opera house La Scala. Hosted by Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, in collaboration with Vogue Arabia sustainability editor-at-large Livia Firth‘s Eco-Age, the awards invited stars from all around the world to dress in their best sustainable threads for a celebration of those who have transformed the possibilities of fashion this year.
Looks ranged from ensembles with repurposed treasured pieces, archival items as well as Green Carpet Challenge outfits which were made in collaboration with luxury fashion houses. British singer Ellie Goulding wore one such look created as a result of Ralph & Russo‘s partnership with Gemfields. The British label teamed up with the supplier of responsibly sourced African colored gemstones on a green couture gown dazzling with over 150 responsibly sourced Zambian emeralds.
With a particular focus on cherishing and re-wearing vintage and archival pieces, many celebrities sported pre-existing looks from their own wardrobes, which are known to have one of the smallest impacts on the environment. This message was championed by a few of the entertainment and fashion industry’s biggest names including Robert Downey Jr, Julianne Moore, Iman, Nikki Reed, and more. The event also saw stars such as Sophie Okonedo, Colin Firth, Nomzamo Mbatha, Maisie Williams, Cate Blanchett, Celeste, Bethann Hardison, and Lewis Hamilton participating, some appearing as holograms.
Among the list of winners was American actor Zendaya, who received the GCFA Visionary Award. The 24-year-old actor, who recently made Emmy Awards history by becoming the youngest ever to win Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series, was dressed in a Versace ready-to-wear fall/winter 1996 dress for the occasion. According to a statement, Zendaya won the award as she “not only has long been leading the charge to increase both inclusivity and diversity in fashion, but she has persevered in how she can personally make a difference in the industry, using her platform as an actor and as a creative, to open doors and give a voice to those who otherwise would not be able to showcase their talent.”
The GCFA Best Independent Designer Award went to Sindiso Khumalo, a Central St Martins graduate and sustainable textile designer based in Cape Town. The designer was selected for the award by a panel of leading industry figures including Vogue Arabia editor-in-chief Manuel Arnaut. The GCFA North Star Award was worn by the organization UN for the UN Global Goals while Venetian brand Progetto Quid won the CNMI Responsible Disruption Award, and the work of Italian artisans was recognized with the GCFA Art of Craftmanship Award, supported by S.Pellegrino.
