When sustainability inspires, celebrity stylists reveal favorite red carpet looks that pack a punch

As part of a spotlight series on sustainability and celebrity dressing timed to the opening of the Cannes Film Festival on May 16, THR highlights the best green-friendly looks ever seen on the Cannes red carpet and reports on the most innovative new eco-conscious fabrics.

THR also caught up with top stylists to talk about the most inspiring eco-friendly outfits they’ve worked on with top talent like model Winnie Harlow, The bearby Ayo Edebiri and Tati Gabrielle. Below, they explain how the sustainability-focused looks came together.

CONSCIOUS ACCESSORIES: AYO EDEBIRI

Sustainable stylist Laura Sophie Cox worked with Ayo Edebiri to bring in conscious elements The bear star’s award season. For the Golden Globes, Edebiri firmly set the trends in two-piece ties and opera gloves in a periwinkle crinoline from Rosie Assoulin, the leather and fur free line, which produces locally in the Garment District. “It was so fun, with the crop element, and just a really special look,” says Cox, who added sparkle with lab-grown diamond and recycled metal earrings of Brilliant Earth. “Then (Assoulin) adding those gloves gave it that extra oomph.”

ARCHIVE DISCLOSURE: WINNIE HARLOW

After Zadrian Smith and Sarah Edmiston combed Armani Privé’s archives to repurpose a vibrant spring 2005 yellow couture gown for Harlow, the model and activist made multiple Oscars 2023 best-dress lists. “Archival pieces are just so exceptional, and it’s a shame for them to live in a garment bag in a thermally controlled room somewhere,” says Edmiston, who also acknowledges the current interest in mid-century style. “They deserve a turn on the red carpet to really celebrate great fashion history.”

COMMUNITY IMPACT: NIKYATU JUSU

In January, Babysit director Nikyatu Jusu kicked off her awards season by winning the Fiction Vanguard Award at Sundance in a gold pleated and embroidered corset dress by Christie Brown. She concluded last March by accepting an Independent Spirit Award in an origami-detailed skirt from Rami RTW. Stylist Zerina Akers pulled the looks, both from Accra, Ghana-based designers, from showroom etc, which brings luxury African fashion to the Hollywood stage. Elaine Mensah, founder of Showroom Etc, explains that sustainable practices are built into the heritage and business models of many of her clients’ brands, with low-waste manufacturing, natural fabrics and dyes, couture-level handcrafting, and local sourcing and hiring. So red-carpet representation “percolates down to communities in a very tangible way, too,” says Mensah.

MATERIAL INNOVATION: TATI GABRIELLE

For the 2022 Oscars, Gabrielle, a global ambassador for the RCGD (Red Carpet Green Dress), wore a silky, draped Helllessy gown custom designed with biodegradable Tencel filament fiber and accented with archival fringe. Stylist Jean Chung added accessories for BIPOC and women’s brands, including cork-based shoes from Malone Souliers, jewelry from Grace Lee And Crystal Streets and a unique bag Tulie Yaito. “The level of creativity and collaboration that we were actually able to achieve through that look was so much fun,” says Chung. (Makeup artist Eli Malouf even Gabrielle’s eyes accentuated with recycled gold leaf.) “We all learned a lot and we were so proud of what we did. I feel like she was one of the prettiest there was on that carpet.

LOCAL VINTAGE: PRIYA KANSARA

At the London premiere of Polite society back in April, star Priya Kansara was absolutely beaming in a vintage 1930s open-shoulder dress. The haute couture dress with deco details came straight from her stylist Karen Clarkson‘s London-based archive, found and vision, minimizing their carbon footprint and promoting reuse, while making the newcomer’s milestone night memorable. “Wearing something that has a history feels very special. I’ve always wanted to feel a moment like that,” says Kansara. “This was my first major premiere.”

A version of this story first appeared in the May 10 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.