The Green Carpet Fashion Awards (GCFA) debuted during Oscar Week in Los Angeles on March 9, 2023, with a star-studded and eclectic mix of entertainment and fashion industry leaders, and activists in attendance. Established in 2017 by Eco-Age creative director Livia Firth, a sustainability and communications consultancy firm, in collaboration with the Italian National Chamber of Fashion, the annual event celebrates and promotes ethical efforts in environmental and social sustainability in the fashion industry. The GCFA recognizes and honors designers, brands, and individuals who are making significant contributions to sustainable fashion. Awards are presented in various categories, such as sustainable production, sustainable products, and circular economy, among others. This year’s honors included six societal archetypes: The Visionary, The Messenger, The Rebel, The Healer, The Sage, and The Futurist.
The event took place at Neuehouse in Hollywood, guests included GFCA’s co-chairs Cate Blanchett, Tom Ford, Quannah Chasinghorse, actors Simone Ashley and Simu Liu, plus board members Amber Valletta, Bethann Hardison, Christopher Bevans and Tonne Goodman.
Further in attendance were Heidi Klum, Rafferty Law, Petra Němcová, Maria Carla Boscono, Naomi Campbell, Tobey Maguire, and Sarah Anne Masse, Jodie Turner-Smith, to name a few.
The night began with Trudy Styler introducing the Visionary honoree Tom Ford for his work as founder of TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize in partnership with Lonely Whale, which is the only global competition to source and scale biologically degradable alternatives to traditional thin-film plastic polybags.
The truth is like all of you in this room, I cannot stand by while the planet is slowly coated in a thin oily film of plastic to be inherited by our children and in fact generations to come.
I started this prize three years ago with a harrowing fear that the world our children would inherit would no longer be a livable one.
I wanted to be a part of the solution, not be an arbiter of the problem. If we did nothing about the waste and pollution flooding our oceans, the disruption to our planet would be irreconcilable. Watching the brilliant minds within this competition has given me extraordinary hope in making the impossible possible.
Tom Ford
Ford announced the three winners at the event: U.S.-based Sway (for its regenerative seaweed-based material), India-based Zerocircle (which creates ocean- and animal-safe packaging from seaweed) and London-based startup Notpla (which also uses macroalgae for a plastic alternative).
Actor and United Nations Messenger of Peace for Climate Change, Leonardo DiCaprio presented the Futurist award to Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s first minister of Indigenous peoples. She was honored for her outstanding work to protect forests and position Indigenous Peoples at the center of climate change negotiations.
The stewards of [the Amazon] are without question its indigenous defenders. Not only is [it] one of the most important places for wildlife, it is also key to sustaining life, far beyond its borders, helping to drive, both global water cycles and weather patterns that affect rainfall — even here in California.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Mike D of Beastie Boys presented the Sage award to Gabriela Hearst, who, as creative director, steered Chloé towards becoming the first luxury fashion house certified as a B Corporation.
The Game Changer award was presented by actress Jodie Turner-Smith to British Vogue’s Editor Edward Enninful for his efforts to advance diversity and inclusivity in the industry.
I have always endeavored to use my platform to champion causes that hopefully leave this world a better place than how we found it.
It’s been my life’s mission to spotlight, improve and drive the stories of the underrepresented. The progress we have made as a culture and fashion community in recent years has been fantastic, but we can do more. We must do more.
Edward Enninful
Georgia May Jagger and Jerry Hall presented Andreas Kronthaler and the Vivienne Foundation with the Messenger award. The honor was accepted by the designer’s granddaughter, Cora Corré, who spoke passionately about the need to continue Westwood’s legacy of environmental activism and human rights protection.
The Futurist award was presented by Imane Anys to Robert Treifus at Gucci for showing itself as a Metaverse pioneer, challenging and digitally disrupting the luxury fashion industry, while articulating a clear and needed vision of a more sustainable and diversified business model. Good Game Gucci, Gucci Vault and The Gucci Garden Experience were chosen as examples of Gucci’s stand out contribution (quoted from Green Carpet Fashion Awards Instagram account).
UNLESS Collective‘s co-founders Eric Liedtke and Tara Moss received the Rebel award for bringing together innovators, engineers, artists, and activists to address serious problems in the fashion industry such as overproduction, plastics, waste, and environmental impact. The award was presented by actor, author, and UNICEF ambassador Simu Liu.
The Integrity award, presented by indigenous climate activist, model and GCFA co-chair Quannah Chasinghorse, went to Alicia Silverstone for showcasing immense courage and creativity in being a voice in environmental and vegan activism.
In closing the awards ceremony, singer, songwriter, and humanitarian Annie Lennox introduced this year’s inspirational young leaders: a group of young women from around the world, including climate justice activist Vanessa Nakate, UN Secretary-General special advisor Sophia Kianni, and Helena Gualinga, an environmental and human rights activist.
As a long-term activist, it encourages and inspires me so much to see a new generation of brilliant young women rising up to address solutions to the countless challenges facing women and girls everywhere around the world.
Annie Lennox
English