During the 2024 Met Gala, themed “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” the spotlight was not only on the dazzling outfits. This prestigious event showcased some brands that are leading in sustainability and ethics. However, there were also some brands present that were not known for their sustainability initiatives. This issue highlights an issue that Change of Clothes aims to address: the lack of understanding and visibility around fashion brands’ ethical and sustainability initiatives.

Let’s discuss the celebrities who excelled in their commitment to ethical fashion and those who, despite their style, could improve their sustainability efforts. 

It was great to see a celebrity rocking vintage clothes at the Met Gala this year. Kendall Jenner caught everyone’s attention in her stunning Alexander McQueen ethereal gown. She revealed that the dress had only been worn once before, by a mannequin, back in 1999. While Alexander McQueen, which is owned by Kering, may not be a perfect example of a wholly sustainable brand, they have been moving in the right direction with their initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

FKA Twigs, Ed Sheeran, and Cara Delevingne were all dressed by Stella McCartney. Stella McCartney’s designs have once again proved that high fashion can be gorgeous and environmentally conscious. Each outfit showcased McCartney’s signature style and blends eco-friendly materials with cutting-edge fashion aesthetics.

At the glamorous event, Demi Moore captured the spotlight in a breathtaking ensemble by Harris Reed, renowned for his bold approach to fashion. The outfit, made out of recycled wallpaper, is a testament to Reed’s vision of ‘fluid fashion,’ embodied elegance with a twist of theatricality, perfectly aligning with Moore’s iconic style. 

Harris Reed is known for its inclusivity and outlandish designs. However, it is also known to support slow fashion and upcycling. For example, for its entire SS22 range, it used clothes only bought at Oxfam.

Seeing an A-List celebrity using their platform to promote a more sustainable fashion industry is excellent. Prada, which had a reputation for being one of the less sustainable brands in luxury fashion, has recently been noted for improving their transparency score significantly, indicating efforts towards better sustainability practices. Amanda Seyfried is wearing this piece she requested to be “sustainable”, crafted from repurposed fabric from Prada’s spring collection – she hoped it would act as a “mini statement” amongst her peers. 

Prada is taking steps in the right direction; however, it still has a long way to go before being considered a purely ethical brand.

Charli XCX turned heads at the recent Met Gala, wearing a Marni creation crafted entirely from recycled T-shirts. This innovative ensemble showcased Marni’s awareness of their ethical responsibility; however, we recommend you shop elsewhere when looking for ethical brands.

Marni is making a strong statement with the right message. However, their actions in promoting ethical business practices in fashion say otherwise. When reviewing the brand, we found poor labour practices and little visibility on their initiatives to improve elements of their production line. 

Putting out a piece like this in such a significant event shows there is hope for Marni, and some critical improvements to their brand ethos may come.

Tom Ford is noted in the fashion transparency index as one of the brands with very low transparency scores, indicating room for significant improvement in sustainability and ethical practices.​ Interestingly, Tom Ford is vegan, but many of his brand’s products are not. They have to test on animals to be able to sell in certain territories, meaning he has had to compromise on his ethics for financial gain. 

We’d love to see further steps from the Tom Ford brand towards supply chain transparency, abolishing animal testing and better working conditions for all involved in their supply chain.

Discover how we’re pioneering a movement towards sustainability and ethical practices in the fashion industry. Our mission is to connect you with brands that value the environment and human rights just as much as you do.