Emma Watson is one environmental queen. Known for her activism since the early days of Harry Potter, the actress constantly speaks out about humanitarian issues and keeps the conversation going about global warming.
Watson’s sustainable style may not come as a shock to most of us, but did you know that the actress has been wearing vintage labels and upcycling her outfits since 2004? Before ‘going green’ was deemed cool in the celebrity world, Watson pioneered the way forward for a future of eco-friendly fashion.
“I think young people like me are becoming increasingly aware of the humanitarian issues surrounding fast fashion. We want to make good choices, but there aren’t many options out there.” Emma Watson claimed in an Interview with The Times UK in 2011.
Since then, she has taken to social media, red carpets and even press tours with a sustainable message for her audience and a goal to demonstrate that dressing with the environment in mind can still be stylish. Should we take a look at some of her most inspiring green queen looks?
The Prisoner of Azkaban Premiere
One of Emma’s earliest sustainable statements happened very early on in her career, during the premiere of the third Harry Potter movie, The Prisoner Of Azkaban. Not only did Watson turn heads on the red carpet, but the 14-year-old found a way to incorporate the environment into her style.
Opting for a vintage, 1920’s style gown, she proved that second-hand clothing can still rock the red carpet. Completing her look with stunning Mary Jane-style shoes and an embellished clutch bag, also upcycled, she certainly used her platform to shine in sustainability.
The Green Carpet Challenge
Fast forward a few years, and Watson showed us her dedication to sustainability once again. Taking part in the Met Ball’s 2016 Green Carpet challenge, Watson was instructed to only wear environmentally-friendly clothing when walking the red carpet.
This was no challenge for the young actress, who had been wearing fashion-forward green pieces down the red carpet for years now.
Taking to the runway in a custom black and white eco-corset and a pair of matching trousers, she aimed to make each element of the outfit a sustainable masterpiece. Finishing off the look with yarns created from recycled bottles, zips crafted from upcycled metals, and a pair of Tory Burch frames that you can shop here, she took the challenge and ran with it.
When commenting on her outfit, she stated that she “tried to create a dress which had lots of different elements which [she] would be able to reuse”.
The Beauty & The Beast Press Tour
In 2017, Watson was the talk of Hollywood on the back of the release of Disney’s Beauty & The Beast.
Taking her love for sustainable style one step further, she teamed up with her stylist, Rebecca Corbin-Murray, to create an Instagram account called @the_press_tour, where she documented each eco-friendly outfit she sported on the tour. Posting behind-the-scenes pictures and a look into how sustainable fashion is created, she created a buzz around her press-junket wardrobe.
Talking about one of her key Oscar de la Renta pieces that she sported at the premiere of the movie, she took to Instagram to share how the piece contributed to the environment.
“These are sourced, mechanically processed and spun into yarns in Italy, with a fully traceable supply chain,” the Beauty & The Beast actress wrote in the caption. “This saves energy and reduces CO2 emissions compared to creating brand new polyester fibre. The arm band was created in a carbon-neutral mill.”
Working With Good on You
Since sporting her sustainable looks on the runway, it’s no surprise that Watson has started partnering with her own ethical fashion brand, Good On You.
Collaborating with other celebrities, fashion brands and sustainable projects across the globe, Good On You aims to re-open the conversation about eco-friendly fashion.
“Fashion helps shape our identities. What we wear signifies who we are and what we stand for. I support Good On You because I need to know my clothes do not harm our precious planet or its people,” comments Watson.
“Good On You is my benchmark for sustainable fashion. This means that when I’m given a platform to speak about my choice of outfit, I will have a meaningful story to tell. And it’s powerful.”
The EarthShot Prize Awards
Last but not least, it’s time to fast forward to the present day. Watson has been known for her fashion-forward outfits over the last decade, and post-Covid red carpets are no exception.
In a recent Erathshot Prize Awards red carpet, Emma turned heads once again with her ode to charity shops as she sported an upcycled bridal look made purely from donated Oxfam dresses.
Giving us a Giambattista Valli vibe, the bespoke outfit made up of a whopping ten wedding dresses proved to be ethical yet glamorous.
If you’re in love with Emma Watson’s sustainable style, why not jump on board yourself? From upcycling vintage pieces to shopping second-hand, there are plenty of ways to create a celebrity-ready look without breaking the bank. The question is, are you ready to get thrifty?
