Fashion Blog Series: The Rise of Sustainability at the Met Gala

This year, like every year, the Met Gala blew us away with some extraordinary looks. The theme this year, borrowed from the English writer J.G Ballard's short story, was titled "Garden of Time". This theme worked together seamlessly with the Costume Institute's spring exhibition "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” and, of course, the splendour of spring itself. From the get-go, I was expecting whimsy, romanticism, flowing gowns and, naturally, excess! However, I was pleasantly surprised by the rise of sustainability and ethical choices at this year's Met Gala. So, let's run down some of our favourites.

First Things First: Why is the Met Gala So Important?

The Met Gala is undoubtedly one of the biggest nights in the fashion year, and you may be wondering why. Not only does this yearly event in New York raise money for New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, but it also influences the future of fashion. Founded in 1948, the Met Gala was created to give "high society" an opportunity to dress to impress while encouraging donations for the archiving and showcasing of fashion history.

The importance of the Met Gala, or Met Ball, goes so much further than donations. It gives designers a chance to flex their creativity, which goes on to influence the industry for the rest of the year. The ingenuity we see on the Met Gala red carpet will influence the global landscape, which is why it's so exciting to see celebrities, designers and A-listers taking an ethical approach.

Sustainability at the Met

Stella McCartney

Let's start with Stella McCartney, who is well known for championing sustainability in her collections. The designer was joined by actress and model Cara Delevingne, singer FKA Twigs and singer Ed Sheeran on the red carpet, who all received custom looks made from 100 per cent sustainable fabrics such as forest-friendly viscose and bio-acetate. The looks were also adorned with "gently grown" sustainable diamonds.

Prada

Amanda Seyfried specifically requested a sustainable gown from fashion powerhouse Prada, and they certainly did not disappoint. A futuristic look was created from repurposed materials from the designer's 2009 spring collection. The floral appliqués matched the theme perfectly.

Sabyasachi

Alia Bhatt wore a handmade sari by Sabyasachi. This absolutely stunning look was created in a way that supported and collaborated with regional artisans from around India who are stewards of preserving local textile techniques, Alia told Vogue.

Gabriela Hearst X Kiowa jeweller Keri Ataumbi

One of our favourite sustainable looks from the Met Gala was the sustainable gown worn by Lily Gladstone. The dress was made to resemble a blanket of stairs. The black corset and cape were then fully embroidered with recycled silver stars by Ataumbi, a renowned jeweller based out of Santa Fe. Lily Gladstone is well known for being the first Native American woman to be nominated for an Oscar and has often spotlighted indigenous fashion when on the red carpet.

John Galliano for Givenchy

A growing trend that we love seeing on the red carpet is re-wearing archival looks. The more the industry moves away from single-wear looks, the better! One of the most noteworthy re-wears of the night was worn by Challengers and Dune star Zendaya. The star made a second appearance on the red carpet wearing an archival look from John Galliano's first haute-couture collection for Givenchy in January 1996.

The emergence of eBay finds archival looks and sustainable choices on the runway is a positive trend that indicates a shift towards a more sustainable and responsible fashion industry. The impact of high fashion on our high streets is significant, and small choices such as these can have a considerable impact on the future of fashion.

What was your favourite Met Gala Look?