If you are anything like me, the first Monday of May (or in this year's case, the third week of September) is highly anticipated. Takeout is ordered, the volume of the television is on full blast, and I’m planted on the couch for hours. When Covid-19 set restrictions, a dark cloud was set on this renowned event. Finally, after months of waiting, I was back on the couch, eager to see how the current climate of the world would influence the designs.
For me, fashion is a tangible expression of the reality we are facing in a moment of time. In the last year or so, we can all agree, the world has changed quite a bit and our awareness of world events has altered as well. Most importantly, the impact on the environment has worsened and those of us who like to follow fashion trends are taking sustainability into account. Instead of throwing things away and buying from unethical companies, many of us have turned to thrifting, upcycling, and sewing to satisfy our creative minds. When I saw the designs for this past Met Gala, I was refreshed to see this be reflected in the looks I saw.
Lorde stole the show wearing an Off White jacket with antique embellishments, making a reference to the arts and crafts movement. Her designer, Emily Bode, is exactly the type of professional that should be showcased at the Met. Bode searches the world for vintage pendants and patches to incorporate into her work. Her fabrics, if not reused, are eco-friendly.
Natalia Bryant made her Met Gala debut wearing an unconventional sequin gown made by Connor Ives. Each sequin was crafted from PET plastic- a material that is commonly used in bottles.
His statement could not be more relevant to the environmental challenges we face as a country today. Off the coast of our beaches, 2500 plastic bottles can be found per kilometer. Ives took the plastic that takes 500 years to decompose, and created a timeless work of art. It is a designer's ability to pull from life and create something that delivers emotion that makes me love the industry.
After so many challenges we’ve faced as a community, as a country, and as a world, the sustainable choices made to influence what normally is seen as an environmentally costly industry made me find hope. It is the everyday shopper that chose to take the beaten trail for the sake of the habitat, that influenced the figureheads of fashion to do the same. We have now reached a new wave of accountability in the fashion industry that will last a lifetime.
Sources:
Chan, Emily. “12 Stars Who Flew the Flag for Sustainability at the Met Gala.” Vogue, Vogue, 16 Sept. 2021, www.vogue.com/slideshow/sustainable-looks-met-gala.
Krentcil, Faran. “Emily Adams Bode Is Going to Change How You Shop.” ELLE, ELLE, 18 Feb. 2020, www.elle.com/fashion/a30957094/emily-adams-bode-woolmark/.
Zamora, Jessica Sheffield. “Pet (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and Our Environment.” Voz De Guanacaste, 23 Apr. 2018, www.vozdeguanacaste.com/en/pet-polyethylene-terephthalate-and-our-environment/.
Https://Www.instagram.com/p/CTzlt54riDM/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=c8cb3923-7dad-49d9-8bc1-f22fa54e9986. Instagram Photo 14 Sept. 2021.
“Lorde Met Gala 2021.” HearStapps, www.hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/lorde-attends-the-2021-met-gala-celebrating-in-america-a-news-photo-1631630373.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=640:*.
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