EMA's February Sustainable Fashion Roundup: Awards Season, the Super Bowl, and Political Action
Billie Eilish at the 2022 EMA Awards
February was a fashion-filled month with its fair share of sustainable fashion moments and fast fashion scandals. Everybody is joining the conversation, including Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, French politicians, the Kardashians, and Monica Lewinsky. From the red carpet to the Super Bowl, here are the top fashion moments from February 2024.
Monica Lewinsky has Partnered with Reformation and Vote.org to Encourage You to Vote
This election year, writer-activist Monica Lewinsky is reclaiming her political power by partnering with sustainable fashion brand Reformation to encourage voter turnout. The brand's homepage has a "voting hub" with details on voting, and they also released a special-edition sweatshirt, donating proceeds to Vote.org.
"Our voice is our power," said Lewinsky in a statement. "It's pretty simple: Voting is using our voice to be heard, and it's the most defining – and powerful – aspect of democracy. Voting is always important, but the stakes are especially high this year, with voter frustration and apathy threatening to impact turnout meaningfully."
Lana Del Rey's Valentine's Day Campaign with SKIMS Scored a Zero for Fashion Accountability
Despite concerns over the brand's lack of commitment to ethics and sustainability, Lana Del Rey partnered with Kim Kardashian-owned lingerie brand SKIMS for a Valentine's Day campaign. Sustainable fashion organization Remake Our World scored the brand zero in its 2024 Fashion Accountability Report. SKIMS has produced using factories with reported labor rights violations and has been under investigation for misleading environmental claims while continuing to use the climate crisis as a marketing angle.
Photo via Jaguar MENA
Jessica Chastain is Reselling Her Red Carpet Looks with Vestiaire Collective
Academy Award-winning actress Jessica Chastain has partnered with luxury fashion resale platform Vestiaire Collective to resell clothing from her wardrobe. The collection ranges from red carpet looks to everyday streetwear, with brands including Gucci, Sézane, and Stella McCartney. Proceeds from the sale will go to Women for Women International, a non-profit that supports women victims of war and conflict.
Temu Bought Four Super Bowl Ads to Promote its Ultra-Fast-Fashion Products
To the frustration of climate activists, the ultra-fast-retail brand Temu created multiple Super Bowl ads promoting products for less than $1. Claiming to allow customers to "shop like a billionaire," Temu sells cheap, low-quality items that exploit forced labor, profit from stolen designs, and promote overconsumption and throwaway culture. While it claims to offset its carbon emissions, the brand has not provided proof for said offsets.
Billie Eilish Repeats Outfit at the Costume Designers Guild Awards
EMA Missions in Music Honoree Billie Eilish rewore her 2020 Oscars look while attending the 2024 Costume Designers Guild Awards as the guest of honor. The singer-songwriter's glittering shirt and trousers, designed by Alessandro Michele for Gucci, made an impactful statement to promote outfit repeating at the fashion event.
"Wearing only new clothes all the time is unnecessary and unsustainable," Eilish said in an interview with Vogue. "I'm so lucky to be able to wear so many incredible clothes for my performances and public appearances. I wanted to celebrate their beauty and the craft of everyone who designed and made them by wearing them again."
France Proposes a Bill Penalizing Fast Fashion Purchases
French politician Antoine Vermorel-Marques has proposed a bill that would mean a €5 penalty on all fast-fashion purchases, targeting fast-fashion brands like Shein that have been criticized for using toxic materials and forced labor. Vermorel-Marques accuses Shein of "destroying France's textile industry" and creating negative social and environmental impacts through its throwaway business model. For context, Shein adds 6,000 to 11,000 new products to its catalog daily, with an average price of €7 per piece. Critics of the bill claim that it would only punish low-income people and restrict their access to trendy clothing. The bill is expected to be debated in France's parliament in the next few months.
EMA Activist Board Member Pattie Gonia Wore Recycled Plastic in Her New Music Video
EMA Activist Board Member Pattie Gonia dazzled in a 3D printed, recycled plastic dress in the music video for her new song, "Made it Through the Night." The music video features archival footage from the LGBTQ+ rights movement, with the environmentalist drag queen wearing a dress and matching accessories that Anna's Hummingbird inspired.
"As with most [...] bird species, the male is far more colorful than the female. Thus proving that birds are, in fact, also drag queens," wrote Gonia in an Instagram post.
Hannah Waddingham Carried an Upcycled Cardboard Clutch to the SAG Awards.
Emmy-winning actress Hannah Waddingham carried a surprising accessory to the 2024 SAG Awards red carpet: a cardboard clutch made by her 9-year-old daughter, Kitty. The upcycled accessory stole the show, with the word "EPIC" written in orange and yellow, making a heartwarming statement about motherhood.
Remember to read my sustainable fashion roundup of the 33rd Annual EMA Awards!
About the author:
Katy Ho (she/her) is a Chinese Canadian writer, activist, and daughter of refugees who explores the intersections of gender, climate, and pop culture through her work. When she's not writing about feminism and climate justice, you can find her hosting book club meetings, visiting her local thrift store, and coaching the next generation of climate leaders.