economically inclusive, environmentally restorative, and technologically balanced world.
A fateful visit to a Bangladeshi fast fashion factory in 2008 gave birth to Livia Firth’s greatest awakening. She tells Grazia ME that after “passing through a guarded barbed wire fence, she entered the building and was horrified to find modern-day slave-like conditions imposed upon impoverished women attempting to support both themselves and their families.” Immediately afterwards, Livia set forth to create awareness on the inhumane living conditions of the workers. Her humanitarian mission knows no bounds as she combines her creativity with steadfast resilience to spread awareness and catalyse real change for a more sustainable world. One such endeavour is The Renaissance Awards, the “first global awards dedicated to the work of international young leaders who are working for a more environmentally regenerative, socially just, economically inclusive and technologically balanced future.” Livia recently hosted a screening of The Renaissance Awards in Dubai at the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2020. Grazia ME caught up with her to chat about this documentary and her hopes for the future.
First, a little background about Livia. She’s an award-winning Italian film producer, wife of acclaimed actor Colin Firth, and co-founder and Creative Director of leading consulting and creative agency specialised in integrated sustainability, Eco-Age. She’s also the founder of the Green Carpet Challenge, a disruptive environmental and social justice initiative that showcases the value (and glamour) of sustainable fashion. In everything she does, Livia tells Grazia ME that “in her mind is the women and men who reside at the very beginning of the supply chain.”
Livia believes “that the Gen-Zers and beyond are the ones who will create and implement sustainable changes the world so desperately needs.” Her documentary, The Renaissance Awards, is set in the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence and celebrates young changemakers at the forefront of the sustainable movement who create progressive solutions towards a more conscious planet. Presented by Nile Rodgers, Colin Firth, Gisele Bundchen, Ahad Raza Mir and Annie Lennox with an exclusive performance by Ben Harper, this documentary uses augmented reality and special effects to highlight these emerging leaders who are shaping a world that align with the four pillars of The Renaissance Awards. One that is Socially Just, Economically Inclusive, Environmentally Restorative and Technologically Balanced.
When we asked Livia how the Grazia ME woman can take inspired action in her own life to create her own second Renaissance, she responded “before purchasing a piece of clothing the next time you shop, ask yourself, will I wear this 30 times? If not, don’t buy it.” Fair enough.
You can watch The Renaissance Awards here.
