What better way to celebrate Earth Month than with the Sustainable Style Awards?
At the heart of luxury sustainable fashion is eco-conscious retailer, Maison de Mode, and its co-founders, Hassan Pierre and Amanda Hearst, who will be hosting this year’s fifth annual ceremony on Friday, April 22 at The West Hollywood EDITION.
Each year, the Sustainable Style Awards celebrate and recognize sustainable fashion and all of the people that advocate for a better industry and environment. Luxe brands and independent fashion houses merge together with celebrities that are true ambassadors of sustainable fashion.
The 2022 honorees include supermodel Carolyn Murphy, who’s being honored with the Sustainable Style Award (for those who made a lasting impact in sustainable fashion through influence, philanthropy and work). And Brother Vellies designer and The Fifteen Percent Pledge founder, Aurora James, will be given the Impact Award (which recognizes a creative director in fashion, jewelry, or accessories for their excellence in sustainable design and practice).
The honorees are selected by the international Maison de Mode committee of leaders which includes, Livia Firth, founder of EcoAge, Lisa Smilor, Executive VP of the CFDA, Nadja Swarovski, a member of the Executive Board, Swarovski Group, Nina Garcia, Editor-in-Chief, ELLE Magazine, and Julie Gilhart, industry veteran and fashion consultant.
Maison de Mode co-founder & CEO, Hassan Pierre explained why Murphy is a “true role model” for the Sustainable Style Award. “Carolyn Murphy has made an everlasting positive impact on the planet through the thoughtful, sustainably minded collaborations and initiatives that she has worked on throughout her career,” he in a statement to GRAZIA USA. “In particular, we admire how Carolyn has used her creativity to design in collaboration with Mother Denim a 14-piece upcycled collection, called Homegrown, that is entirely made from unwanted rags and Mother denim stock.”
For the Impact Award, Pierre explained, “We appreciate Aurora’s goal of celebrating traditional African design techniques and practices while creating and sustaining artisanal jobs and admire how Aurora is shining a light on all aspects of sustainability, from utilizing eco-friendly materials to incorporating diversity and inclusivity into Brother Vellies and beyond.”
He continued, “With the non-profit advocacy organization The Fifteen Percent Pledge that Aurora founded, we respect her for using her platform to continue to do good by closing the racial wealth gap by partnering with retailers to diversify their shelves and commit 15 percent of their purchasing power to Black-owned businesses.”
Before the tomorrow’s ceremony, GRAZIA USA, caught up with James and Murphy to hear how it feels to be honored and what’s next for their work in the sustainability field. Read on for her insightful thoughts and check back on Monday, where James will be sharing behind-the-scenes photos as she gets ready for her big night.
GRAZIA USA: How does it feel to be honored at the Sustainable Style Awards? What are you most looking forward to at the event?
Aurora James: I am very honored to receive the 2022 Impact Award. Sustainability and social responsibility are at the very core of Brother Vellies. We are dedicated to keeping the work of traditional craftsmen around the world alive and sustaining artisanal jobs while creating long-lasting products. I am looking forward to inspiring conversations about the future of fashion and celebrating those who are continuing to make a difference.
Carolyn Murphy: I’m truly honored, and shocked, to be recognized by the Sustainable Style Awards council. I’m most looking forward to meeting people and hearing stories in how others are creating change within the fashion industry. It is important to stay informed and find ways to get involved.
GRAZIA: What are you most proud of accomplishing in the sustainability space?
James: I am incredibly proud of our artisan partners and the communities Brother Vellies has been able to uplift. I am proud of the integrity of our business and our ability to focus on the impact of our production and aim to never make more than we can sell.
Murphy: My intention is always to honor nature, to take small steps in living a more back to basics lifestyle and take action within my community. The collaboration with Mother Denim was all of the above, we turned the negative of waste in fashion into a positive with the up-cycled collection.
GRAZIA: What does sustainability mean to you?
James: Sustainability can mean several things. We cannot have material sustainability without moral sustainability. To be sustainable is to evaluate a brand’s supply chain and production process and make changes for the better. It also means to analyze how we are treating our people and our earth.
Murphy: Sustainability means being considerate of nature and humanity, living simply and creating goods that do not negatively impact the environment.
GRAZIA: What is your first piece of advice for someone who wants to live more sustainability?
James: Don’t overthink it. Just start doing your part here and there and you will find that it is a snowball effect. Once you incorporate sustainable practices into your life, it becomes contagious and you will find yourself thinking of new ways to do good for our planet.
Murphy: I’d start in your home, educate yourself in how you can take small steps to reduce waste — recycle fashion, reduce single plastic use, compost, support local farmers, and shop locally.
The 2022 Sustainable Style Awards will take place Friday, April 22 at The West Hollywood EDITION, and no aspect was overlook. There will be carbon neutral transportation for guests and honorees, Johnnie Walker cocktails infused with local and organic ingredients, a three-course plant-based dinner, solar powered lighting and sound, and decorated with beautiful floral arrangements that will be composted at the end of the evening.
