Sustainability has been a buzzword running throughout the fashion industry throughout the past few years. But what exactly does it mean? Especially in a time when climate change and achieving a more eco-conscious lifestyle is more important than ever. “The first step is just understanding what sustainability means as a word and then what it means to you, and then it’s much easier to implement into your daily life,” says Riverdale’s Madelaine Petsch.
To help us all understand how we can bring a more sustainable lifestyle to our wardrobes. Madelaine, known for her breakout role as Cheryl on Riverdale, is launching a three-part video series with Pandora. The series debuts August 30 with an intimate conversation between Madelaine and sustainability advocate Sophia Li, most known for her work around climate change.
In the series, Madelaine offers her thoughts on the future of conscious fashion consumption, accessible advice for eco-friendly living, Pandora’s sustainability commitments, and more. The Danish jewelry retailer has also recently announced they are committed to becoming a low-carbon, circular and inclusive business and is taking significant steps towards this aspiration. Currently, 100% of the electricity at Pandora crafting facilities is from renewable energy sources and plans to be 100% carbon neutral in Pandora‘s owned and operated facilities by 2025.
Ahead, GRAZIA caught up with Madelaine on her partnership with Pandora, how to achieving fashionable yet eco-friendly looks, and her favorite childhood Pandora moment. You can watch the first installment of her video series with Pandora here.
GRAZIA: As a society, sustainability is important now more than ever before; why is sustainability important to your personal life?
Madelaine Petsch: It’s so interesting; I grew up with parents who were super environmentally conscious, I grew up plant-based and in a family where I learned how to sort and recycle plastics by the age of four. Whenever we go to the grocery store, I wasn’t allowed to pick anything over like a 3. It’s something that’s just been ingrained in me, and I feel very lucky for that. It feels very daunting and hard to learn if you weren’t taught it at an early age, which is why I’m really excited about this partnership. I think it’s a very relatable and approachable way to sustainability. Like, imagine getting in trouble with your parents because you bought a number 4 plastic, you know what I mean? (laughs)
G: How has your style evolved over the last couple of years?
MP: I think I’ve become less concerned with designer pieces over the last couple of years. When I first started Riverdale, I felt there was a level of stature you had to keep up with in Hollywood. Now to me, it’s all about authenticity and personality in my clothing now. I’m definitely trying to buy quality things when I can so I don’t have to buy them again and again because that’s obviously not sustainable. I’m way more conscious about what I’m buying and what I’m wearing, and I feel that’s more authentic to me.
G: Do you find yourself shopping on Depop or other secondhand apps?
MP: I actually try to do it in person as much as I can. I’ve been lucky enough since this summer I had my Riverdale hiatus, I’ve been shooting in many locations, and I just go to vintage stores in those areas and buy a bunch of really cool pieces and make them my own.
I also love thrift shopping. I know it’s a huge fad right now, and I’m so happy that it is because it’s so much better for the environment. Typically, whenever I want to go get a designer piece, I’ll get a secondhand piece or something really nice that I know would last me a long time.
G: After this past year stuck indoors due to the ongoing pandemic, what are you most excited about for a post-pandemic fashion world?
MP: Hmm… Not sure when that will be, but trying to be positive about that! I think I am looking forward to red carpet events again. I really miss that part about fashion because I get really inspired by what other people wear a lot. Being around that energy of people who are really excited and confidant in their wardrobe is really exciting. I miss being styled, I miss my stylist, I miss getting ready for events– I miss all of that. Which I never thought I’d never thought I’ll say, by the way, because I’m not the most social person.
G: How do you achieve a fashionable yet eco-friendly look?
MP: With Pandora, I genuinely love them. They invest in earth-friendly packaging, which I so excellent for such a large jewelry retailer. And they committed to being 100 percent carbon neutral and only using recycled silver and gold in their jewelry by 2025. It’s so insane to me! That’s why I’m so happy to partner with them. It just feels so aligned with all of my core values. It’s also great because they make jewelry for everyone, so there’s something for every person, any age, and every occasion.”
Also, just go to your local thrift store, wear a mask when you go, and just find pieces that speak to you. Another thing I love is finding pieces I used to be obsessed within my closet and finding a way to repurpose them into something different. I used to have this black dress I used to wear all the time and didn’t really love it anymore but loved tank tops, so I cut it into a tank top, and now I wear it all the time. It’s effortless to do that kind of stuff, you know? And if I’m really over a piece in my wardrobe, my friends and I do a little swap situation where we’ll all swap pieces that we’re over.
G: What are some of your biggest style influences?
MP: A lot of the time, I find it in films that I like, I’ll see a piece and try to find a similar aesthetic to that. My stylist Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn, are huge style influences to me, naturally. They always have me think out of the box, which I love and really appreciate. People around me and the characters I play also influence my personal style. Cheryl wears a lot of red on Riverdale, I would have never touched red ten years ago, but now I wear red and feel comfortable.
G: What’s your favorite childhood memory with Pandora?
MP: Okay, so this is very cute. So when I was born, my aunt in South Africa got me a pandora bracelet with no charms on it, and from every age from 0 to 18, she got me a new charm based on something that happened to me that year. Isn’t that so adorable? I think that’s why this partnership is so unique between being raised eco-conscious and pandora being a part of my life for so long–my parents couldn’t be prouder.
