By: Adrienne Suhm
From her starring role in movies like Harry Potter and Beauty and the Beast to her involvement with the United Nations and book-sharing site Goodreads, Emma Watson is a role model and leading example for using the power of celebrity to incite activism. Among her other passions, Emma is also dedicated to sharing knowledge and accessibility in the world of sustainable fashion and beauty.
Emma’s commitment to sustainability didn’t truly take off until she joined the Green Carpet Challenge in 2015 by pledging to wear only sustainable apparel on the red carpet. Her first Green Carpet look was debuted at the 2016 Met Gala, when she famously reinterpreted the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” theme to make a statement about the widespread technological advancements and accessibility of sustainable fashion. A team from Calvin Klein designed for Watson a three-part outfit composed of straight-leg trousers, an off-the-shoulder top, and a train. The three yarns used to make the fabric were made entirely from recycled plastic bottles, and the pieces could be worn together or separately for extra wardrobe versatility, or as Watson’s stylist Rebecca Corbin Murray put it, “the ultimate thirty wears”.
Following the Gala, consumer demand for information about Watson’s favorite conscious brands and sustainable beauty tips grew until she began an entirely separate Instagram account, known as The Press Tour, that is solely devoted to featuring her Green Carpet looks. While the account was created during her promotional tour for the live action Beauty and the Beast film, Emma has continued to post “outfits of the day” and formalwear from red carpet events such as the Oscars and the Golden Globes. Each post offers the list of pieces worn by Emma as well as a few details on each label’s sustainable practices and technology. All of the information included on The Press Tour must be verified by sustainable brand consultancy Eco-Age, which evaluates Emma’s clothing based on eight qualities including fairness, sustainability, transparency, recyclability, artisanal qualities, organic materials, charitability, and zero cruelty. Emma is eager to communicate that sustainability is chic, which means that Murray is always on the lookout for new brands that can be tested and shared.
Emma has also shared a wealth of sustainable beauty knowledge. She is a proponent of natural brands such as RMS Beauty and Lily Lolo as well as single-ingredient beauty solutions such as coconut oil, Epsom salts, and essential oils. She swears by a regimented system of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing her skin every evening to avoid breakouts and product buildup in her pores, and takes daily baths for relaxation and cleansing.
Emma effortlessly proves that planet-friendly choices are available for every price point, and sustainability can be a simple daily practice that requires little extra effort on the part of the consumer. To learn more about Emma’s sustainable outfit selections, follow her account on @the_press_tour.
