Red carpets are a Tinsel Town staple, but usually their connection with environmental awareness ends at the curb, when Leonardo di
Caprio, Tom Hanks and other eco-aware celebs step out of their hybrids and EVs. Environmentalists are thrilled, of course, but the real action of the Oscars starts on the red carpet.
The Red Carpet Green Dress contest, founded by Suzy Amis Cameron (wife of red-carpet alum James Cameron: Avatar, Titanic), invites designers to submit designs for fabulous frocks created entirely from sustainable fabrics. The winning dress is selected from a multitude of submissions, and its designer paired with an established designer from the fashion industry to bring the vision to fruition. And in this, the contest’s third year, the contest is going to a new level—when the winning design is unveiled on February 26, it will be adorning an actress on the red carpet for the 84th Academy Awards.
Red Carpet Green Dress was launched for several reasons: to bring attention to sustainable fashion on red carpets and runways, to benefit local Muse School, and to support Muse Global, a nonprofit Cameron and her sister, Rebecca Amis, founded to provide resources to partner schools around the world.
The contest may be glamorous, but on ordinary school days, Muse is very down to earth. Its mission is to “empower children to realize the full potential of their lives through academic excellence, personal responsibility, compassionate relations, global consciousness and environmental awareness.” Students are served fresh organic foods and along with their ABCs, are taught to honor all living things, including the planet. The 22-acre campus (and rentable conference center) is fast becoming a zero-waste school (no plastic bags allowed) and hoping to be LEED certified this year. Student body includes a number of students in the anticipated Malibu income bracket, but brings together children from across the socio-economic spectrum. Muse’s scholarship fund reportedly provides at least some financial aid to nearly 50 percent of enrolled families.
Muse goes into the greater world community with Muse Global, partnering with schools Mana Tamariki in New Zealand and Good Morning School on the Thai/Burma (Myanmar) border, where children of migrant workers who have escaped genocide in Burma are educated. The organization offers assistance for basic school operations, curriculum development and nutrition. In schools where the need is substantial, it is 100 percent funded by the Muse scholarship fund.
Back on the red carpet, keep your eye out on Oscar night—the winning design is sure to start a sustainable buzz.
—Abigail Lewis
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