Emma Watson might be best known for her feminist activism in recent years, but this uniquely intelligent actress also has another cause very close to her heart; sustainable fashion. She's never been one not to make an impact with her red carpet looks, but there's a lot more going on behind the fabric than you'd guess.

Emma WatsonEmma Watson is a huge supporter of the Green Carpet Challenge

Emma's interest in eco-style first became clear at the 2016 Met Gala when she wore a frankly incredible black and white Calvin Klein piece made out of recycled plastic bottles as part of the designer's collaboration with Eco-Age for their Green Carpet Challenge. Not only is the material recycled, but the fact that each bit of the outfit was detachable meant that it could be worn differently again and again.

In a recent interview with Coveteur magazine, she opened up a bit more about her interest in eco-friendly fashion, confessing that her initial interest began in school when she learned about fair trade. '[I] couldn't understand why it wasn't standard business practice to pay people fairly for their work', she said.

She eventually took a trip to Bangladesh with a representative of the clothing brand People Tree who specialise in fair trade, but three years later came the Rana Plaza collapse which saw a garment-factory crumble to the ground killing more than a thousand people due to a structural failure after workers were forced to return to work despite warnings over cracks.

'It reignited my passion all over again', Emma continued. 'Since then, things like [the documentary] 'The True Cost' came out, and [fair labour practices] have actually become something people are talking about, which is fantastic.'

Sustainable Brands

Sustainability is something that she tries to incorporate into her everyday wear with brands like Veja, Kings of Indigo, Coltrane, Gabriela Hearst, Chinti and Parker, Outlander Denim, Good Guys, Chakra Intimates and many more. Her favourite brand of yoga pants is Teeki ('They have really fun, crazy prints, and it's all made from recycled plastic bottles'), but the real challenge comes with finding the perfect ensemble for a major red carpet event. 

'I'm trying to set a challenge of how much sustainable stuff can I wear on the red carpet', she reveals. 'I've been working with Livia Firth a lot. She does the Green Carpet Challenge, and she has an agency, Eco-Age. It's been a huge learning curve; really challenging, but really rewarding.'

If you follow her on Instagram, you might be well aware of her attempts to bring fashion sustainability to the forefront. On a new account following her 'Beauty and the Beast' press tour, she descibred the eco-vibes behind each outfit. 

So nice to meet everybody at the first day of the Los Angeles @beautyandthebeast junket. The journalist who came dressed up as Lumiere was a particular delight! ?????? Jumpsuit by @roland_mouret, who was a producer for the film Ten Billion, which highlights the impact of our growing population on the earth's resources and covers topics ranging from climate change, ecosystem loss, pollution, and resource depletion. Los Angeles­-based @susistudio design animal-free footwear using sustainable materials such as canvas, hemp, and faux leather produced from recycled plastic bottles. The focus of the brand is to inspire compassion towards humanity, animals, and the environment through creativity #30wears @article_22 upcycle Vietnam War-era bombs, planes, and other aluminium scrap to make Peacebomb jewellery. The more Peacebomb jewellery is worn, the more land is cleared and made safe for the surrounding communities #30wears Fashion info verified by @ecoage #ecoloves Skin prepped by combining Heritage Store Rosewater Glycerin Water with moisturiser and applying all over the face, neck and décolletage. @rmsbeauty "Un" Cover Up was used as foundation and concealer with "Un" Powder to set. RMS Beauty is free from nanotechnology and GMO ingredients. @tataharper Very Bronzing was used on eyes, along lower lash line in contour of eye and under cheekbones. Tata Harper runs her company in the belief that a company that makes products for women should be run by a woman. Eyes were accentuated with @janeiredale Liquid Eyeliner in Black/Brown which is vegan and certified cruelty-free by PETA. Lips are the Sweet & Safe Kiss Lipstick from Ecocert Greenlife-certified @absolution_cosmetics who collaborated with @christophedanchaud_makeup to create this line of lipsticks. Beauty brands verified by @contentbeauty

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For example, she's been wearing a lot of jewellery from Article22. '[The brand] upcycle Vietnam War-era bombs, planes, and other aluminium scrap to make Peacebomb jewellery', she explained in one photo caption. 'The more Peacebomb jewellery is worn, the more land is cleared and made safe for the surrounding communities.'

She explained further in another caption: 'Each piece helps clear unexploded ordnance, making land safe and providing new metal to artisans. Article22 began working with a village in Laos in 2009, that now has 15 families, husbands and wives making Peacebomb jewellery. They work part-time and earn at least 5x the local hourly minimum wage, providing them with the disposable income for books, school, fuel and medicine that their subsistence farming livelihoods can't.'

Hello USA! Brilliant day visiting @theellenshow and attending the @beautyandthebeast world premiere. Such a privilege to share the evening with the actor who brought the original Belle to life, Paige O'Hara, the very talented writer of the animated film Linda Woolverton, and the legend that is Celine Dion! ???????? Ellen outfit jewellery by @article_22. Peacebomb, its first collection, is handcrafted in Laos from Vietnam War shrapnel. Each piece helps clear unexploded ordnance, making land safe and providing new metal to artisans. Article22 began working with a village in Laos in 2009, that now has 15 families, husbands and wives making Peacebomb jewellery. They work part-time and earn at least 5x the local hourly minimum wage, providing them with the disposable income for books, school, fuel and medicine that their subsistence farming livelihoods can't. @burberry pumps handmade in Italy with organic silk #30wears Trousers are @oscardelarenta and were worn in Paris during the Beauty and the Beast press tour #30wears Fashion info verified by @ecoage #ecoloves Skin prepped with Heritage Store Rosewater Glycerin Water (a US brand who have been making natural products for over 41 years). Foundation and concealer is @rmsbeauty "Un" Cover Up and "Un" Powder, who avoid using refined, bleached, deodorised and high-temperature, heat treated ingredients in their products. Contour was created with @tataharper Very Bronzing. Bronzing is @VitaLiberata Trystal Minerals Self Tanning Bronzing Minerals and Tata Harper Lip & Cheek in Very Sweet. Tata Harper is made in the brand's US-based manufacturing facility. It is not outsourced to another company as most skincare manufacturing is. @janeiredale Brow Gel and Eyeliner in Brown were used and lips are @absolution_cosmetics Sweet and Safe Kiss Lipstick in #19 Rose Franc. Absolution give 2% of their profits to the international charity @careorg who support a number of initiatives including gender equality. All brands are cruelty-free. Beauty brands verified by @contentbeauty

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Cienne is a New York clothing brand that she has been working with a lot. 'Cienne produce locally and in small batches, so they never make more product than needed and aim to reduce fabric waste through pattern-making', she explained.

Make Your Wardrobe More Eco-Friendly

Of course, brands like these don't come cheap, but sustainability isn't just about buying clothes made out of organic or recycled materials. 'It's actually not just about even what you purchase; it's about, 'Whatever you buy, would you wear it thirty times?' That makes anything ethical and sustainable', she insists. That's really the issue that we have with fashion, that people are buying clothes and throwing them away after wearing them twice, filling land[fills], creating unsafe working conditions.'

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That explains the #30wears hashtag she's been using a lot on her Instagram account lately. Plus, she has a few tips on how to make your wardrobe more sustainable. 'People forget about vintage and secondhand clothes a lot, they forget about buying things that are more durable, or shopping a bit less. Taking care of what you already own, getting shoes resoled', Emma explains. 

Final day in Shanghai was a blast. Thank you for having us! ?????? Top and trousers by @cienne_ny. Cienne produce locally and in small batches, so they never make more product than needed and aim to reduce fabric waste through pattern-making. All pieces are made in New York's garment district #30wears (worn previously at @entertainmentweekly shoot). Jewellery by @catbirdnyc, whose pieces are handmade in Brooklyn. Fashion information verified by @ecoage #ecoloves Skin is @kjaerweis certified-organic Cream Foundation and @vapourbeauty Illusionist Concealer which is made of 70% non-GMO, organic plant ingredients and 30% minerals. Cheeks contoured with Kjaer Weis Dazzling Bronzer and make-up was set with @inikaorganic Loose Mineral Foundation (which has an all-natural SPF25). Eyes are a combination of 'Bark' from the @beautycounter Desert Sunrise Palette (who support the Breast Cancer Fund) and Kjaer Weis Charmed Eye Shadow. Brows styled with @janeiredale Brow Gel. Lips tinted with Kjaer Weis Lip Tint in Passionate. All brands are cruelty-free. Beauty brands verified by @contentbeauty

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