Chanel made all the headlines this season when Lagerfeld released a first for the fashion house – an eco-friendly Haute Couture collection. “Sustainable fashion shouldn’t look like some sloppy, demonstration stuff” spoke Karl, who has demonstrated through the SS16 collection that style need no longer come at the cost of the earth.
The runway featured a plain meadow scene, decorated with wooden platforms allowing for models such as Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner to gracefully float across the zen platforms. The collection was reportedly all made in house by Lagerfeld and his team, with an explicit intention to create sustainable fashion that would last the test of time; without the incorporation of synthetics and earth damaging products.
Perhaps one of the biggest issues spoken about the whole endeavour was the lack of wooden sequins available in the industry. The Chanel fashion house sought to, regardless of the effort involved, curate a season of garments that elegantly summarised the purity and cleanliness synonymous with that of nature.
It’s an interesting move for Chanel to have pulled. Of course, fast fashion isn’t without criticisms… The trend of “disposable” fashion has consistently been patronised throughout history. But, what is confusing about Lagerfeld’s decision here is the judgement to streamline such a collection in the name of Couture. It is indeed common knowledge that as a majority, we are all for up-cycling and re-working pieces for as long as you can; sustainability is key when you’re on a student loan after all! Nobody has the time, will, or money to be throwing out last season’s anything; let alone a custom made Couture Chanel gown.
This news comes at no surprise considering that H&M are set to release their own eco-friendly, conscious beauty line, intending to reflect on the millennia’s urge to push for a better tomorrow. Speaking for the brand, Sarah Wallander, H&M Beauty Concept Designer, stated, “We already offer conscious choices with our fashion collections so it is natural for us to have the same offering within our beauty collection, We always aim to develop our products to high and responsible standards in both materials and production. With the conscious range we have taken this philosophy even further. We are very proud to now be able to offer organic beauty to our customers.”
Still, with Lancaster brands like Lush and The Body Shop already the big “student loan friendly” dogs in the industry of ecological beauty retailing, it’s going to be somewhat interesting to see how H&M utilise their name in the market. That said, their packaging; clean sombre and garnished in neutral tones, is something anyone could appreciate adorning their vanity table – or more realistically, their bathroom sink.
So follow in the footsteps of Chanel and H&M alike, and take a fashionably green footstep forward.
