Chanel’s latest Haute Couture fashion show for Spring/Summer is being marketed as “eco-friendly” but it’s actually a good example of how fashion that’s inspired by the earth does not mean sustainable or good for the planet.
The models appeared on the runway wearing interesting and unusual items, such as cork in their platform shoes and wood shavings on their dresses. There were also embroidered bees on some of the outfits. When designer Karl Lagerfeld was asked about them, he explained that bees are endangered so he took many of them and “stuck them on the dresses.” The runway itself was designed to look like a Japanese house surrounded by real grass and a pretty garden.
But Is It Sustainable?
The set and clothes seemed to be inspired by nature rather than fighting for an environmental cause. For starters, the bees feel like more of an eco-theme rather than anything sustainable. Although the wood of the house is meant to be recycled and re-used, it was made from scratch which doesn’t sound very eco-friendly.
As for the clothes, they did make use of sustainable and recyclable materials, such as paper, wood and straw. However, they also contained synthetic materials. As Lagerfeld claimed, ‘There are no sequins in wood.’
“Eco Luxe” Doesn’t Mean Eco-Friendly
The line, which is called “eco luxe”, seems to be a show of glamorous earth-inspired clothing that doesn’t hold much weight in the sustainable stakes. Critics have stated that the show is an example of greenwashing, as no claims were made of the pieces being sustainable or sourced from ethical sources. It’s worth bearing in mind that the consumer should always do their own research into a brand, no matter how famous it is or how much it is claiming to be eco-friendly. As one fashion blogger, Outi Les Pyy, commented on an article about the “eco” line: “using wooden beads, a grass runway and zen birds does not make a brand or collection ecological.”
Critics have stated that the show is an example of greenwashing
This is not the first time Chanel has stirred debate about its lack of eco practices. A Greenpeace study published in 2013 found that it, along with other brands, failed when it came to minimising chemical pollution and forestation in the making of their clothes. Greenpeace stated that the brand, as well as others, did not provide information about their practices and did not make any commitments to more eco-friendly fashion.
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