- The 95th annual Academy Awards are being held in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday.
- All attendees have received guides to dressing sustainably from environmental group RCGD Global.
At the Oscars this year, expect red-carpet fashion to be green — and not in terms of color.
Ahead of the 95th Academy Awards — which will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday — the environmental group RCGD Global distributed a written guide to dressing ethically and sustainably at the event to all attendees.
The guide, which is serving as an unrequired dress code, was customized for the Oscars by the organization's CEO, Samata Pattinson, who previously authored a 23-page version of it.
Insider spoke with Pattinson about implementing the guide at the Oscars, what we can expect to see stars wear this year, and the impact of red-carpet fashion.
The Oscars are the place for sustainable fashion
When actor Suzy Amis Cameron launched RCGD Global — previously called Red Carpet Green Dress — as a design competition in 2010, she had two goals: create opportunities for emerging fashion designers, and start a conversation about sustainability on red carpets.
So when Pattinson won the contest, she and Cameron took it upon themselves to do just that.
"We went and pitched the Academy, saying, 'Look, this is a conversation you should be part of. This is a great opportunity to show there's a more meaningful way to showcase sustainable fashion. We're bringing the elements together. We just need you to give us a platform and endorse it.' And they did," she said.
Since that meeting, according to Pattinson, RCGD Global has "never relinquished that space."
In years past, they've worked with stars like Tati Gabrielle, Marlee Matlin, and Sophie Turner to display sustainable, ethically-created garments on the red carpet.
In 2016, Turner — in partnership with RCGD Global — wore a Galvan for Opening Ceremony gown that was ethically made.
Then in 2022, Billie Eilish supported the organization by choosing a vintage Gucci gown and a deconstructed tiara worn as jewelry for the event.
Her mom Maggie Baird was also an RCGD Global ambassador that year.
This year, RCGD Global has taken its initiatives and guide to another level — creating a bespoke version for Oscars attendees.
The guide, which can be viewed online, recommends that attendees consider wearing vintage garments or clothes made from natural textiles, among other ideas.
And as Pattinson noted, the sustainable dress code is a suggestion — not mandatory.
But with so many ways to be sustainable, Pattinson believes "over 70%" of attendees will be participating in some way, "whether they identify it with sustainability or not."
"They're going to be renting, they're going to be tailoring existing pieces they're wearing," she said. "Some will be DIYing, or borrowing archival looks."
Even "that most cynical" attendee can be reached by RCGD Global's initiative, Pattinson said.
"We say: OK, these are a number of ways you can participate. You consider yourself a tech person? You can look into certifications and technology that traces where your garments are from," she said. "You consider yourself somebody that is passionate about biodiversity? You can look for natural or bio textiles."
"We just tried to give them so many options that there wasn't an out," she added.
2023 red-carpet predictions: vintage gowns and unique textiles
So what will your favorite stars actually wear on Sunday? Pattinson envisions three big themes: recycled outfits, natural textiles, and vegan materials.
"Repurposed fashion is a big one, because it's a very obvious thing," she said. "Visually you can see what they wore before, but they've done it differently this time."
"The other big one for me is probably textiles — there are lots of new ways to show color," Pattinson continued. "Textiles can be innovative, and some of them are really out there, you know? There are algae-based ones, bio-based options, and pieces made from regenerated ocean plastic. There's a plethora."
But most importantly, according to Pattinson, it's what happens off the Oscars red carpet that counts the most.
"All of this stuff is great: the textiles, the dyes, vintage clothes," she said. "But if we still don't come back to 'everybody needs to make less stuff,' then that's worrying."
"Fashion is a business industry. It must sell, it must trade, it must buy," she continued. "But I think what we have the opportunity to do is dictate the terms on which we will buy and the terms on which we will be sold to."