Carolyn Murphy Was Right on Theme at the Sustainable Style Awards

On Friday night in Los Angeles, Maison de Mode’s Sustainable Style Awards celebrated pioneers of sustainable fashion, and in attendance were notable names like Carolyn Murphy, Hannah Bronfman, Aurora James, and Chriselle Lim. Among the awards given out was the Impact Award, which went to James, Brother Vellies designer and Fifteen Percent Pledge founder. “The best part of the night for me was speaking to Aurora, learning about her philanthropic efforts and her brand,” says model Murphy, who documented her getting-ready process for Vogue below. “She’s a powerhouse. I also loved dressing up—this was my first night out in L.A. since COVID began.”

As an honoree for the Sustainable Style Award, Murphy wanted her ensemble for the evening to tie into the night’s sustainable theme. To do so, her look was made up of thoughtful details that told a bigger story. For attire, she wore Gabriela Hearst’s cashmere bouclé dress from the fall 2022 collection. “This dress made me feel sexy,” says Murphy. “I greatly admire Gabriela and her efforts towards sustainable fashion.” The design was made in an Italian factory founded in 1958, and the mill is powered entirely by renewable energy (it also recycles more than 90 percent of its waste, says Hearst).

For accessories, Murphy carried a bag from a collaboration that Hearst recently did with Madres & Artesanas Tex, a collective of Bolivian artisans. It’s hand-crocheted, and each one took a craftsman roughly three weeks to complete, championing the idea that beautiful objects take time to create. Meanwhile, her De Beers jewelry—including diamond earrings and bracelets—were responsibly sourced. For every acre of land impacted by De Beers’s mining activities, the brand sets aside six acres for wildlife and biodiversity conservation.

While her selection of pieces certainly proved to be on-theme for the awards, Murphy is also no stranger to the idea of sustainable design in her own right. She says she just completed two fashion projects of her own within this space. “I’ve just finished my second upcycled collection with Mother Denim, which is inspired by the ocean and surfing, as well as a sustainable collection with the Japanese brand Adeam,” says Murphy. “I’m grateful for these opportunities—to learn about sustainable practices in fashion, and to share my creative experiences.”

Below, a closer look at Murphy’s look for the Sustainable Style Awards.