Milan’s Sustainable Fashion Awards Take Centre Stage At La Scala

Milan Fashion Week drew to a close on Sunday night with the sixth edition of the Camera Della Moda’s Sustainable Fashion Awards. Hosted by The White Lotus’s Sabrina Impacciatore at La Scala, the city’s iconic opera house, the event saw a who’s who of Italy’s fashion establishment gather to celebrate those who are spearheading environmental and social change through their work. There were also some visiting notables in the form of Julianne Moore, Jeremy Strong, and others.

Recipients included Edward Enninful and Donatella Versace, both honoured for their work to promote inclusivity and social change. Valentino received an award for its education programme in Rome, Kering for its regenerative practices, and Chloé for its fair trade supply chain. Gucci’s collection of recycled or regenerative cotton sourced denim earned it the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s award for Circular Economy, while Dolce & Gabbana’s development of its Alta Moda ateliers and promotion of homegrown craft through its pan-Italian shows earned it the Craft and Artisanship Award.

Candiani, manufacturer of biodegradable denim, and Manteco, a family firm that has been developing sustainable materials for three generations, were also worthy winners. Chloé and Enninful apart, there was a third non-Italian honouree: London’s Priya Ahluwalia was named winner of this year’s Bicester Collection Award For Emerging Designers.

As the night drew to a close, the highly entertaining Impacciatore reminded the audience of humanity’s infinitesimally tiny footprint in the vastness of the cosmos. It was a truth we chewed over as we headed out into the night, and onwards to Paris.