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Stars promote sustainability at Green Carpet Fashion Awards

Italy's fashion elite and celebrities such as film stars Cate Blanchett and Julianne Moore gathered at a green carpet event on Sunday at Milan's fashion week to urge greater environmental sustainability.

It was the closing event to the city's six-day fashion extravaganza, a week after London's fashion week declared itself fur-free for the first time.

Fashion brands have begun paying more attention to their companies' impact on the environment and production methods as customers are becoming more ecologically aware.

WINNERS

A total of 13 awards were handed out at the second edition of the Green Carpet Fashion Awards, promoted by the National Chamber of Italian Fashion (CNMI) and sustainability consultancy Eco-Age, founded and directed by Italian film producer Livia Firth, the wife of English actor Colin Firth.

Winners, who have demonstrated commitment to and investment in change, included supermodel Elle Macpherson and the cobblers of fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo.

"No one industry can tackle climate change and the sustainability issue by itself," Blanchett said, adding that the fashion industry was influential enough to spearhead change.

CNMI president Carlo Capasa said sustainability was not just about fur but also about upgrading rules on the use of chemicals, recycling, production methods and work conditions.

A growing number of luxury groups, including Versace and Gucci, have given up fur in their collections. Others are finding new techniques to make their supply chains more green.

"Sustainability is important as it is the future. There is only one way forward," Mrs Firth said, adding that fashion companies had to look to sustainability to be profitable in the long run.

But industry experts agreed the process was initially costly and would take time.

Mrs Firth added: "(It) takes years, but you have to start, be courageous and have a vision." - REUTERS

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