Sustainable prom looks from The Reformation.
Photo: The Reformation
Despite all the talk of sustainability and environmental consciousness in the fashion industry these days, it can still be hard to find a prom dress that looks amazing but isn't hurting the earth in the process. Not only are a lot of clothes produced using processes and materials that aren't all that good for the environment, the people producing them, or ultimately the girl wearing them, a lot of clothing is produced in such enormous quantities that a certain amount of waste is inevitable. Don't think that means you have to wear hemp to your prom, though. While one of the biggest trends in socially-conscious formal wear are dresses made of cotton alternatives, that is by no means the only option (although there are also some really rad hemp dresses out there, just saying).
BUY DRESSES MADE OF RECYCLED FABRICS
The first is, of course, to buy a sustainably-produced gown. There are some designers making incredible dresses in an environmentally conscious way, most notably New York City's The Reformation, which uses over 80% reclaimed materials to make some of the most eye-catching dresses and rompers around. We're big fans of the whimsically printed Ladybug Dress ($298); the long sleeved, slit backed Gulf romper ($218); and the sweet and effortless red teepee dress ($188). You may ALSO remember that our Editor-At-Large Mary H.K. Choi wore a romper from the brand to this year's Grammy Awards. See y'all, red carpet tested, prom approved.
