Cannes 2025: Red Carpet Radiance Meets Slow Luxury
Beneath the golden light of the Côte d’Azur, Cannes 2025 unfolded as it always does: with sweeping gowns, sparkling jewels, and a sea of flashbulbs illuminating the Palais des Festivals. But this year, among the glamour, something softer stirred—less spectacle, more substance. A quiet return to intentional fashion. A reverence for time, touch, and tradition.
The red carpet, long a mirror for cultural taste, offered a new reflection: one of slow luxury.
P.C. Manish Malhotra @manishmalhotraworld
The Rise of Intentional Glamour
In an age that equates novelty with relevance, choosing heritage can feel quietly radical. This year, several of Cannes’ most elegant moments weren’t defined by volume or shimmer, but by detail. Not the kind captured in a close-up, but the kind you feel—the whisper of handwoven silk, the weight of embroidery passed from one generation to the next.
Aishwarya Rai floated up the steps in Manish Malhotra sari with its gold silk brocade handwoven in Varanasi using centuries-old techniques. Worn like an offering, the garment celebrated not only Indian textile heritage, but the many hands that gave it life.
Cate Blanchett, long known for re-wearing and reimagining red carpet looks, stunned in a reworked Jean Paul Gaultier piece originally seen in 2011. Updated with hand-beaded panels by Palestinian artisans, the gown was more than couture—it was commentary.
“This dress carries two stories,” Blanchett said on the red carpet, “and both are worth telling again.”
The Emergence of Conscious Couture
Viola Davis dazzled in a yellow-green Gucci gown featuring a flowing cape and a gemstone choker. Gucci's commitment to sustainable fashion was evident in this ensemble, aligning with Davis's advocacy for ethical practices in the industry.
Icelandic artist Björk made a bold statement in a custom, hand-crafted ensemble by German label Aziz. The outfit featured a tulle top with voluminous shoulder pads, a lace skirt adorned with floral embroidery, and a corset made from sustainably tanned leather. This avant-garde look emphasized the fusion of organic forms with sustainable materials.
Actress Gillian Anderson graced the red carpet in a black structured wool-silk column dress featuring an inner corset, paired with rose gold armband jewelry by Gabriela Hearst
In 2024, Supermodel Naomi Campbell embraced sustainable fashion by re-wearing a sequined black Chanel dress she first donned 27 years ago. Her choice highlighted the timelessness of haute couture and the importance of vintage fashion in promoting sustainability.
Celebrating Sustainable Innovation
Beyond individual appearances, the festival also spotlighted broader initiatives promoting sustainable fashion:
Planet Fashion TV's Sustainability in Fashion Awards Gala
On May 19, 2025, Planet Fashion TV hosted the "Signes" gala on Croisette Beach, celebrating designers and brands committed to eco-conscious fashion. Attendees showcased garments crafted from ocean plastics, vintage silks, and ethically sourced gems, emphasizing that luxury and sustainability can coexist harmoniously.
Jewelry with Integrity
Even the sparkle was considered. Chopard’s Green Carpet Collection adorned several attendees, each piece made from Fairmined gold and traceable gemstones. Diamonds glittered not only with clarity, but with conscience—refracting the values of a new era.
Innovations in Eco-Friendly Design
Stella McCartney dressed several attendees in her signature vegan, circular designs—proving that animal-free and planet-first doesn’t mean compromise on silhouette or sex appeal.
Designers at Cannes introduced groundbreaking approaches to sustainable fashion including eco-friendly materials and adoption of zero-waste techniques.
Craft Is the New Couture
Beyond fabric choices or carbon footprints, a new philosophy is shaping red carpet fashion: craft as currency.
Heritage embroidery, loom-based textiles, and slow-finished silhouettes bring something fast fashion never can—soul. These pieces carry not just the name of the designer, but the fingerprints of makers, the wisdom of generations, and the resilience of culture.
Why Cannes Matters
Red carpet fashion is often dismissed as frivolous. But it’s arguably one of the most influential platforms in global fashion. A sustainable dress at Cannes can inspire a thousand Pinterest boards, change editorial directions, and even nudge high street brands toward better practices. By choosing to champion craft, sustainability, and heritage, celebrities are telling a different story—one where glamour is not divorced from ethics.
Cannes 2025 marked a transformative moment in red carpet fashion, where the emphasis shifted from mere aesthetics to meaningful storytelling through attire. The festival illuminated a path where elegance is intertwined with ethics, and where every garment carries a narrative of cultural appreciation and environmental consciousness.
As the fashion world takes note, it's evident that the future of luxury lies not just in opulence, but in authenticity, sustainability, and reverence for craftsmanship.
