Fashion Industry Icon Recognized Alongside Prominent Environmental Activists and Leaders
Gabriela Hearst was honored with the 2024 TIME Earth Award for her dedication to sustainability in fashion this week. The award was presented to her by actress Jodie Comer during a ceremony that celebrates individuals who have significantly influenced the planet’s future through their work in climate justice, awareness, and activism.
This year’s TIME Earth Awards acknowledged a diverse group of environmental advocates, including actor and activist Jane Fonda, former U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, co-founder of the Ceibo Alliance and Amazon Frontlines Nemonte Nenquimo, and environmental justice pioneer and Texas Southern University professor Robert D. Bullard. These honorees have each contributed to the global conversation and actions toward environmental sustainability and justice.
During her acceptance speech, Gabriela Hearst shared insights into her sustainability journey in the fashion industry, emphasizing the critical role of energy in achieving sustainability goals. “Artists and Scientists hold the important keys to get us out of the mess we have gotten ourselves in,” Hearst stated. She elaborated on her personal sustainability “Holy Grail,” which involves understanding that sustainability is primarily an energy issue and advocating for a transition away from fossil fuels.
“My great hope and Holy Grail is in Fusion. I have hope that we can transition from our dependency on fossil fuels. That in the puzzle of carbon-free energies such as, intermittent ones, hydrogen, nuclear I have tremendous excitement for the possibility of Fusion. The energy that powers the Universe,” Hearst explained.
Hearst’s recognition at the TIME Earth Awards highlights her significant contributions to promoting sustainable practices within the fashion industry and beyond, aligning her efforts with broader environmental initiatives that seek transformative changes in energy use and resource conservation.