Oscars 2013: Naomie Harris in Red Carpet Green Dress challenge gown
There’s an interesting back story to the mustard-colored gown that “Skyfall” actress Naomie Harris is wearing at the 85th Academy Awards this afternoon – it’s the winning design in Suzy Amis Cameron’s Red Carpet Green Dress challenge and was designed by Ghana-born Michael Badger, a fashion design student at Savannah College of Art and Design, who was mentored throughout the design process by Vivienne Westwood.
We’re told that the gown, made from certified organic silk crepe de chine and using recycled zippers, was hand-embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework with vintage glass beads and chocolate candy wrappers. The color is thanks to a dying process that used goldenrod and chamomile, the byproducts of which, since they contained no chemical pollutants, went straight to the compost heap. According to a press release revealing the completed gown, Badger’s design was inspired by volcanoes and the appearance of flowing lava.
Michael Badger is the fourth winner of the competition. Last year “The Artist” actress Missi Pyle wore a dress designed by Miami International University of Art and Design student Valentina Delfino. In 2011 the winning design was created Samata Angel, and in 2010 Jillian Granz’s winning submission hit the red carpet.
Oscars 2013: Nominee list | Ballot | Trivia | Timeline
This year, the Red Carpet Green Dress competition raised $120,000 for MUSE School CA, a nonprofit, educational organization in Malibu Canyon that was founded by Amis Cameron and her sister, Rebecca Amis.
ALSO:
London and Milan Fashion Week highlightsOscars 2013: Let the red carpet games begin
Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper shine at ‘Silver Linings’ party