Emma Watson attended the LACMA Art+Film Gala in Los Angeles wearing a ruby gown crafted from a biopolymer-based textile.
While the actress maintained a low profile and bypassed the red carpet, she later shared details on Instagram regarding the sustainable garment and the creative process behind its design. Watson noted that the natural world serves as one of the greatest sources of inspiration, while also serving as a destination where plastic waste often ends up.
The dress featured a unique material developed by Caroline Zimbalist. According to Watson, the fabric is created through a hands-on process where a biopolymer-based material is heated, mixed, and poured directly onto silk. The addition of plant-derived glycerin provides the textile with flexibility and softness. As the water evaporates, the substance sets and bonds with the silk, resulting in what Watson described as a sculptural textile.
Watson noted that the design was intended to spark conversations about the materials used in fashion. She highlighted her interest in seeing creativity applied to resource conservation, specifically mentioning efforts to repurpose used plastic to help reduce reliance on fossil-based resources. She specifically pointed to companies like Nexus Circular, which work to keep materials out of landfills and oceans to build a more circular economy.
To bring the look to fruition, Watson collaborated with a team of professionals. She credited her stylist and co-creator Jared Ellner, photographer Rich Stapleton, fabric designer Caroline Zimbalist, makeup artist Katie Mellinger, and hairstylist Daniel Moon.
The gala itself served to honor artist Vija Celmins, known for her depictions of oceans, night skies, and spiderwebs, and filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, whose work on projects like Arrival and Dune is noted for building extraordinary worlds while posing deeply human questions.
This appearance at the LACMA event marks the actress’s first time attending an event in Los Angeles since September, when she appeared at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s opening gala wearing a black minidress decorated with real flowers.
