About RCGD Global
From Moment to Movement…
– Collaborating with respected and mainstream platforms to foster sustainable conversations and action
– Developing accessible sustainable design solutions which create real effective change
– Being part of creating a more socially fair, equitable and representative industry
– Promoting education and language to stimulate change
RCGD Global is a women-led global change-making organisation bringing environmental and social sustainability to the forefront of conversation and action within the global apparel and design industry. From our Red Carpet Green Dress™ initiative in partnership with the Annual Academy Awards collaborating with global and small independent brands, across to partnerships delivering sustainable design solutions, we challenge the current linear business model by placing a focus on people-centric values and intelligent design systems.
Our educational work with youth and emerging design community includes knowledge-transfer platforms, workshops, internships and work experience, and design contest initiatives. Our R&D division innovates circular design solutions including regenerative materials. We are experts in this space so if sustainability in action is of interest to you, our consultancy may be of interest to you.
RCGD Global was conceived by Suzy Amis Cameron back in 2009 during the press tour for her husband, James Cameron’s film ‘Avatar’, over 14 years ago. Still going strong, our goal is to draw attention to the importance of more sustainable practices in the apparel and design world, and be part of bringing those solutions to the global market.
RCGD News
Recent News
KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE…
CONSULTANCY: With a focus on embedding environmental and social sustainability into the work that we do, we have launched a consultancy offer for organisations looking to develop a more sustainable framework for operations. In addition, we are restarting our educational workshop series covering topics ranging from designing for people and planet, to accountability and responsibility. We are currently working on some exciting thought-leadership content on global cultural sustainability and metrics systems. To find out more about our work, get in touch!
Following the success of our 2022 partnership, RCGD Global and TENCEL™ brand from sustainability leader Lenzing, are excited to have extended our Red Carpet Green Dress™ collaboration for a third year running at the 95th Academy Awards®. RCGD Global is working to honour their commitment in creating design solutions that work from moment to movement on the red carpet of the biggest of all global stages. We are passionate about material innovation and sustainable design solutions and love connecting with like-minded people and organisations.
On the digital side of things, we have launched our own exciting digital app!
Our Founder
A noted environmental leader, business pioneer, mom of five and new grandma, Suzy Amis Cameron is committed to caring for our wild, living Earth. In 2009, she launched Red Carpet Green Dress, a global sustainable fashion campaign showcasing environmentally responsible fashions on the red carpet in partnership with The Oscars. RCGD also co-creates sustainable garments with luxury international fashion brands. Suzy is also an Executive Producer of The Game Changers, a documentary on world-class plant-based athletes. As an actor, she was featured in more than 25 films, including The Usual Suspects and Titanic. With an emphasis on plant-based food to address climate change, she is the author of The OMD Plan: Swap One Meal a Day to Save your Health and Save the Planet (Simon & Schuster/Atria) and the founder of the OMD Movement, dedicated to transforming eating habits and expanding access to healthy, climate-friendly food for all. In 2005, she founded MUSE School CA, with her sister, Rebecca Amis. MUSE is the first school in the country to be 100% solar powered, zero waste, and with a 100% organic, plant-based lunch program. Based on MUSE’s values and curriculum, MUSE Global was launched in 2018 to franchise the school worldwide. Additionally, she is a founder of the plant-based ventures, Verdient Foods, Cameron Family Farms, Food Forest Organics and Plant Power Task Force, with her husband, James Cameron.
Our CEO, Samata Pattinson’s vision for RCGD Global focuses on our longstanding exclusive partnership with The Academy, ongoing eco-collaborations creating accessible sustainable products for the global fashion industry with impact brands, sustainable retail, education, the creation of digital content, alongside the expansion of RCGD’s global presence with a focus on emerging markets and manufacturing.
Design Criteria
Why are sustainable solutions even needed?
A collection of environmental problems are giving the fashion industry a bad reputation, from chemical pollution associated with textile production and finishing to the adverse impact of microplastics and water pollution. Globally, only the housing, transport and food sectors outweigh the scale of the fashion industry’s impact on land, with the amount of land it uses projected to increase by 35% by 2030. If the fashion industry continues on its current path, by 2050 it could use more than 26% of the carbon budget associated with a 2°C global warming limit.
In addition, sustainability is about people. It is about communities and their representation. RCGD believes that we can’t just focus on making better things, in a better way if the people we involve in the process are not representative of the world around us, and given platforms to advocate for themselves. The social justice movement within the fashion industry has started its own revolution, as global tragedies continue to redefine destinies and livelihoods, and reveal the huge equity disparities within society from discrimination and gender inequity to worker exploitation.
We work to draw attention to the importance of more positive practices in the apparel industry.
Sustainable design is an important area with many interpretations – some focus on environmental criteria, defining it by a no-waste, circular economy approach, others by the use of solely organic or certified materials or a reduced carbon print production process. Others believe it is social criteria, such as fair and humane treatment of garment workers’ rights, living wages, safe work conditions and representation. For us, it is any and all of the above.
As part of our general design criteria, we believe that sustainable fashion means producing garments with consideration of the environmental and social impact that they will have throughout the total life cycle. We respect the Environmental Profit & Loss model, which evaluates how a positive or negative impact is created to balance earth’s books. In line with science-based targets (targets developed in line with what is necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels), we look to prevent negative impacts, minimize impacts that are unavoidable, and push for corrective action when possible. After this we look outside of our immediate value cycle to contribute to a world in which people and nature can thrive through collaborations across industries.
To support our assessments and criteria over the years, we have worked in collaboration with organisations such as Greenpeace, Cradle To Cradle, and NRDC, and our criteria covers key areas from environmental through to social. Find our more about our criteria here.
HUMAN HANDS

Human hands are valued, meaning fair trade, safe working conditions, fair pay and an intersectional approach to business
CERTIFICATIONS

Accredited for environmental impact by relevant schemes and respected industry bodies
PACKAGING

Adopt initiative to minimise the total impact of packaging
TRANSPARENCY

Publish information relevant to these issues for interested parties to access
TEXTILE WASTE

Adopt design and process initiatives to reduce textile waste
BIODIVERSITY

Materials and processes which do not have a negative impact on biodiversity
MATERIALS

Use a high proportion of certified eco-friendly, organic and/or recycled materials
CLIMATE CHANGE

Adopt initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
WATER

Adopt initiatives to reduce water use in supply chain
CHEMICALS

Use botanical or low-impact dyes to process textiles and produce garments, in addition to monitoring how chemicals leave manufacturing facilities
Each red carpet season, the Red Carpet Green Dress initiative in partnership with The Academy creates a crucial ‘green’ spotlight and provides a high profile opportunity for our strategic partners, and the influential talent supporting our cause. The contest element alone challenges designers to create an ‘Oscar- worthy’ dress made entirely of sustainable materials, while actors advocate for a message of sustainability and longevity within the global fashion industry.
Numerous talents have stood with RCGD at the Oscars and over the past 14 years, our ambassadors for sustainable style on the red carpet have included talents such as Suzy Amis Cameron, James Cameron, Billie Eilish, Henry Cavill, Zoe Saldana, Tati Gabrielle, Kaitlyn Dever, Léa Seydoux, Missi Pyle, Naomie Harris, Sophie Turner, Emma Roberts, Priyanka Bose, Lakeith Stanfield, Zoey Deutch, Camila Alves, Danielle Macdonald and Laura Harrier.
The sustainable red carpet campaign works with a diverse and inclusive range of talent to ensure that we remain inspiring and reflect the world around us as accurately as possible. We believe that representation should be the standard, not the exception. Take a look at some of our collaborations on the Oscars red carpet here.
At The Oscars
Janet Yang, President of The Academy, on the Oscars red carpet in partnership with RCGD Global. Chinese American Yang leads the world’s most famous club for filmmakers and artists, recently beginning her first term as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, becoming the first Asian person, and fourth woman, to hold the position.
RCCGD Global are proud to bring talented BIPOC brands to the carpet and well as focusing on innovative materials and artisan accessories. Yang wore a dress by Le Thanh Hoa, a Vietnamese designer, coupled with O2 Monde Vegan shoes, a Blumera handcrafted and artisan bag styled by Cassandra Dittimer for the campaign.
Billie Eilish attended the 94th Academy Awards wearing a breathtaking Fred Leighton Tiara transformed into jewelry. As a supporter of Suzy Amis Cameron’s RCGD Global, she shared a unique message of vintage and put a spotlight on sustainability with her red carpet look styled by Dena Giannini.
2022: Benedetti Life
In 2022, the campaign worked with Benedetti Life to dress Maggie Baird
2022: Patrick McDowell
In 2022, the campaign worked Patrick McDowell to dress Paloma Garcia Lee
2021: Yuriko Fukuda & Benjamin Koh
2021 contest winners’ Yuriko Fukuda’s inspiration came from…
2020: Sanah Sharma
Representing the earth and the relationship it shares with its inhabitants
2020: Jasmine Rutherford
2020 Design contest winner Jasmine Rutherford’s design was inspired…
2021: Vivienne Westwood
In 2021, the campaign worked with Vivienne Westwood to dress Marlee Matlin
2020: Louis Vuitton, Laura Basci & Benedetti Life
In 2020, the campaign worked with Louis Vuitton, Laura Basci & Mattea Benedetti
2019: Christian Siriano & Louis Vuitton
In 2019, to mark a decade of the campaign, actress Danielle Macdonald…
2017: Vivienne Westwood & Armani
In 2017, the campaign worked with Armani and Vivienne Westwood…
2016: Galvan & Vivienne Westwood
In 2016, RCGD Global changed the campaign format, introducing an…
6th year winner - Tingting Chen
In 2015 Tingting Chen dressed actor Jake McDorman in a tuxedo comprised of…
5th Year: Jomnarn Dul
Jomnarn Dul’s design was worn by Kellan Lutz, of “Twilight” fame. Lutz’s tuxedo…
5th Year Winner: Alice Elia
Alice Elia, a former student at ESMOD in Paris designed Olga Kurylenko’s gown in 2014.
4th year winner: Michael Badger
Ghanaian-born Michael Badger was the 2013 winner whose stunning gold creation made…
3rd Year Winner: Valentina Delfino
In February 2012 at the 84th Annual Academy Awards actress Missi Pyle (The Artist)…
2nd Year Winner: Samata Pattinson
Samata Pattinson is a British born Ghanaian designer who won…
1st Year Winner: Jillian Granz
In 2010 Jillian Granz, a Michigan State University senior, won the then…