It's Earth Day! Here's How Fashion and Art Are Celebrating

Did you know it's been over half a century since the very first Earth Day? Founded in 1970 to raise awareness about environmental issues, the annual day feels as relevant as ever amidst the growing concerns over the climate crisis. With over 193 countries participating in the global event, unless you're a climate denier, there's no reason we shouldn't all be rallying to think of solutions for a greener future. Still, like every holiday that's come before, it's easy to feel pessimistic about the commodification of Earth Day. With greenwashing running more rampant than ever, it's important to put our critical thinking hats on before thinking every initiative is building a greener future. That's why we've rounded up all the exhibitions and releases that are *actually* making a difference this Earth Day.

Tom Ford

We already know Tom Ford has the pinnacle of American style with his penchants for revamping classic tailoring and all the accessories that go best with it. Always looking to innovate, this Earth Day, the menswear master is introducing his most planet-positive timepiece yet with the release of the Tom Ford Ocean Plastic Sport Camo. The automatic watch is the first in the brand's lineup of luxury watches made using entirely recycled plastic bottles from the ocean, coastlines and uncontrolled landfills. Not only does the sustainable style contain no virgin or non-ocean plastics, but the materials' transportation is carbon neutral with compounding in Switzerland powered by solar energy. 'In my opinion, ethical luxury is THE greatest luxury of all,' Ford says.

Zongbo Jiang's Sarabande exhibition Climate Heroes

The art world is also joining fashion in their mission for a greener industry this year. One of many creatives using his practice as a political tool to campaign for a better (and, more importantly, greener future) is Sarabande-designer-in-residence Zongbo Jiang. Existing within the intersection of climate activism, data and visual arts, Jiang's new exhibition Climate Heroes has created a captivating experience for all. For the project, the multidisciplinary artist created 12 vivid characters, all of which were put under the spotlight to cautiously reveal the potential environmental impact on various endangered species, including humans; playing out the hypothetical worst-case scenario if climate targets are not met. Although rather sinister in its theme, Jiang successfully conveys a very real threat through the lens of his artwork, layered with a psychedelic nature and one simple message: act now before it's too late.

Dior x Parley for the Oceans

Kim Jones' next collaboration may come as a surprise but makes perfect sense when carving a more sustainable future for fashion. Reuniting with Parley for the Oceans, the French maison have conceived a committed Beachwear Capsule, reflecting each brand's collective desire to move towards a more eco-innovative system. Not the first time the duo have collaborated, their 'eco-innovative' research project in 2019 - one that's since birthed new yarns and fabrics including seersucker, silky knit and a technical fabric punctuated with the Dior Oblique motif - marked the first of many ventures committed to sustainability in the luxury sector. Amongst many things, Christian Dior was notorious for his passion for nature, including flowers, gardens and the sea, meaning this beachwear capsule (made with 96% sustainable fabrics) is a full-circle moment for Dior. 'Wearing a piece of Dior x Parley is an act of rebellion; it shows that you care dearly. It shows that you want to solve the environmental crisis we are facing in a creative and optimistic way', said Parley for the Oceans CEO Cyrill Gutsch.

Reference Studios

Reference Studios are also partaking in Earth Day this year, summoning a 'conscious selection' for all shoppers out there. Their specially curated product list includes some of the most conscious brands out there, counting A Better Mistake, whose fabrics are obtained from warehouse waste, Magliano - who make iconic pieces from pre-loved shirts and foulards, creating a one-off quirky aesthetic for each garment - and Our Legacy, who've presented their new unisex crochet bags in collaboration with textile artist Sarah Murkes, using scrap material from past brand collections.

Stephen Inggs: Botanical Legacies at HackelBury Fine Art Gallery

Don't panic if you feel the overwhelming need to surround yourself with nature this Earth Day; if you're based in London (AKA the greenest city in Europe), there are hundreds of parks to choose from. Even better, take some time out of your day and head down to artist Stephen Ingg's latest solo exhibition at HackelBury Fine Art Gallery Botanical Legacies. Thanks to the not-so-subtle title, we don't need to tell you what the show is about, but if you have yet to guess, yes, flora, fauna and the like are highlighted in all their natural glory as 'the garden becomes the site of cultural critique'. Whether you're immersing yourself in a real or painterly garden this Earth Day, at least make sure it's one of them.

Oliver Ressler: Barricading the Ice sheets at The Showroom

Less of an exhibition and more of a considered research project, Barricading the Ice Sheets incorporates a selection of new and existing works. At its very core, the show investigates climate breakdown, climate justice and activist movements and their role in shaping the future of arts. 'To barricade ice sheets as they melt is physically impossible, yet the movement is attempting something historically unprecedented because in recorded human history, the planet has never confronted such an absolute threat … when Arctic ice melts, sea levels rise everywhere; islands and cities sink; the global exploitation of agriculture and fisheries lurch off schedule' the artist answered when probed over its unusual title.

Extinction Rebellion at Patchworks: The Big One

From talks to art workshops, short film screenings, evening events and masterclasses, activist group Extinction Rebellion predictably have one or two things up their sleeve for Earth Day this year. Held at Patchworks, 'a part furniture factory, part creative space' in Leyton, East London, the event is sure to amass a crowd. For more information and the day's programme order, click here.

Extinction Beckons by Mike Nelson at Hayward Gallery

Now in its final weeks, artist Mike Nelson's Extinction Beckons is an immersive exhibition at Hayward Gallery comprising a series of psychologically-charged installations and sculptures. Marking Nelson's first major survey of work, the show takes the viewer on enthralling journeys into fictive worlds that eerily echo our own here on earth. Although this experience may be enlightening, no one said it was optimistic about the future, mirroring the previously-mentioned Climate Heroes work by showcasing the worst if we keep mindlessly ruining our once beautiful planet.

Being Human at Wellcome Collection

Surveying what it means to be human in the 21st century, the ongoing display at Wellcome Collection reflects our hopes and fears about new forms of medical knowledge and our changing relationships with ourselves, each other and the world. Designed by the Turner-winning architectural collective Assemble and curated by the curator who previously gave us Queer Art at Tate Britain, there's little reason not to visit.