Sustainability is a watchword for the Botswana diamond industry, which currently reinvests 80% of every dollar earned back into the community, says Lahri, who was born, raised, and educated in Botswana. “When I wear this ring,” she told the audience, gesturing to the Botswana diamond on her finger, “I know I’ve empowered a child, a community, and Botswana as a whole.”
Although Firth and Morgan spent a relatively short time filming their movie in Botswana last year, they’ve developed a shorthand with the women they met there; Firth laughingly told the audience the story of how she had borrowed a suit from Dambe to meet with the president of Botswana, joking, “That’s true sustainability!” But Firth’s efforts to cultivate a more sustainable fashion industry go far beyond a loaned suit; as the co-founder and Creative Director of Eco-Age and the Green Carpet...
The guests who mingled with the film’s creators, producers, and central figures last night included Rupert Friend, Aimee Mullins, Zawe Ashton, and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. The mood may have been festive, but the message was serious, as Firth implored the audience to think about how a more sustainable approach to the manufacture of luxury items could reduce suffering in the developing world.
“In Botswana, I’ve seen a picture of what can happen when businesses operate in partnership with government and civil society, and where long-term investments are made in collaboration with local communities to ensure that the benefits are truly shared with those on the ground,” said Firth, adding, “I came here to look at a single supply chain.