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Emma Watson

Actor

The actor has become an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and sustainable, eco-friendly practices within the industry.

Biography

The actress has become a high-profile advocate for gender equality in her capacity as a UN Goodwill Ambassador, and campaigns for ethical practices and sustainable initiatives within the fashion industry, promoting designers and brands that adhere to responsible, eco-friendly criteria. The humanitarian is closely linked with Eco Age, and known for successfully taking part in the organisation’s Green Carpet Challenge for all public appearances.

Watson was born in Paris, but grew up in Oxford with her mother and brother. She rose to fame for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film franchise, her first professional acting gig. The actress is no stranger to the fashion industry: in 2005, a 15-year old Watson became the youngest ever cover star of Teen Vogue. To date, she has covered numerous top tier titles, including US and British Vogue, Vanity Fair and W Magazine. She also fronted two Burberry campaigns — Autumn 2009 and Spring 2010 — and became a Lancôme ambassador, starring in ad campaigns for the beauty brand between 2011 and 2013.

The actress’ activist sensibilities can be traced back to her teenage years. In 2009 she began working with fair trade fashion brand People Tree, collaborating on a line aimed at under-24 year olds, a relationship she continued for three seasons. In 2011, she teamed up with Alberta Ferretti to create a capsule collection made from organic cotton, muslin and hemp. Titled Pure Threads by Emma Watson Alberta Ferretti, a part of proceeds of the collaboration were donated to People Tree. In 2014 she was appointed as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador; in September of that year she launched her UN Women campaign HeForShe with an address at the UN headquarters in New York — Malala Yousafzai later told Watson that it was that UN speech that inspired her to call herself a feminist.

Recently, Watson has teamed up with Eco Age, a sustainable brand consulting firm founded and helmed by Livia Firth . She first rose to the Green Carpet Challenge for the Met Gala in 2016, where she wore a custom Calvin Klein Collection gown created from Newlife fabric, a yarn engineered from used plastic bottles.  

During her promotional tour for Beauty and the Beast, Watson created an Instagram account called “The Press Tour” to keep fans up to date with her press tour wardrobe — which was 100 percent verified by Eco Age, while makeup was approved by Content Beauty — educating followers about the designers and sourcing behind her sustainable, eco-friendly looks, many of which were custom-made by the likes of Dior, Givenchy, Phillip Lim , Louis Vuitton, Emilia Wickstead and Elie Saab .

Education

Brown University

Brown University

Oxford University

Oxford University

Vital Statistics

Born
15 April 1990
Nationality

United Kingdom

Location
United Kingdom
Member since
2017

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What is The BoF 500?

The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.