EXCLUSIVE: Stella McCartney, David Attenborough to Be Honored by New Environmental Start-up The Nat
To be unveiled in London on Wednesday during London Climate Action Week, the event is the offshoot of a new environmental coalition of cross-industry partners called The Nat which is led by London-based Gail Gallie, a former marketing executive who cofounded Project Everyone with British screenwriter and film producer Richard Curtis in 2015, the campaign unit that launched the Global Goals on behalf of the United Nations.
More from WWD
Report Findings Highlight Opportunities for Brands to Unlock the Next Phase of Value in Resale With DPPs
Cellugy Raises 8.1 Million Euros to Eliminate Microplastics in Personal Care Products
Paris Good Fashion Report Says 5% Volume Cut Needed by 2030 to Stay Within Climate Limit
The NAT aims to bring together a community of leading voices across business, science, society, philanthropy and culture to amplify awareness and accelerate action for nature. The inaugural Nat Gala, its flagship fundraiser, will take place in New York on Sept. 21 on the eve of the 80th Session of the U.N. General Assembly. Gallie hopes the event, which is due to be staged at the Classic Car Club on Pier 76, will raise $20 million to go toward critical nature restoration projects that will be facilitated by partners including Conservation International. Three hundred guests are anticipated.
'The SDGs [U.N. Sustainable Development Goals] have got 15 years to run,' said Gallie. 'It was thinking, me personally, 'What can I add to the trajectory that we are on?' My personal passion has so much drawn me into nature and I feel like that's the new news that the world wants as well, because we've been hearing climate change, climate change, climate change for so long… I could see how I could drive more change by really diving deep into nature. And that's where The Nat has come from.'
The work of David Attenborough and, in the fashion space, Stella McCartney, will be honored at the gala, which is also assembling a cadre of ambassadors — or 'NATure Stewards' — who include environmental activists Harrison Ford, Wanjira Mathai, Xiye Bastida, Titouan Bernicot, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim and Sabrina Elba, a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
As for the red carpet, 'We're calling it a 'natural' carpet' said Gallie. 'The directive is, 'Seriously, think about your choice. Is it borrowed? Is it vintage? Is it from a designer who is working at the cutting edge of sustainable practices?''
Gallie harnessed the collective clout of a well-connected creative team for the project. The Nat and Nat Gala's co-creative directors are Rachel Muscat — the Los Angeles-based Australian cofounder and former chief executive officer of Pharrell Williams' Humanrace brand — and Al MacCuish, the London-based cofounder and chief creative officer of Sunshine, a creative entertainment production company. Joerg Koch, the founder and editor in chief of Berlin-based magazine 032c, has been tapped as Nat Gala artistic director; Art + Commerce cofounder and managing director Jimmy Moffat as art and culture adviser, and veteran music executive Gary Gersh as music adviser. Other creative collaborators include American musician Madame Gandhi and Open Planet, the global environmental footage specialist.
'I think what's been so inspiring for us working with Gail is that it is this untapped connection between culture and nature that we really see bringing the two worlds together,' said Muscat, who launched the Rachel Muscat Studios consultancy after leaving Humanrace in late 2024 and is now working with brands and celebrities in several markets. '[Take] Joerg Koch from 032c, like it's quite unexpected that he would be somebody who would come in. And that's our ambition: how do we continue to bring unexpected voices to nature? Because everyone actually is connected to nature in a certain way, but maybe they just don't know how to become closer or be a part of it.'
The Nat Gala isn't Gallie's first fashion hookup. In 2021 she launched a Project Everyone social media campaign called Fashion Avengers, teaming up with brands including Burberry and Pangaia to advocate for, and drive action toward, the U.N.'s Global Goals.
'I knew the industry a little bit and I knew that it had big problems in terms of the natural world and sustainability, but I also knew that it was trying, and there was a real appetite there to change. But then the pandemic happened,' said Gallie.
'The Nat Gala is not a fashion event per se, it's a nature event,' she added. 'But the creativity and the ability to drive change that fashion has is undeniable. I think that's what I was scratching at with the Fashion Avengers. And now it just feels like maybe this is the right time.'
Best of WWD
Why Tennis Players Wear All White at Wimbledon: The Championships' Historic Dress Code Explained
Kate Middleton's Looks at Trooping the Colour Through the Years [PHOTOS]
Young Brooke Shields' Style Evolution, Archive Photos: From Runway Modeling & Red Carpets to Meeting Princess Diana
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘Fantastic Four: First Steps' scores Marvel's first $100 million box office opening of 2025
Film Review - The Fantastic Four: First Steps LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marvel's first family has finally found box office gold. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' the first film about the superheroes made under the guidance of Kevin Feige and the Walt Disney Co., earned $118 million in its first weekend in 4,125 North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. That makes it the fourth biggest opening of the year, behind 'A Minecraft Movie,' 'Lilo & Stitch' and 'Superman,' and the biggest Marvel opening since 'Deadpool & Wolverine' grossed $211 million out of the gate last summer. Internationally, 'Fantastic Four' made $100 million from 52 territories, adding up to a $218 million worldwide debut. The numbers were within the range the studio was expecting. The film arrived in the wake of another big superhero reboot, James Gunn's 'Superman,' which opened three weekends ago and has already crossed $500 million globally. That film, from the other main player in comic book films, DC Studios, took second place with $24.9 million domestically. 'First Steps' is the latest attempt at bringing the superhuman family to the big screen, following lackluster performances for other versions. The film, based on the original Marvel comics, is set during the 1960s in a retro-futuristic world led by the Fantastic Four, a family of astronauts-turned-superhuman from exposure to cosmic rays during a space mission. The family is made up of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), who can stretch his body to incredible lengths; Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), who can render herself invisible; Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), who transforms into a fiery human torch; and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), who possesses tremendous superhuman strength with his stone-like flesh. The movie takes place four years after the family gained powers, during which Reed's inventions have transformed technology, and Sue's diplomacy has led to global peace. Both audiences and critics responded positively to the film, which currently has an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and promising exit poll responses from opening weekend ticket buyers. An estimated 46% of audiences chose to see it on premium screens, including IMAX and other large formats. The once towering Marvel is working to rebuild audience enthusiasm for its films and characters. Its two previous offerings this year did not reach the cosmic box office heights of 'Deadpool & Wolverine," which made over $1.3 billion, or those of the 'Avengers'-era. But critically, the films have been on an upswing since the poorly reviewed 'Captain America: Brave New World,' which ultimately grossed $415 million worldwide. 'Thunderbolts," which jumpstarted the summer movie season, was better received critically but financially is capping out at just over $382 million globally. Like Deadpool and Wolverine, the Fantastic Four characters had been under the banner of 20th Century Fox for years. The studio produced two critically loathed, but decently profitable attempts in the mid-2000s with future Captain America Chris Evans as the Human Torch. In 2015, it tried again (unsuccessfully) with Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller. They got another chance after Disney's $71 billion acquisition of Fox's entertainment assets in 2019. Top 10 movies by domestic box office With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore: 1. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' $118 million. 2. 'Superman,' $24.9 million. 3. 'Jurassic World Rebirth,' $13 million. 4. 'F1: The Movie,' $6.2 million. 5. 'Smurfs,' $5.4 million. 6. 'I Know What You Did Last Summer,' $5.1 million. 7. 'How to Train Your Dragon,' $2.8 million. 8. 'Eddington,' $1.7 million. 9. 'Saiyaara,' $1.3 million. 10. 'Oh, Hi!,' $1.1 million. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Derek Hough Attends Dance Event in L.A. After He and Wife Hayley Erbert Reveal They're Expecting Their First Baby
The dancer and actor attended the VIP launch of the International Dance League (IDL) on July 26 Derek Hough was out and about after revealing some exciting personal news! The dancer and actor, 40, attended the VIP launch of the International Dance League (IDL) on Saturday, July 26. His appearance at the event came shortly after he and wife Hayley Erbert revealed they are expecting their first baby. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Hough and Erbert, 30, shared their exciting baby news through a sweet Instagram video on Tuesday, July 22. In the clip, the Dancing with the Stars judge and his wife embraced while overlooking a scenic view. As the two hugged, Erbert showed off sonogram photos to the camera before her. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! "We can't believe the biggest thing to happen to us could be so small ♥️," the couple wrote in the caption of their joint social media post. Hough and Erbert first met in 2014. They later got engaged in June 2022, and the longtime couple then wed over a year later in August 2023. The IDL event, which took place at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, saw some of the world's best dance crews battle it out in front of fans. The dance crews involved included Royal Family (New Zealand), 1MILLION (South Korea), Quick Style (UAE), GRV (USA), Brotherhood (Canada), Jam Republic (Singapore). Just Maiko hosted the event, and a halftime performance was done by rapper BIA. There was also an exclusive merch capsule debut from Jeff Staple. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fact check: Trump calls to prosecute Beyoncé based on a nonexistent $11 million payment
President Donald Trump over the weekend called for the prosecution of music superstar Beyoncé – based on something that did not actually happen. Trump claimed in a social media post that Beyoncé broke the law by supposedly getting paid $11 million for her endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during an October 2024 event in Houston. But there is simply no basis for Trump's claim that Beyoncé received an $11 million payment related to the Harris campaign, let alone for the endorsement in particular. Federal campaign spending records show a $165,000 payment from the Harris campaign to Beyoncé's production company, which the campaign listed as a 'campaign event production' expense. A Harris campaign spokesperson told Deadline last year that they didn't pay celebrity endorsers, but were required by law to cover the costs connected to their appearances. Regardless of the merits of this particular $165,000 expenditure, it's far from an $11 million one. Nobody has ever produced any evidence for the claim of an eight-figure endorsement payment to Beyoncé since the claim that it was '$10 million' began spreading last year among Trump supporters on social media. Fact-check websites and PolitiFact looked into the '$10 million' claim during the campaign and did not find any basis for it. The White House did not immediately respond to a CNN request late Saturday for any evidence of Trump's $11 million figure. When Trump previously invoked the baseless figure, during an interview in February, he described his source in the vaguest of terms: 'Somebody just showed me something. They gave her $11 million.' A Harris spokesperson referred CNN on Saturday to a November social media post by Beyoncé's mother Tina Knowles, who called the claim of a $10 million payment a 'lie' and noted it was taken down by Instagram as 'False Information.' 'When In Fact: Beyonce did not receive a penny for speaking at a Presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harrris's (sic) Rally in Houston,' Knowles wrote. A spokesperson for Beyoncé told PolitiFact in November that the claim about a $10 million payment is 'beyond ridiculous.' What Trump wrote Sunday Trump revived the false claim in a social media post published after midnight early Sunday morning in Scotland, where he is visiting. He wrote that he is looking at 'the fact' that Democrats 'admit to paying, probably illegally, Eleven Million Dollars to singer Beyoncé for an ENDORSEMENT.' Democratic officials actually reject the claim of an $11 million payment. The White House did not immediately respond to CNN's request for any evidence of a Democratic admission of such a payment. Trump went on to criticize other payments from the Harris campaign to organizations connected to prominent endorsers. He asserted without evidence that these payments were inaccurately described in spending records. And he wrongly asserted that it is 'TOTALLY ILLEGAL' to pay for political endorsements, though no federal law forbids endorsement payments. Trump concluded: 'Kamala, and all of those that received Endorsement money, BROKE THE LAW. They should all be prosecuted! Thank you for your attention to this matter.' Trump has repeatedly called for the prosecution of political opponents. His Saturday post about Harris and celebrity endorsements was an escalation from a post in May, when he said he would call for a 'major investigation' on the subject but did not explicitly mention prosecutions.
