Sustainability is an essential part of the CFDA ethos. It’s at the core of the CFDA + Lexus Fashion* Initiative, for example. It also played a key role at this year’s CFDA Fashion Awards by way of eco-friendly tabletops.

In partnership with Lexus and Conscious Commerce co-founder Barbara Burchfield and celebrating our shared commitment to sustainability, the CFDA Fashion Awards sourced décor and menu items with an eye to the environment. Case in point, all produce was grown specifically for the evening at Brooklyn Grange and other sustainable local farms. Jane Coxwell, culinary designer, author of Fresh Happy Tasty and CFDA Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg’s personal chef, created the Mediterrranean-inspired menu that included lightly pickled root vegetables on a Spring Carrot and Beet puree, Vegetable Moussaka, and a fennel, pomegranate and radish Salad. After the event, Hammerstein Ballroom composted all uneaten food with plans to return the compost to Brooklyn Grange.

Stefan Beckman designed the tabletop, which, too, was dressed in sustainable items. Take, for example, the napkins featuring 12 illustrations of past Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award winners as well as Geoffrey Beene himself. They were made from 100 percent linen material and were completely free of optic brighteners. The table linens, glasses, plates, flatware, and décor were also entirely reusable and recyclable. The table linens, glasses, plates, flatware, and décor were also entirely reusable and recyclable. These added yet another reason to raise a toast to Planet Earth – with the Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rose that was on the sustainable tabletop, of course.

Check out how the table came together in this video!