Prabal Gurung & Boll & Branch debut sustainable gown at Met Gala 2024

07 May '24

2 min read

Esteemed fashion designer Prabal Gurung tapped Boll & Branch, the leading luxury bedding brand, for a first-of-its-kind red carpet look for The Costume Institute’s 2024 Met Gala. Worn by former world No.1 tennis icon Maria Sharapova, the gown brings together Boll & Branch’s fabrics with the astute sartorial sensibilities of Prabal Gurung.

Exclusively made from Boll & Branch’s organic cotton fabric, the off-the-shoulder, daffodil yellow gown is inspired by the brightness and softness of flowers in the garden. The silhouette features a plunging neckline and bands of hand-cut bias organic cotton in a degrade of sizes, all hand-sewn onto a base to create a unique textile with the fabric. An off-the-shoulder taffeta opera cape, featuring rosette detail and train, completes the look. Approximately 20 yards of Boll & Branch fabric and over 300 hours went into the making of the dress.

“When I heard about the Sleeping Beauties theme, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be iconic to do something metaphorical by partnering with someone in that world who really understands materials?’” says Gurung. “Normally for Met Gala moments, we use silks and duchess satins. Boll & Branch has the most luxurious, finest cotton that I've ever seen and ever touched. I grew up in India, so finding a cotton fabric made in an exceptionally luxurious way felt like the chicest expression of this theme and a beautiful way to tie-in our values.”

Beyond the design partnership, Prabal Gurung and Boll & Branch share strong guiding principles centered on sustainability, traceability, philanthropy, and impact. The two brands have common roots in South Asia; Prabal remains deeply connected to his Nepalese heritage, a source of inspiration for him from both a business and creative perspective. Boll & Branch sources the majority of its 100% organic cotton from family-owned farms in India, and partners with the best weavers in the world, lifting everyone up with fair wages and safe working conditions.

“Prabal and I both approach design with relentless consideration to create pieces that are not just beautiful, they’re soulful,” says Missy Tannen, Founder & Chief Product Officer at Boll & Branch. “The magic of our partnership comes from a shared passion for process and time-honored craft. Together, we drew the most exceptional characteristics out of the finest natural material on earth—and made a statement worthy of the biggest night in fashion.”