Cannes Red Carpet Finds Glamorous Second Life as Bags, Hats and Slippers

MARSEILLE, 5 June 2025 (BSS/AFP) – After being graced by the footsteps of global icons such as Tom Cruise, Rihanna, and Robert De Niro, the iconic red carpets of the Cannes Film Festival are getting a second chance at life—this time, as fashion accessories.

Each day of the 12-day festival, fresh carpets were rolled out and later replaced, culminating in over 1.5 tonnes of lush red material. Instead of being discarded, this glamorous waste has been handed over to La Réserve des Arts, a non-profit in Marseille that specialises in upcycling materials from the entertainment and fashion industries.

From Catwalk to Craftwork

In a warehouse in Marseille’s disadvantaged northern suburbs, rolls of Cannes carpet now sit stacked on pallets or bundled in black refuse sacks. Some show scuffs, others sport small punctures—remnants of the stiletto-studded parade of celebrities. But for La Réserve des Arts, these marks are merely the starting point of reinvention.

“By reconditioning the carpets, we’re reducing the environmental impact of the event,” said Jeanne Re, coordinator at the charity. “It’s something the festival is increasingly aware of.”

The organisation’s mission is to give new life to materials that might otherwise end up in landfills—a growing concern in the era of eco-conscious living, especially when it comes to high-profile, high-consumption events like Cannes.

Yet, not everyone is entirely convinced. Some environmental groups argue that such “second-life” schemes risk becoming mere greenwashing, distracting from the larger need to reduce consumption in the first place.

The Price of Prestige

La Réserve des Arts is reselling the carpet at an astonishingly low rate of €1 per kilo—equivalent to just €0.33 per square metre. The goal is affordability and accessibility for artists, designers, and creators who are part of their network.

Cannes Red Carpet Repurposing — Key Details

Art, Style, and Sustainability

Artist Elsa Ramouni-Yordikian, a long-time collaborator with the upcycling charity, has turned red carpet remnants into a series of stylish pieces, including bucket hats, handbags, wine bottle carriers, and more.

“The fact that it comes from a famous festival and is recycled locally—that makes perfect sense to us,” she said.

Her collection, created under the label Les Nippones, was recently exhibited in Marseille in a showcase aptly titled “Dress Like a Movie Star”.

She stressed the importance of reusing synthetic materials like those in the carpets:

“Production will never stop. There will always be festivals and trade shows—so we need to keep finding creative ways to give materials new value.”

Glamour on the Ground

The 2025 Cannes Film Festival closed on 24 May, with Iranian dissident director Jafar Panahi claiming the top prize for his politically charged film It Was Just an Accident.

The red carpet, as always, was a focal point of celebrity fashion. Among the A-listers to grace the steps were:

• Tom Cruise
• Rihanna, accompanied by rapper A$AP Rocky
• Halle Berry
• Scarlett Johansson
• Robert De Niro

Now, thanks to La Réserve des Arts and inspired creators, fragments of that world-famous carpet are set to reappear—not in front of flashbulbs, but in everyday life, reinvented with flair and purpose.