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By Angie Jackson

Photo from MSU News: MultimediaLast night, movie fanatics tuned in to the Oscars to see if their favorite film would receive recognition. And if they could keep still for three hours, they watched the showcase of glam, glitz and fashion faux pas to hit the red carpet.

This year, senior Jillian Granz helped turn that infamous carpet green with a dress design that spotlights eco-friendly beauty. Her elegant design was worn by actress Suzy Amis Cameron, wife of Avatar director James Cameron.

The opportunity for Granz’ design to be featured in the 82^nd annual Oscars came to life when she entered a contest for a class. The contest, created by Cameron, required designers to create an aesthetically pleasing gown entirely from natural or organic materials. Two weeks after entering, Granz received a call from Cameron personally, and she has been thrust into a whirlwind of excitement ever since.

Out of over one million entries from around the world, the design spoke to Cameron, who told Granz that she “kept coming back to her dress.” Despite the hype that surrounded the win, Granz said she remained surprisingly calm.

“People asked me what I won,” she said. “Well, I never would’ve thought in a million years that I’d win so I didn’t even look at the site when I entered.”

The contest challenged Granz to stray from her habitual design habits and cultivate elegance that Mother Nature would applaud. Before entering, her definition of sustainability didn’t extend far beyond recycling, but thanks to the contest, she now has a few eco-friendly techniques under her belt.

Photo from MSU News: Multimedia“The research is what I spent the most time on. I looked up different cutting techniques and ways to dye fabric,” she said. After hours of research, Granz chose a no-waste pattern, a method that turns each scrap of fabric into design. She also suggested the dress be made from peace silk, a fabric that exhibits celebrity-worthy elegance but doesn’t kill any silkworms in the process.

“It was really difficult because there’s a fine line between fabrics that are sustainable and those that aren’t eco-friendly,” Granz said. But it was worth the challenge. Amidst a surge of media attention, she visited California for the first time to meet Cameron. Her four-day itinerary in The Golden State brought her to an eco-friendly elementary school co-founded by Cameron, and to a pre-Oscar party to reveal her dress design.

But Granz said most thrilling about the experience was the chance to collaborate with a professional designer at multiple fittings, which is something most college designers don’t have on their résumés.

Now that the Oscars are over, Granz is back to the demands of an average college student. She’s unsure of what she’ll do once she graduates in May, but not many 21-year-olds can say they’ve attracted celebrity praise. Granz said she hopes the unexpected win will inspire other young designers to dream big.

“For someone to wear my dress to the Academy Awards is super sweet,” she said. “If I can do it, someone else can too.”

For more updates on Jillian’s experience, check out her blog.