Rama Duwaji Chooses Borrowed Fashion for New York Mayoral Swearing-In
At the mayoral swearing-in ceremony for Zohran Mamdani, New York's new first lady Rama Duwaji made a bold style statement. She opted for borrowed outfits, sparking fresh discussions about her intentional approach to fashion. This decision went beyond mere aesthetics, reflecting a raw and authentic sense of self while championing sustainability and circular fashion principles.
Details of the Outfits
The American-Syrian artist wore two distinct looks for the occasion. For the intimate swearing-in ceremony, Duwaji selected a rented vintage funnelneck Balenciaga wool coat from Albright Fashion Library. She paired it with wide-leg shorts on loan from The Frankie Shop and accessorised with gold vintage earrings borrowed from New York Vintage.
For the public inauguration and after-party, she donned a chocolate-brown funnel-neck faux-fur coat by Palestinian-Lebanese designer Cynthia Merhej from Renaissance. She completed this look with lace-up coffee-brown boots and silver earrings.
The Philosophy Behind the Choice
Duwaji's stylist Gabrielle Karefa-Johnson explained the reasoning in her newsletter. She noted that thrifting is a regular practice for Rama, describing her as an exceptionally savvy shopper. Renting second-life fashion felt like the most authentic way to approach such a significant moment. The process and result clearly showed her intention to appear as nothing other than herself.
This choice strongly resonates with the conscious, value-driven shopping mindset of the new generation. By opting for loaned pieces, Duwaji emphasised supporting independent and small businesses while making a compelling statement against fast fashion.
Understanding Circular Fashion
Circular fashion represents a sustainable and practical approach that challenges traditional clothing consumption patterns. It involves designing, using, and reusing garments for as long as possible through various methods:
- Repairing clothes to extend their lifespan
- Reselling owned items to give them new life
- Thrifting pre-owned garments
- Renting clothes instead of purchasing new ones
- Creatively repurposing or rewearing existing pieces
The primary aim is to reduce textile waste, conserve resources, and minimise environmental impact while still meeting demands for style and variety.
The Changing Perception of Rented Fashion
Re-wearing and renting outfits were once viewed as cheap or unfashionable, but attitudes are shifting dramatically. The new generation consciously embraces circular fashion, seeing it not just as a style choice but as an extension of personality. Fashion becomes a tool that communicates personal stories and values.
Celebrities Embracing Circular Fashion
As more public figures openly adopt circular fashion, it's being rebranded as a cool, conscious choice:
Cate Blanchett made a red-carpet appearance at the 2025 Venice Film Festival in a black floor-length Armani Privé gown she first wore back in 2022 at the SAG Awards.
Zendaya frequently sources vintage and archived pieces from small businesses. For the 2024 Met Gala, her second outfit was a vintage Givenchy couture gown from the spring 1996 collection, sourced from Los Angeles vintage boutique Lily et Cie rather than purchased new.
Alia Bhatt repurposed her ivory hand-dyed Sabyasachi wedding sari for the National Film Awards 2023 ceremony. She also re-wore her mehendi lehenga, custom-made by Manish Malhotra in 2022, for his Diwali bash in 2024. The designer noted this lehenga served as a strong example of sustainable fashion, created through upcycling fabric swatches and leftover embroidered patches from previous outfits.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu transformed her white wedding gown from 2017 into a striking black dress in April 2024. Working with designer Kresha Bajaj, she dyed the original fabric black, altered the silhouette, and added floral and crystal details. Samantha explained this transformation represented her conscious move toward sustainability and supporting longer use of existing garments.
