Women We Love: Stella McCartney
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Stella McCartney
There are certain women in this world that we love for their style, their intellect, and their passion. Stella McCartney is one of those women. She is a creative who has made her mark in the industry and does it all while being environmentally conscious. We admire her design sensibility and her commitment to sustainability.
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Image Courtesy of Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney (born September 13, 1971, in London, England) is a British fashion designer known primarily for her fur-free and leather-free apparel. Stella McCartney is the daughter of Sir Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney, a noted photographer and animal-rights activist. She worked for a time at the French couture house Christian Lacroix and as an intern at British Vogue before enrolling in Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design, London. McCartney subsequently rose quickly to the forefront of the international fashion world, and in 1997 she was hired by the Vendôme Luxury Group to revitalize its 45-year-old design label, Chloé. McCartney succeeded in reestablishing Chloé as a desirable brand; its sales increased markedly. Her first collection silenced critics, and her 2001 Paris offerings—silk pants set off by midriff-baring tops, body-hugging jeans paired with tunic tops or jackets, and faux-fur coats and jeweled vests—cemented her professional reputation. McCartney also brought a celebrity cult following to the brand, notably Madonna, actresses Kate Hudson, Liv Tyler, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kate Moss.
In 2001, after protracted negotiations with McCartney, the Italian luxury goods conglomerate Gucci (owned by PPR, later renamed Kering) announced that it would participate in a joint venture to launch a new design label produced under McCartney's name. Following demands made by McCartney, a lifelong vegetarian, no leather or fur—both central design elements for Gucci—were to be used in the products. McCartney later designed the uniforms worn by athletes representing Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. In 2018 she created the reception dress Meghan Markle wore after her wedding to Prince Harry.
Also, in 2018 McCartney became the sole owner of her line after acquiring Kering's 50 percent stake in the business. However, in 2019 she entered a partnership with LVMH Moët Hennessy–Louis Vuitton, the largest luxury products company in the world. As part of the deal, she retained a majority stake in her brand.
Image Courtesy of Adidas and Stella McCartney
The Fashion Awards 2017, in partnership with Swarovski, awarded Stella McCartney a Special Recognition Award for Innovation, celebrating her outstanding contribution to the fashion industry. McCartney was honored for her commitment to sustainable fashion, material innovation, and utilizing her influence to create a positive environmental impact on the industry. Her constant investment in a responsible, authentic and modern business makes her one of the industry's most respected designers. In 2018, The Business of Fashion presented the Global VOICES Award 2018 to Stella McCartney for outstanding achievement in fashion and exemplary impact on the wider world.
"Every free single industry sharing this Earth needs to look at itself and be responsible, mindful, and at the same time still have a healthy business at the end of the day. What is exciting about The New Textiles Economy Report is that it provides solutions to an industry that is incredibly harmful to the environment; these are problems that people are unaware of." - Stella McCartney, 2017
Timeline:
2001 - No leather, feathers, fur, or skin since day one 2008 - Began using organic cotton
2010 - Went completely PVC free
2012 - Introduced bio-acetate in Stella Eyewear, started using recycled polyester, launched Clean by Design in our Italian mills, banned plastic water bottles, ensured all of our wood was sustainably certified, joined the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)
2013 - Stopped using angora, introduced eco Alter Nappa, began using solar panels and LEDs in our stores
2014 - Ensured that all of our paper and cardboard packaging was certified as sustainable
2016 - Achieved 100% sustainable viscose, ceased use of virgin cashmere
2017 - Launched the first garment made with Bolt Threads' Microsilk™️ and introduced Econyl® regenerated nylon
2018 - Banned the use of mohair, launched the Loop sneaker, committed to going plastic free, released the first vegan Stan Smith, and created the first handbag made with Bolt Thread's Mylo™️ mushroom leather
2019 - Adidas by Stella McCartney launched the first-ever garments made with Evrnu's NuCycle™️ yarn and KOBA® Fur Free Fur, a sustainable, recyclable animal alternative made from recycled polyester and plant-based plastics
2020 - Announced McCartney A to Z Manifesto, defining and guiding our sustainable vision, debuted Coreva™ biodegradable stretch denim, bio-lenses in Stella McCartney eyewear, bio-acetate frames in Stella Kids eyewear and launched Stellawear – a sustainable innovation fusing underwear and swimwear, made from Aquafil Econyl® regenerated nylon and ROICA™ elastane
2021 - Released world's first-ever garments made from Bolt Thread's Mylo™️ mushroom leather, launched Air Slide made from recycled industrial waste
2022 - After pioneering conscious luxury fashion, Stella McCartney is now committed to sharing a responsible alternative to luxury skincare, an Alter-Care™.
Image Courtesy of Stella McCartney
2023 - In recognition of her work in fashion, sustainability, Stella McCartney was invested as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by His Majesty The King.
