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Stella McCartney presents most sustainable collection to date

Lauretta Roberts
30 September 2019

Stella McCartney presented her most sustainable collection to date at Paris Fashion Week with 75% of the ready-to-wear classed as "eco friendly".

The British designer has long been an advocate of sustainable and animal-skin-free fashion but surpassed her own high standards. McCartney employed materials such as recycled polyester, organic cotton, sustainable viscose, recycled nylon ECONYL along with hemp and sustainable raffia.

All of the tailoring and knitwear in the SS20 collection is made from sustainable materials, such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, sustainable viscose, and responsible and traceable wool. All tailoring and outerwear is lined with an organic cotton and viscose blend. Some 90% of the cotton used was organic while 100% of the denim was organic or upcycled.

Stella McCartney

The bags were all sustainable with new raffia bags made by female artisans in Madagascar.

In her show notes, the designer, issued a challenge to the rest of the fashion industry to improve its practices. "The world is crying out for a change and it is our responsibility to act now. The younger generation are standing up and telling us our house is on fire.

"At Stella McCartney we challenge the industry every day to be better, questioning things as they are and driving change. I invite you all to join me in this fight, feeling encouraged, hopeful, fearless – because we can build a better future together," she said.

McCartney began her label in 2001 in partnership with the then Gucci Group (now Kering). From the outset she refused to work with leather and fur, which was at that time almost unheard of in a luxury house.

Stella McCartney

Over the years she has racked up a number of sustainable and cruelty free milestones such as banning angora and mohair, along with virgin cashmere. All glues used are animal free and since 2012 the brand has been PVC free, to name just a few achievements.

Last year McCartney parted ways with Kering buying back the 50% stake the luxury conglomerate held; this year she joined forces with Kering's main rival LVMH, which took a minority stake in her business, and pledged to drive sustainability further still.

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