Stella McCartney’s Commitment to Sustainable Fashion

Malin Phelan
Jan 2, 2022
3 min read

Author: Liza Strong '24

Increasingly in the last decade, people have recognized the harm of fast fashion on the environment. To minimize their carbon footprint, people look to sustainable clothing when shopping, as eco-friendly fashion reduces the number of microfibers and toxic waste released into the environment. Stella McCartney is one woman who has helped to pioneer the sustainable and ethical fashion movement. McCartney began her career in fashion designing in 2001, and since then, she has encouraged people to shop sustainably while also maintaining a creative sense of style.

Stella McCartney was born in London and graduated from Central St Martins, a university of the arts, in 1995. As a student, she had always envisioned “bold aesthetics” and “masculine energy” in womenswear (Stella McCartney). In 1997, McCartney became the Creative Director of Chloé in Paris, and by 2001, she had launched her own luxury fashion house. From 2001 to today, McCartney has had tremendous success. In 2003, she launched her “STELLA” fragrance, and the next year, she partnered with Adidas to create athletic wear. In 2009, she introduced her vegan and very popular “Falabella” bag. That same year, she launched “Stella Kids” and created eco-friendly glasses in 2011. McCartney was appointed Great Britain’s Creative Director for the 2012 London Summer Olympics and created apparel for all of the Olympic competitions. In 2016, McCartney was the team’s Creative Director again for the Olympic Games in Rio. That same year, she launched her first-ever swimwear collection, and in 2017, she created a menswear collection. In 2018, she launched the Stella McCartney Cares Foundation, a non-profit that supports sustainability and breast cancer awareness. Later that year, McCartney designed Meghan Markle’s wedding reception dress, and in 2019, she partnered with Louis Vuitton. She became the first fashion designer ever to appear on the cover of Vogue in 2020. Stella McCartney’s brand is sold in 77 nations and ships to 100 countries.

McCartney’s desire to create both sustainable and stylish clothing stemmed from her numerous negative encounters with organic fabrics. She describes textiles widely used in the fashion industry as “scratchy and oatmeal-y” (Clothes Doctor). McCartney has four fundamental values that she keeps in mind while designing: respect for nature, respect for people, respect for animals, and circular solutions. McCartney uses sustainable materials like organic cotton and forest fibers in her clothing. Her 863 specialty shops and department stores use solar panels and LEDs for energy as well as recyclable materials for packaging. McCartney ensures that everyone working for her company is treated well and has fair working hours. Additionally, McCartney “promotes cruelty free methods and treats animals and their habitats with respect” (Motif). She refuses to use leather, feathers, or fur in her designs. McCartney supports circular fashion through her use of “regenerative and restorative production methods” (Motif). She uses ethically sourced wool, regenerated cashmere, and recycled cloth. McCartney’s latest Fall 2021 Ready-To-Wear embodies all of these values and sustainable commitments.

Stella McCartney is driven to make a positive impact on our environment, which makes her such an important visionary. McCartney brings knowledge to the fashion industry and provides buyers with a “more informed way of purchasing” (Hobbs). For example, McCartney shares information with consumers about the harm of viscose, one of the most popular fabrics used in the fashion industry, which comes from wood pulp. Each year, an average of 150 million trees are cut down to create viscose, which is extremely detrimental to the environment. As an alternative solution, her brand obtains viscose pulp from a sustainable forest in Sweden. McCartney incentivizes her industry to be greener and encourages people to be mindful of what they consume. McCartney’s label is proof that it is possible to create fashion-forward clothing while also protecting the environment. Her influence on the fashion industry is admirable. For over 20 years, McCartney has brought ethical awareness to the industry and has inspired designers worldwide to be environmentally conscious.