Stella McCartney used a rain-soaked runway in the British ambassador’s gardens during Paris Fashion Week to declare war on the fishing industry, marking 25 years of a label that has never used leather, fur, or feathers. Front-row guests including Jennifer Lopez watched models walk to PJ Harvey’s murder ballad "Down by the Water" while wearing a collection crafted from 100% responsible materials, including recycled denim and a black pigment grown from algae.
Stella McCartney Targets Fishing Industry Practices at Paris Fashion Week
The designer opened her show by taking direct aim at commercial fishing vocabulary and practices. McCartney stated backstage that the industry creates a false division by labeling animals "sea life" when people marvel at them and "seafood" when they order them from a menu.
Describing the industry as an active conflict, McCartney said, “It’s war. We’re at war with the oceans.” She noted that single fish plates come at a heavy environmental cost, as commercial nets routinely scoop up dolphins and octopuses while discarding the majority of the catch dead over the side.
Sustainable Fabrics and Material Innovations on the Runway
While the message was blunt, the clothing made its case through softer tones and flowing silhouettes. The color palette drew from coastal shades, running through seafoam, sage, coral, blush, and chocolate. Tailoring nods to Edward Sexton, with whom McCartney trained on Savile Row, appeared as oversized blazers threaded with drawstrings—a functional rain-jacket trick adapted for office wear.
The house produced the ready-to-wear collection using 100% responsible materials. These included:
- Recycled cotton denim
- Organic cotton and silk
- A black pigment cultivated from algae rather than refined petroleum oil
- Certified wool traced directly back to individual farms
- Brewed Protein, a fermented wool alternative supplied by Japanese biotech firm Spiber since 2026
Industry Coalitions and Corporate Advisory Roles
The runway presentation follows a major push toward manufacturing scale for sustainable alternatives. A week prior to the Paris show, McCartney co-founded The Climate Pledge Fashion Coalition alongside Amazon and the forest nonprofit Canopy. The initiative pools orders from more than 60 companies to help sustainable materials reach commercial manufacturing scale.
Though McCartney bought back LVMH’s minority stake in her label last year, she maintains a close relationship with the luxury conglomerate. She continues to advise LVMH chief Bernard Arnault, noting that she counsels him on various sustainability strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 25th Anniversary Show
What materials were used in the Paris Fashion Week collection?
The collection featured 100% responsible materials, including recycled cotton denim, organic cotton, silk, algae-derived black pigment, farm-traced certified wool, and Brewed Protein, which is a fermented wool alternative created by Spiber.
Who attended the anniversary runway show?
Celebrities including Jennifer Lopez and Juliette Binoche watched from the front row under umbrellas in the British ambassador’s gardens, while models Karlie Kloss and Miranda Kerr walked the runway.
What is The Climate Pledge Fashion Coalition?
Co-founded by Stella McCartney with Amazon and the nonprofit Canopy, the coalition pools orders from over 60 companies to help sustainable textiles reach factory production scale.
Does Stella McCartney still work with LVMH?
Although McCartney bought back LVMH’s minority stake in her label, she continues to advise LVMH chief Bernard Arnault on corporate sustainability practices.
Related reading