Stella McCartney pushes animal-free fashion message at Pompidou Center show

PARIS, Oct 3 (Reuters) – Stella McCartney sent her audience sitting outside in the courtyard of the Center Pompidou, sending out sensual dresses and smart, low-waisted trousers, with handbags made from leather alternatives.

“We’re proud to be eco-weirds and hope you’ll join us in our mission to end unnecessary animal deaths for fashion,” McCartney wrote in a show note detailing the environmental costs associated with using leather, such as water use, Amazon deforestation, and more. Carcinogenic skin chemicals.

Pressure continues to mount on fashion labels to improve their environmental credentials, especially as younger generations increasingly embrace second-hand clothing.

The red-haired model wore an ivory sweater spread across the hole and slightly frayed at the hem – with the message “Change History” emblazoned in red letters.

Jeans also had frayed hemlines and vegan leather patches for a chap-like effect, but otherwise the collection was very polished, with satin asymmetrical skirts and smart suits in bold colours.

Models criss-crossed the campus on yellow, red, or blue trails from the pipes attached to the front of the contemporary art institute.

Attendees went beyond the fashion set and included artist Jeff Koons, former basketball star Tony Parker and actor Jerry Seinfeld, while the designer’s father, Paul McCartney, sat next to LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault and his family.

Considered a trailblazer in eco-friendly fashion, McCartney eschewed leather early in her career. In 2001, she launched her brand Skin Free.

Her brand joined LVMH in 2019, offering to help accelerate the group’s efforts on the environmental front.

The label has added a vegan line of skin care products for the summer.

Reporting by Mimosa Spencer; Editing by Jonathan Otis

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