Stella McCartney Rules the Runway With Animal-Friendly Spring Collection

Stella McCartney just presented her stellar spring/summer 2018 collection at Paris Fashion Week, and it was replete with vegan leather, mock croc, and faux snakeskin. PETA Veep and Stella’s buddy Dan Mathews was there to support her and got to hear all the resounding accolades, but rather than describing how fashion critics and reporters are reacting to the animal-friendly catwalk, we’ll let you hear it straight from them.

[H]er shoes … are so desirable that they often outsell the ready to wear collection—not in spite of their “faux” fabrications, but because of them. —The Telegraph

McCartney is creating a lot of good will around her. It’s satisfying to report that she doubled down on her eco commitments on the runway, as well. McCartney was an early believer in the viability of faux leather in the designer market. For years, her endeavors in this area were mostly reserved for bags and shoes, but this time around she used the material—Skin-Free Skin, she calls it—for clothes, and it was surprisingly supple-looking on pieces like a clingy black twist-front top and a pair of caramel-colored trousers with the loose, relaxed fit of sweats. —Vogue

The designer continues to break down barriers by showing how ethical clothing can hold its own on high-end catwalks. —The Guardian

Although it was effectively used on trousers and skirts in the collection, accessories are where McCartney’s alter leathers really come into their own. A crocodile effect worked particularly well on masculine sandals, and those pixie boots were made from alter suede as well as denim and linen. Cross body bags were particularly eye catching too, with tactile macrame-style straps.  —Evening Standard

Stella McCartney’s spring/summer 2018 collection was a masterclass in modern dressed-down style. —British Vogue

Stella didn’t just show industry insiders animal skin–free fashion—she also made them fall in love with it. What else would we expect from one of PETA’s favourite gal pals, who speaks out about the cruelty behind leather, fur, and alligator skin? One reporter kindly noted her mission of “saving the world.”  We have a feeling she’ll take that.

*****

Are you inspired by Stella? Watch PETA’s exposé of alligator- and crocodile-skin suppliers, then tell Hermès to start killing it on the runway instead of killing stunning exotic animals.