Designer Stella McCartney showcased a collection without any wool at Paris Fashion Week, using the platform to renew her decades-long push for animal welfare in fashion.
"There is no wool on the runway this season, and I'm proud of that," McCartney said after presenting her show. The collection featured ocean-inspired clothing and alternatives to traditional animal fibres, including Brewed Protein, a fermented cashmere and wool substitute developed with Japanese biotech firm Spiber. McCartney first introduced the material in her collections a year ago.
The timing reflects a renewed focus on wool production practices. A recent incident at New York Fashion Week, when Steven Kolb, president of the fashion week's governing body, physically restrained a Peta protester at a catwalk show, has put animal cruelty concerns back into public conversation. Wool production practices, previously seen as a niche concern compared to the fur industry, have moved into the spotlight.
McCartney has advocated for animal rights at fashion week for 30 years, often standing alone in her stance. She framed her commitment in moral terms, saying "kindness requires real work."