Go Green | The Stella McCartney Kids' Commitment to Sustainability

As a significant producer of unrecyclable materials and polluting toxic chemicals, which you can read more about in our sustainable fabrics post, the fashion industry has a duty of care regarding the climate crisis. Designer Stella McCartney takes that duty of care seriously and is setting the bar for other luxury fashion houses. 

Stella McCartney has been on a mission to reduce their environmental impact year on year, and one of the ways they do this is by measuring their emissions across supply chains. In 2014, for example, they found that despite making up only 0.1% of their materials, cashmere accounted for a whopping 42% of their raw materials' environmental impact. This discovery led to the decision to switch to re-engineered/non-virgin cashmere, and over the following two years, they managed to reduce this down to 11%. 

Already using a wide variety of sustainable fabrics, Stella McCartney is always looking to improve their existing practices without compromising quality. They are committed to caring for nature and reducing their environmental impact, spanning from research into new sustainable systems, to implementing many closed-loop policies ensuring their clothing can be recycled and not end up in a landfill. Being more environmentally responsible doesn't mean a reduction in quality; the latest collection for kids features fast-drying and technical materials with swimwear made from recycled fabrics that offer SPF50 protection!

Since 2012, Stella McCartney have been a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative. The ETI is a network of NGO's, companies, and trade unions committed to improving workers rights across the globe. 

Respect for everyone involved in their supply chain is integral to Stella McCartney's mission statement. Their devotion to positive impact and sustainability extends far beyond their raw materials, with a core belief that “the future of fashion relies on people”. It includes respect and a fair wage for the farmers who grow the crops for their materials. It means fair wages and working conditions for the people who use the materials to make their clothes. They aim to treat every life touched by their supply chain with dignity and respect.  

Stella McCartney carefully selects their suppliers, many of who are artisanal makers specialising in their field. Currently, 76% of their manufacturing and material suppliers are in Italy, though they also source from small specialist manufacturers in Hungary, China, Spain, Portugal, and India, to name a few. Ethical audits give them an overview, and they back up their work by offering training to suppliers about their "requirements as well as common social sustainability challenges". ​​​​​​​

Being kind and respectful to animals has been a central focus of the Stella McCartney brand since their inception, with the McCartney family being prominent animal rights advocates. The brand is both fur and leather-free and holds a firm belief that animals are our friends, so we must protect them and their environment at all costs. In our interview with Stella McCartney herself, she spoke about how in some countries like the US she can face higher taxes for using faux-leather in her collection, but she refuses to go against her beliefs and ethics to save money. 

Proudly cruelty-free, imagination and friendship take centre-stage in this collection and aptly named Best Friends Fur Life. The concept comes to life in their imagery, which pairs each child with their very own "creature companion," with the core message being "animals are friends - not fashion!"