The battle to banish fur from fashion has almost been won, with nearly all luxury brands ditching it and Stella McCartney now on a mission to save birds.
“15 billion birds are killed for their feathers every year in the fashion industry,” the designer said backstage at a street catwalk show held in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, launching a campaign to spotlight bird abuse. I launched it.
“I don’t think you necessarily think that birds were killed when you see a pretty feather trim or a down jacket stuffed with down. And we all love birds, right? For some reason we don’t really like cows. So when it comes to leather, it’s a different story. But birds are beautiful, and it’s time to bring this issue to the attention of the industry.”
By some estimates, one million ostriches are killed every year, and South Africa’s ostrich industry emits 62,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Plumed angel wings have been an iconic look on the Victoria’s Secret catwalk for decades. Animal rights group Peta claimed that 620,000 chicken, pheasant and ostrich feathers were used in one fashion show.
The good news for McCartney came on the same day he unveiled his Peace and Dove collection. Victoria’s Secret announced this week that its October 15th show will feature only artificial feathers.
Earlier this year, Copenhagen Fashion Week, a leader in ethical fashion, announced a ban on the use of feathers for all designers exhibiting there.
In front of an audience that included former Chanel creative director Virginie Viard, who wore a faux-fur bomber jacket by Stella McCartney, the show opened with a narration of Helen Mirren’s new manifesto. Singing in the trees will never lift your spirits. ”
Doves were hand-painted on silk blouses and dresses, and Prince’s “When Doves Cry” played on the soundtrack. McCartney’s long-standing strategy has been to find realistic camouflage in leather, fur, and animal hides to keep the appeal intact.
The collection featured ultra-realistic, feathery, pastel-coloured mini-dresses, and the models were extremely leggy and looked like newly hatched chicks, even though they were wearing stilettos. Ta. However, these are made from peek-a-boo recycled nylon, woven into a powder puff-like texture to resemble feathers, but made from recycled plastic bottle caps. The dove-themed jewelry was made from recycled electronic waste.
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I also looked at other creatures. A new cruelty-free handbag, the Rider features a gently undulating top zipper, inspired by the slope of a horse’s spine. (McCartney’s perennial best-selling handbag, the Falabella, is named after her favorite pony.)
The ‘Crocodile Rider’ is made from apple waste vegan leather with linen lining. “What makes Stella a woman, or any Stella person, different is that she is curious about the world and sees fashion from a different perspective,” the designer said after the show. “The time has come to take a bird’s-eye view.”
