In 2001, Stella McCartney launched her eponymous luxury fashion house and showed her first collection in Paris that October. A lifelong vegetarian, she has never used leather, feathers, skin or fur in any of her designs since day one – a revolutionary stance, then and now. Since those first seeds were planted, the brand has continued to grow its sustainability thought leadership through material and supply chain innovation, partnerships and more.

Subsequent key highlights for the brand include launching the STELLA fragrance in 2003, the ongoing adidas by Stella McCartney athletic-wear partnership in September 2004 and the first lingerie collection in 2008. In Winter 2009, the iconic Falabella bag was introduced – distinguished by a braided chain detail, the vegan accessory now one of the fashion house’s best-selling items. Stella Kids was also launched that year and the sustainable fashion house additionally expanded into eco-friendly eyewear in 2011.

After 17 years of partnership, Stella purchased Kering’s stake in her company in 2018. Later that year, she designed Meghan Markle’s wedding reception dress and partnered with the United Nations on a sustainable fashion charter.

In 2019, Stella McCartney entered into a partnership with LVMH to further develop her brand, while retaining majority ownership. She will also serve as a special advisor on sustainability to Bernard Arnault and the conglomerate’s executive committee. Stella additionally became the first fashion designer ever to appear on the cover American Vogue in January 2020.