Stella McCartney Takes Vogue Behind the Scenes at COP26
Stella McCartney is all too familiar with the whirlwind of fashion month, but more recently, she’s been getting used to rubbing shoulders with world leaders as well. “My new political career is flourishing,” she joked while in Glasgow for COP26 this week. “I didn’t study that at [Central] Saint Martins, funnily enough.”
After meeting the likes of U.S. president Joe Biden at the G7 summit over the summer, the designer has been attending the United Nations climate conference to once again highlight the urgent need for fashion to reduce its impact on the planet. “Coming here to COP has been really great for me, because I’ve been laughed at for the majority of my career,” the designer told the British Fashion Council’s Caroline Rush during a UN panel this week.
McCartney has been reiterating the need for more regulation and policy to support the industry, particularly when it comes to incentivizing brands to make more environmentally-friendly choices. She’s also been campaigning for fashion to stop the use of both animal leather and furs—a call she admitted might be considered controversial. “Even now, I think I’m getting some negative backlash being here and talking about this,” she said.
Showcasing some of the vegan alternatives on offer, the designer displayed a series of new-gen materials—from Mylo leather made from mushroom roots to Evrnu, a fully recyclable fibeR made of discarded clothing—at her Future of Fashion installation at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which was visited by Prince Charles and actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio.
Ensuring fashion is on the map when it comes to the broader climate conversation, the designer has also been sharing the stage with activists like Vanessa Nakate, as well as John Kerry, the U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, and legendary marine biologist Sylvia Earle.
Below, McCartney takes Vogue behind the scenes of her COP26 experience.
- Courtesy of Stella McCartney1/10
“I arrived at COP26 ready to represent the fashion industry—one of the most polluting in the world. I was on a mission to attract the attention of those who have the power to make real change through policies, incentives and investments supporting nature-positive innovation. I also asked everyone to sign my petition urging people to stop the use of animal leather and fur, and pledge to consciously reduce the amount of animal-based products that they consume in order to combat the climate and biodiversity crises. Leathers, skins and some furs come from animal agriculture, which contributes up to 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As a consequence, this is driving climate change and species extinction by clearing vital ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest.”
Courtesy of Stella McCartney2/10“Mushrooms are the future of fashion! I was so inspired by our collaboration with Bolt Threads and their vegan Mylo mycelium un-leather, I wanted the center of my COP26 installation to be a living sculpture of mushrooms. We also showcased the world’s first Mylo garments and my Frayme Mylo bag, which featured on our summer 2022 catwalk recently, and I plan to begin selling it next year! I love that people got to see Mylo up close and discover how soft and realistic it is. Honestly, the environmental benefits are basically endless. Leather production is a huge, huge contributor to the climate, biodiversity and human rights crises, with [research from 2017 finding that] 90% of Bangladeshi tannery workers [were] dying before the age of 50. This must stop. Mylo is proof we no longer need to compromise by using animal leather and fur.”
Courtesy of Stella McCartney3/10“I was joined at my Future of Fashion installation by our material innovation partners Dan Widmaier, founder of Bolt Threads; Baran Kayhan, vice president of Soktas, our regenerative farming partners; and Stacy Flynn, founder of Evrnu, who are helping me to tackle the fashion industry’s waste issue by regenerating old garments into new textiles. Together, we hosted a panel discussing the importance of material innovation and the urgent need for governments and brands to invest in these new technologies in order for them to scale and become more accessible to all.”
Photo: Courtesy of Stella McCartney4/10“Here I am at my Future of Fashion installation with HRH the Prince of Wales, explaining our material innovations and the urgent need for climate action. His Royal Highness was excited to learn about our innovative technologies—including the first-ever vegan football boot, the Predator Freak, that we created with our partners Adidas and legendary footballer Paul Pogba. We also spoke about the need for fashion to stop using animal leather and fur; a cause I have been fighting for since day one and, if we want to hit our 2030 climate goals, we cannot wait another moment.”
Courtesy of Stella McCartney5/10“Cycling around Glasgow on my custom Stella Shared 3 x Cannondale bike, which launched this week! I have been a lifelong cyclist and ride my bike to work every day, so I thought it was only appropriate to bring my new cycle to my office for the week at COP26. We need to take care of the health of people and planet, after all.”
- Courtesy of Stella McCartney6/10
“Here I am in conversation with Caroline Rush of the British Fashion Council. We discussed the need for collaboration and systems-level thinking to help control fashion’s climate issues and the need for revised policy changes, incentives, and tariffs to create the right business conditions for our market to flourish.”
Courtesy of Stella McCartney7/10“Between events, I managed to fit in some press interviews. I have always said that education is key, and I believe it’s so important to spread the word on the real impacts of the fashion industry and just how damaging it is. How else will we shift the minds and habits of the public? Consumers should also be curious, ask questions and demand transparency from brands because right now, so many are getting away with murder!”
Courtesy of Time8/10“I took part in a panel discussion alongside living legends Al Gore, Dr Sylvia Earle and John Kerry—all of whom I’ve long admired for their ongoing commitment to the planet. Meeting Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate for the first time was also major, especially after hearing about her ongoing campaigning to support the Congo Basin rainforest and Uganda’s urgent climate issues. What an inspiring reminder of the power of the next generation to be the voices of tomorrow – and they were out in full force at COP26! Younger people will suffer the consequences of climate change and are so much more aware of it as a problem, but also its potential solutions. When they speak, we owe it to them to listen.”
Gerardo Jaconelli9/10“Model and activist Arizona Muse and environmental activist Alice Aedy of Earthrise Studio hosted a walkthrough of my Future of Fashion installation for local students from Glasgow. As I said [before], we must involve the next generation if we ever hope to beat the climate crisis. Their energy and enthusiasm give me hope not only for the future of fashion, but Mother Earth.”
Courtesy of Stella McCartney10/10“Over and out, COP. I’m excited and nervous all at the same time to see what outcomes the negotiations bring. The future of the planet starts here.”
