Stella, Sustainability, and Textile Science

Yesterday, Stella McCartney debuted her Spring/Summer 2026 collection, “Come Together,” at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, turning the iconic museum into a stage for both fashion and purpose.

The show opened with a memorable, almost cinematic moment: Academy Award-winning Helen Mirren recited The Beatles’ classic “Come Together,” transforming the song into a heartfelt call for unity. (A special nod to an undoubtedly proud dad, Sir Paul McCartney!)

The collection itself was a masterclass in responsible fashion: 98 percent conscious, 100 percent cruelty-free, and completely free of leather, fur, feathers, or exotic skins.

Two innovations dominated the narrative. FEVVERS, a plant-based feather alternative, brought lightness, layering, and expressive movement to corseted gowns. PURE.TECH, a programmable fabric that captures and neutralises pollutants like CO₂ and NOₓ, was applied to deconstructed denim pieces, creating garments that actively clean the air.

Stella McCartney has long been a trailblazer in environmental responsibility. Since launching her label in 2001, she has championed cruelty-free materials, circular design, and material innovation.

Beyond these headline-grabbing innovations, Stella’s house continues to work with materials like Bananatex (from abaca plants), Mirum (plant-based leather), regenerated cashmere, organic cotton, and recycled polyester. Sustainability extends to end-of-life programs, where products are recycled into new materials, and through initiatives like the SOS Fund, which backs innovative projects in the fashion ecosystem.

Yet while the mission is serious, the show itself radiated energy and fun. Models moved with exhilarating speed under vivid lighting, making the runway feel like a celebration as much as a statement.

For us, this is what sustainability in fashion looks like at its best: forward-thinking, bold, and unapologetically purposeful.