Next-gen footwear

As consumers become more conscious of social and environmental responsibility within the fashion industry, the spotlight on sustainability is shining brighter than ever. But when a brand has committed itself to lofty eco-friendly standards from its very beginning, you know it’s a name you can trust. Since its launch in 2001, British label Stella McCartney has uncompromisingly held true to the core values of its eponymous – and famously lifelong vegetarian – designer. Its dedication to eco-awareness speaks for itself: a complete ban of animal by-products; a mission statement to reduce its impact on nature; and a vocal support of many important causes, including fair wages and responsible supply chains.

“I’m working on changing things that are currently conventional in my industry; it’s one of the things that really excites me,” explains McCartney. “In design, we focus a lot on changing a color or a silhouette, but to change the sourcing mindset or manufacturing mindset is also really critical to me. I try to think outside of the box in the way that I approach the business of fashion, as well as the creativity in fashion. I try to make the effort to be more mindful and responsible, and thus having a more modern approach because of it.”

This sense of mindfulness and modernity is perfectly exemplified by Stella McCartney’s Eclypse sneaker. For Fall 2018, this pumped-up style in bold ’80s-inflected colors, with its chunky, textured sole, nails fashion’s current love of nostalgia, while making it the ideal way to complement the season’s sporty midi and mini dresses. But the best part? This best-selling design is completely cruelty-free, crafted from non-leather materials including alter-nappa and alter-micro suede and an innovative coating made from vegetable oil, which is a renewable natural resource.

“Sustainability is everything, essentially. And without it we have nothing,” says the designer. “It’s really the fashion industry that’s being left behind in this conversation. Everyone else is in the room, everyone is coming to the table with something to say, and every other industry has to take this into account. And even if they don’t care, they have to be accountable because the customer requires it of them and the customer now has to require it of the fashion industry.”

Simply put, Stella McCartney is the very definition of style and substance.