![[flourish]](http://ethicalstyle.com/wp-content/themes/es/images/topFlourish.png)
![[flourish]](http://ethicalstyle.com/wp-content/themes/es/images/leftFlourish.png)
Stella McCartney Calls Other Designers ‘Heartless’
Famously vegan British designer Stella McCartney has come out swinging at other style setters who use leather and fur in their designs, reports My Fashion Life:
The popular British designer and vocal vegetarian – who refuses to use fur and leather in her collections – thinks the fashion industry is heartless for continuing to use animals for aesthetic purposes.
“People in fashion just don’t want to hear the messages. I find it astounding, because fashion is supposed to be about change – I mean, we’re supposed to be at the cutting edge,” she told the Guardian.
“I can only think people don’t care as much as people in other industries. So, yes, I think people in fashion are pretty heartless.”
While Stella is entitled to her opinion, it’s a dangerous precedent to slam other designers for not adhering to your ideals.
For starters, many of Stella’s dresses are made from silk, which necessitates the boiling of silkworms to harvest the cocoons without tearing the silk thread. And a large number of McCartney’s pieces are manufactured in China, including her entire collection for retailer H&M. I’m sure there are people who are fine with wearing leather but not OK with using cheap foreign labor or buying disposable clothing at fast-fashion outlets.
![[flourish]](http://ethicalstyle.com/wp-content/themes/es/images/botFlourish.png)
Stella has a point. Is it necessary to be perfect, as long as you’re trying to make an impact somewhere? More fashion houses, as well as all businesses, need to try more. Not many fashion houses even use organic fabrics, let alone care about animals. Fashion textile production produces a lot of toxic runoff and waste and it is good that someone speaks up and starts the conversation. Wouldn’t it be better to ask Stella if she plans on changing her use of silk, instead of making threats? “It’s a dangerous precedent…” was your comment. Why is it dangerous? Are you going to mess her up? Do you think people will stop buying her stuff? I don’t – I’m more inclined to buy her stuff, now. Rather than being angry, other designers should hang their heads, and then get to work to source more eco/ethical materials. I’m surprised at your snarky response since your site supports so much eco fashion. You should be supporting her statement, not getting defensive about it.
Comment by Be A Green Bean — October 7, 2009 @ 3:22 am
I agree with the reporter. It is not okay for a designer or anyone to impose their ideas and opinions on someone else, much less other designers/artists. I guess I am a little confused by the hypocrisy of using animal products (silk) and condemning it at the same time.
Comment by Candy — October 7, 2009 @ 7:32 am
Nail on the head. I am not a vegetarian and have no problem using leather and fur in clothing. I however am not in favor of designing with cheap oil based fabrics made by an exploited labor force. I admire Stella’s stance and steadfastness in her beliefs, but perhaps her comment was taken a bit out of context. There’s always more to the story and we should obviously think more about the decisions we make, and make changes where we can. Good post MJ!
Amanda
d-thinkfashiong.blogspot.com
Comment by Amanda Cooley — October 7, 2009 @ 9:47 am
It’s a dangerous precedent as far as Stella’s nose isn’t entirely clean. She promotes one set of ideals — that is her prerogative. But it’s baseless to condemn the rest of the fashion industry for using animal products when in fact there are plenty of ethical designers who, unlike Stella, make a concerted effort to help humans through fair trade and workers’ rights initiatives and other CSR motives.
Her comment seems to say that the only ethical fashion is one that doesn’t rely on the use of animals, and our position is that it’s much more nuanced than that.
Comment by M.J. Prest — October 7, 2009 @ 9:55 am
Whether she is a hypocrite or not can be debated. But by taking a stand that evokes passionate discussion, she raises awareness about ethics and sustainability. Some will agree with her, some will not. But all will be more enlightened by the back and forth.
Comment by GreenSewn — October 12, 2009 @ 3:55 pm