Stella McCartney calls on peers to give up the pen

Designer Stella McCartney, committed to fashion that respects animal welfare, has banned feathers from her collections and wants to encourage other designers to sign the Peta association’s manifesto for fashion without cruelty towards birds.

This exhortation from the label follows the release of a report from the animal rights association, revealing that birds exploited by the feather industry “endure a miserable life and a violent death”.

In a series of videos just published on social networks, Stella McCartney claims to want to “open the eyes and hearts of millions of followers of the brand worldwide to show what birds have to endure to provide feathers.”

The designer hopes that these publications will “encourage brands to demonstrate authentic creativity in fashion by recreating the appearance, lightness, movement and insulation of feathers with vegan materials”.

She continued: “The fashion industry exploits and kills millions of birds for their feathers every year, which is not only inhumane; it is unnecessary. My Fall 2024 collection shows the appeal and possibilities of cruelty-free alternatives that respect animals and planet Earth. I hope this inspires you to join Peta and me in calling for an end to the use of feathers in fashion and other industries.”

Its collection uses BioPuff, a material made from reeds “the use of which contributes to the regeneration of Cambridgeshire wetlands and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions whilst encouraging biodiversity”.

Other famous designers like Felder Felder, Eirinn Hayhow, Richard Malone, Patrick McDowell, VIN + OMI, Pīferi, Sarah Regensburger and Joshua James Small have already signed Peta’s manifesto. “Many opt for luxury synthetic feathers made from bamboo, recycled materials and metal.”