Though one can’t reverse all the environmental impact caused by fashion, designer Stella McCartney believes that we can always reduce one by dropping off one element- leather! The one who follows this vegan fashion designer will know that Stella has never used animal hides or fur in any of her collections in the career spanning over 2 decades.
Taking her love for the environment a notch higher, the designer launched the world’s first garments having a plant-based innovation. Mylo- a vegan mushroom leather that is soft, substantial and sustainable. Stella worked closely with Mylo’s scientists to achieve the right weight, drape, and texture of the material. She called the process slow at first which ‘became really exciting very quickly’
Stella coordinated with Bolt Threads to curate this innovative ‘un-leather’ grown from mycelium, the vegetative part of a fungus. Unlike most petroleum-based synthetic leathers, this one is biodegradable with a finish that resembles animal leather. “The main thing is there’s really no compromise. I always say that I don’t want anyone to know our products aren’t made of leather, and it’s so important to me that they stand shoulder to shoulder with the real thing. And it’s just so much better for the planet—whether you’re doing it for ethical reasons or not, you can’t argue how this is better (than animal leather),” she said.
Mylo can grow in about two weeks thus reducing the carbon impact compared to that of resource-intensive cow leather which takes years to raise. It also offers a smarter, sustainable solution to the growing demand for leather goods and products.
Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris Jackson also mused in Stella’s new curation. She looked absolutely stunning in a leather bustier crop top and athleisure pants.
Calling it the ‘future of fashion’ Stella said, “If we can get this right, then we can really make a huge impact on the planet.” Though it’s still a long way to go, the designer has shown the willingness to break the age-old traditions which itself is a start somewhere. Not giving up on leather without harming the environment sounds like a pretty-much win-win situation, doesn’t it? What are your thoughts on this one?
(Source- Vogue)
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