Stella McCartney’s Summer 2025 collection took flight — literally and figuratively — as an ode to birds and a plea for their protection. In her latest work, feathers feel passé, as McCartney shifts focus to a broader environmental message, with Helen Mirren’s voice narrating the ‘Save What You Love’ manifesto. This eco-conscious collection draws from Jonathan Franzen’s The End of the End of the Earth, continuing McCartney’s legacy of activism, following in the footsteps of her previous campaign, About Fucking Time, which spotlighted animal cruelty.
The collection reinterprets traditional notions of power and sensuality, all while staying grounded in McCartney’s commitment to sustainability. It marries sport-inspired elements with tactile, soft fabrics, creating a juxtaposition between fluidity and structure. The muted palette, occasionally punctuated by bursts of red and sky blue, serves as a canvas for the bird motif. Hand-painted doves on organic silk and the feather-light chiffon shirting are subtle nods to her winged muses.
McCartney’s silhouettes challenge traditional boundaries, blending masculine and feminine elements with ease. Strong-shouldered men’s jackets in neutral tones find harmony with slim, long-line blazers, while playful boxer culottes and short shorts disrupt the sharp tailoring. Fluidity was everywhere — vegan leather skirts folding like origami and dresses that seemed to flow effortlessly. The contrast between structured tailoring and sheer, crinkled silks and chiffon gave the collection a sense of movement, as if it was in a state of constant flight.
Accessories were anything but an afterthought. In collaboration with 886 by The Royal Mint, McCartney introduced jewellery made from electronic and medical waste, with doves as the focal point. Bags followed suit on the sustainability front with the debut of the vegan Stella Ryder — crafted from materials like water bottles and Hydefy, a groundbreaking textile made from fungi and sugar cane. And of course, her iconic Falabella bag made an appearance, reinvented in vegan, PVC-free patent.
On the footwear front, McCartney’s designs ranged from the sporty to the sleek, including the Stella McCartney x Adidas Rasant trainers, inspired by vintage racing shoes.
Discover the collection here.
photography. Stella McCartney
words. Gennaro Costanzo
