Designer Profile - Stella McCartney

Born and raised in London, Stella McCartney graduated from Central St Martins in 1995. Her final year collection had the rare accolade of being bought by influential stores such as Browns, Joseph, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. She launched her own line immediately on leaving college.

A style combination of sharp tailoring, irreverence and sexy femininity was immediately apparent in her first collection. After only two collections, in 1997, she was appointed the creative director of the house of Chloe in Paris. Chloes commercial success was stratospheric during Stella McCartneys tenure and her collections and advertising campaigns for the house of Chloe were universally praised by both buyers and press.

In April 2001, Stella McCartney launched her own fashion house under her name in a joint venture with Gucci Group. Her first collection, Spring/ Summer 2002, was shown in Paris in October 2001. A strict vegetarian, Stella McCartney does not use leather or fur in her designs. Her brand includes womens ready-to-wear, accessories, and eyewear. Her first fragrance, Stella launched successfully on her birthday, the 13th of September 2003.

Stella McCartney has opened 3 flagship stores worldwide, the first boutique in Manhattans Meatpacking district opened in September 2002, followed by a store in Mayfair, London in April 2003 and in LAs West Hollywood in September 2003. Her collection is now distributed in over 40 countries.

In 2004, Stella McCartney designed specially made costumes for Madonnas Reinvention Tour, Annie Lennox's summer concert tour as well as the wardrobe for Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law for the film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

Stella McCartney has ventured outside the world of fashion by several collaborations, she designed handmade t-shirts and dresses in collaboration with Gary Hume in 2002 to benefit RAWA, her first ad campaign in 2002 featuring sketches by David Remfry was used as the Absolute Stella print ad campaign. In 2005 Stella McCartney collaborated with cult cartoonist Robert Crumb on a limited edition t-shirt and print edition, as well as with American artist Jeff Koons on her Spring Summer 2006 collection, using his prints Lips , Stream and Pink Bow on dresses and accessories.

In addition to the Stella McCartney collection, Stella McCartney launched the critically acclaimed sports performance collection for women, adidas by Stella McCartney, a long-term partnership with adidas in September 2004. In November 2005, Stella McCartney launched a hugely successful one off collection with H&M, entitled Stella McCartney for H&M.

The following awards have recognized Stella McCartneys achievement in fashion and social awareness:
VH1 / Vogue Fashion and Music 2000 Designer of the Year award (2000, NY), the Woman of Courage Award for work against cancer at the prestigious Unforgettable Evening event (2003, LA), the Glamour Award for best Designer of the Year (2004, London), the Star honouree at the Fashion Group International Night of Stars (2004, NY), the Organic Style Woman of the Year Award (2005, NY).