Stella McCartney
Independent (founder-owned since 2025) · United Kingdom
Stella McCartney is a British luxury fashion house founded in 2001 as a joint venture with Gucci Group, now Kering. After partnerships with Kering and then LVMH, Stella McCartney bought back LVMH's minority stake in January 2025, returning the brand to full independent ownership, and it is known for its long standing refusal to use leather and fur.
| Founded | 2001, with Gucci Group |
|---|---|
| Founder | Stella McCartney |
| Owner | Stella McCartney (full ownership since January 2025) |
| Previous partners | Kering (2001 to 2018), LVMH minority (2019 to 2025) |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Website | stellamccartney.com |
What is Stella McCartney?
Stella McCartney is a London based luxury brand offering womenswear, menswear, kidswear and accessories. It is widely regarded as a pioneer of sustainability in luxury fashion, using no leather or fur in line with its founder's vegetarianism.
History
After leading Chloé from 1997, McCartney launched her label in 2001 as a joint venture with the Gucci Group, then owned by PPR, later Kering, and showed her first collection in Paris. A long running sportswear collaboration with adidas began in 2004, followed by kidswear in 2010 and menswear in 2016.
In 2018 McCartney acquired Kering's 50 percent stake and became sole owner. In 2019 LVMH took a minority stake. On 27 January 2025 the company announced that McCartney had bought back LVMH's stake, returning the house to full independent ownership; she remains an adviser to LVMH as Global Ambassador on Sustainability, according to FashionUnited.
Products and positioning
- Ready-to-wear: women's and men's collections
- Kids: clothing from newborn to age 12
- Accessories: bags and shoes in non-leather materials
- adidas by Stella McCartney: performance sportswear
Business model and distribution
The brand operates freestanding stores in cities including London, New York, Paris, Milan and Los Angeles, and sells through its own e-commerce and wholesale partners. It has also launched organic skincare and lingerie through partnerships over time.
Why it matters
Stella McCartney is a reference point for sustainable luxury and for the shifting relationships between independent designers and luxury groups. Its moves from Kering to LVMH and then to full independence show the range of ownership models available to founder brands. Its long collaboration with adidas also demonstrates how a luxury designer can bring sustainability messages to a mass sportswear audience, and its focus on alternative materials makes it an early adopter of innovations that the wider industry is now exploring.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Stella McCartney?
Since January 2025 the brand has been fully owned by Stella McCartney, after she bought back the minority stake LVMH had held since 2019. She remains an adviser to LVMH on sustainability.
Does Stella McCartney use leather?
No. The brand has never used leather or fur, in line with its founder's vegetarianism, and it develops alternative materials for bags and shoes.