Stella McCartney: Spring-Summer Collection, 2022
Stella McCartney: Spring-Summer Ready-to-Wear Collection for the first time at the Oscar Neimeyer building, Paris. The Paris Fashion Week was held keeping in mind the virus outbreak. Therefore, only a small Parisian crowd attended the event. However, On 4th October 2021, the small group witnessed Stella McCartney’s spectacular designs. As her followers know, Stella McCartney is famous for her outlook on animal welfare and creating sustainable fashion. Her fashion is completely leather-free and fur-free. This year’s collection includes the theme of the “mushroom.” Inspired by different types of mushrooms in nature, the entirety of her Collection has the prints, patterns, and colors of the mushroom.
The Inspiration
Stella McCartney stated that the main inspiration for her Spring-Summer 2022 Collection is the mushroom. To make a statement on nature, she used the vibrant patterns of various mushrooms found in the environment. This is how the mushroom became the muse for her 2022 Collection. She also states that the 2019 Netflix documentary called “Fantastic Fungi” inspired her Collection. She took all of her information from this info-documentary. The docu-film provided an insight to the viewers about the usage of recyclable and regenerated materials. Some included cashmere, nylon, and animal-free leather.
The New Stella Icon
For the first time, Stella McCartney launched her brand new bag, Frayme Mylo. The very first of its kind, a sustainable material called mycelium leather is used to make this bag. Mycelium leather is simply a fancy word for mushroom leather. Created by Bolts Threads, this California-based company took leather-free to a whole new level. McCartney has been working together with Bolts Threads for several years, the product of which the Parisian crowd saw on the runway in the Paris Fashion Week. The Frayme Mylo is the new “Stella Icon.” The new technology is a landmark in the sustainable fashion industry.
The Collection
The 2022 Spring-Summer Collection showed us a blast of bold colors and vibrant patterns, all inspired by nature. The color palette included both lively and earthly colors, including orange and blue (Yes, orange and blue mushrooms exist in nature.) These color combinations created a perfect balance, as seen in nature. Apart from the mushroom-inspired look and the hand-drawn mushroom prints, the outfits also include vegetable prints. All in all, the outfits are a blast of nature.
The Collection had a range of outfits- some had a sporty look, while others included long tank dresses. This Collection also had many outfits that showed us a signature cutout across the torso and the shoulder. On the runway, the models looked fantastic with wide-leg trousers and jackets. Many outfits also had long belts dangling from the waist.
The Collection also included silhouettes that were roomy, skinny, and curve-hugging. In addition, bikini tops and bodysuits were hidden under the glittery and glamourous gowns. The collection also includes accessories like the Frayme Mylo bag, necklaces, and eyewear as a cherry on top. From cargo pants to blazers, this Collection has it all for the perfect Spring wardrobe.
By the end of the fashion show, the models showed the “magic mushroom” look. The finale included seventy vivid hues and mesmerizing patterns. With this, the fashion show showed the viewers a spectacular finish. According to Stella McCartney, the materials used to make this year’s Collection were sixty-three percent sustainable and eco-friendly. This number is an increase from her previous Winter Collection, where she used forty percent sustainable material. In the 2020 Vogue Global Conversations event, McCartney stated that designers should mindfully use natural resources.
Backstage with Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney did not plan on doing a live show. However, she arranged the show within a week, and the reviews were fantastic. Many of her close friends and family came backstage to congratulate her on her success, including her father, Sir Paul McCartney. Paris Jackson, the daughter of Michael Jackson, was also present to congratulate her. She praised her for her use of leather-free alternatives and advocating animal rights by designing in cruelty-free fashion. Others present were Demi Moore and her daughter Scout Willis, Ella Emhoof, and Isabelle Huppert, among many others. A quote from the mycologist Paul Stamets can summarize Stella McCartney’s 2022 Spring-Summer Collection – “In fashion, mushrooms are the future.”