The sustainable brand’s latest collection was created with the help of Kenyan craftswomen.
Eco-conscious fashion house Stella McCartney has just launched a summer capsule collection, aptly titled “Summer Loving.” The collection celebrates love, childhood, and warmth with pieces adorned with hearts and messages of “I love you,” inspired by a beach dress McCartney wore as a child.
The collection is on brand for McCartney, as the designer is never shy of whimsical or colorful patterns, especially when they convey an important message. The capsule’s message comes at a time when hate is being so easily spread across the internet, with threats to women’s rights, people of color, and those in the LGBTQ+ community.
“Summer Loving” celebrates all forms of love, featuring the Loop Rainbow Lace-Up Trainers, which pay homage to the LGTBQ+ community. The brand has a history of LGBTQ+ inclusivity, including its Stonewall capsule, Pride collections, and genderless clothing.
The pieces are crafted from 100% responsible materials in line with McCartney’s brand ethos. The collection also includes limited-edition raffia basket bags woven by female Hadithi Basket Weavers in Kenya. Hadithi is an organization dedicated to supporting female handcrafters in South-East Kenya, empowering them to find a creative and sustainable way to make a living. Stella McCartney has joined forces with the weavers as part of the Ethical Fashion Initiative’s Artisan Fashion social enterprise in sub-Saharan Africa. The beach bags are made from plant-based materials and place love at their core (in more ways than one).
As summer tends to do, the collection is all about sparking joy. Each piece provokes a grin, especially a graphic tee featuring a smiling popsicle titled “Smiley Lolly Print Tank Top.” The designs are reminiscent of warm childhood days, including a rainbow, sunshiney one-piece swimsuit made from recycled nylon, which comes in a “mini-me” version for kids. The capsule is undeniably reminiscent of Stella’s father, Paul McCartney’s unforgettable Beatles lyric, “All You Need is Love.”
Photos courtesy of Stella McCartney.
