Rhonda Richford
It is about f–king time.
So declared Stella McCartney at her Monday morning opener.
For Paris Jackson, who got up at 6 a.m. to prep for the show, it wasn’t just about time. It was about change, as evidenced in McCartney’s collection that promotes sustainable materials.
“Change,” said Jackson, a longtime animal rights activist. “It’s not just the animals. It’s the environment in general, it’s pretty much anything that’s not human about this planet. I support that [and] how do we make it a safer place.”
Jackson highlighted how McCartney doesn’t use any animal leather in her products and elevates alternative materials, such as mushroom leather.
“It’s the vegan stuff and the anti-cruelty, but also just everything she’s doing….She’s very innovative and is finding a way to make activism chic,” Jackson said.
Dressed in a teddy wrap coat and not much else, Jameela Jamil was feeling sexy, chic and sustainable. “I’ve never been so warm or comfortable or thrilled,” she said, caressing the fuzzy fabric.
The actress and activist is working on a book and added her message to the theme of the day. “It’s about f–king time to give women a f–king break. Jesus. We need the right to our bodies back. We need our freedom back. We’re not asking for a lot. We’re not asking to oppress anyone. We would just like some freedom,” she said. “Leave our bodies alone.”
Videos around the glass-enclosed greenhouse at a park on the edge of Paris streamed with a message from the perspective of Mother Earth. “Why are you harming me? We are always connected,” it queried. Naomie Harris offered an apology: “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all the damage.”
The “No Time to Die” actress talked about their friendship. “She’s one of the best people and really championed sustainability and made it possible to create all kinds of different fabrics,” she said. Harris tried on some grape leather shoes at her fitting. “She’s trailblazing and she’s showing what’s possible for other brands, which is incredibly rewarding. The reality is the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries there is, and if any industry has to change its ways, it’s this one.”
McCartney’s use of alternative materials got the conversation going amongst guests, several of whom were gifted a grape leather bag to carry.
M.I.A. noted that McCartney has been a trailblazer in the alternative materials space, “She’s been on it for a long time, and it’s good that the rest of the world are going to catch up to it,” she said.
The rapper said that what you put on your body should be in tune with your consciousness, and talked about her mediation practice.
“The thing you get from natural fiber is the fact that it lets in meditative frequencies…technical fabrics sometimes works against that,” she said of oil-based synthetics such as nylon. She said she wears cotton when she is mediating “because it’s more receptive.”
McCartney’s success is the blending of futuristic thinking, such as the new materials, with cool fashion. “The combination has always defined the super future with the super ancient. What Stella is doing is creating a futuristic fabric that is just as respectful of ancient traditions,” M.I.A. said.
Interpreting the catchphrase of the day, M.I.A. emphasized the “about” instead of the F word. “It’s about time for people to become more conscious in fashion, and thinking about our spending and how we spend and where you choose to invest,” she said.
The industry should think about material sources, such as vegetables, repurposing other materials and how it uses its energy grid mix. It needs to be tackled from several different angles, she said. “It has to all work, obviously, in some sort of harmony,” she added.
Two guys in harmony would be Stella’s father Paul McCartney and his Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr, who both turned out to support the designer’s runway show. They posed for photos together before heading backstage for a warm round of hugs.
Charlotte Rampling sent her best wishes, too. “Much love, she’s an old friend. I was born almost the same time as her father, so I’ve known her for a very long time,” she said of Paul McCartney. “She stands for all the things we hope to change in the world and the fashion industry.”
The show also brought out LVMH head of image and environment Antoine Arnault, whose wife Natalia Vodianova closed the show in a covetable white coat.
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