Photo credit: www.vogue.com
Stella McCartney’s Return to Roots at Forces of Fashion Event
Stella McCartney recently marked a significant milestone at British Vogue’s Forces of Fashion event, returning to her roots at Central Saint Martins—an institution where she began her journey in fashion. McCartney was among a select group of distinguished alumni, including John Galliano, Christopher Kane, Conner Ives, and Feben, all of whom shared their experiences and insights during the event.
Graduating from the iconic fashion school in 1995, McCartney reflected on her ambitions from the outset, stating, “I wanted to make clothes that I wanted to wear, and I think that was quite novel at that time.” Her graduate collection made waves, featuring an impressive lineup of supermodels, including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Yasmin Le Bon, who participated to support both their friend and the broader appeal of British and student fashion. “My girlfriends were these incredible supermodels; they all wanted to support a friend, but also British fashion and student fashion,” she reminisced. With a touch of humor, she remarked, “So I know I’m the first nepo baby, I’m sorry!”
At the age of 25, McCartney took the helm as creative director at Chloé, stepping into the shoes of fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld. Despite his earlier skepticism about her background in music rather than fashion, McCartney embraced the challenge. “I think I was really naive,” she admitted. “Honestly, it sounds ridiculous now, I was like, nobody will notice if I take this job because Chloé was not a cool house at the time.” Yet, her tenure at Chloé in the Noughties proved immensely influential, with her designs remaining highly sought after even today. When asked about the journey of disproving critics, she stated, “I’m still proving people wrong… It’s always been the case of feeling like I had to prove myself.”
A conversation between McCartney and British Vogue’s Chioma Nnadi on stage captured the essence of the event, highlighting not just McCartney’s accomplishments but also the enduring impact of her work in the fashion industry.
Source
www.vogue.com