Fashion Icon Stella McCartney Turns 50

The name McCartney is synonymous with change, activism and creativity. Stella McCartney was born into a family whose actions spoke for them. It is little wonder that she went on to have such a profound effect on the fashion industry, animal welfare, cancer awareness, and sustainability in fashion.

A Fashion Designing Activist and Sustainability Icon

In 1995 Stella McCartney graduated from Central St Martins and took the first steps in her astronomical rise to designing stardom. By 1997 her bold aesthetics and sharp tailoring were immediately recognisable, and she took Chloe in Paris on to commercial and critical success as their Creative Director.

Stella launched her own luxury fashion house in 2001, with her first collection showcasing in Paris the same year. Her clothes mirrored her ethics, and Stella refrains from using any animal materials in her designs. Using her growing influence in the fashion world, Stella has focused on sustainability through ethical partnerships, innovative supply chains and thought leadership.

Stella McCartney has grown her business, brand, and reputation without backing down from her fundamental beliefs. In the 2000s, she launched a fragrance, developed an athletic wear partnership with Adidas, designed her first lingerie collection and added a children’s collection to her growing holdings.

She was appointed the creative director of Team GB for the London 2012 Olympic Games and again for Rio 2016. A menswear collection followed in 2016. For many, the height of her career will always be designing Meghan Markle’s wedding reception dress. However, Stella is likely to be just as proud of her work with the United Nations on a Charter for Sustainable Fashion or her foundation that supports breast cancer awareness and sustainability.

Stella McCartney has shown that it is possible to do what you love, help save the planet, think about the future and still make a good living. She has forged a fashion designing path for others to develop further, adding their mark rather than just following hers.

You, too, could forge a path in the world of fashion with a BA (Hons) Fashion degree from the University of Bolton. Join the university that’s been ranked No. 1 for Student Satisfaction for three years running* and enjoy #UniAsItShouldBe.

Take Your First Step to Fashion Icon Status

The University of Bolton is the ideal place to start your journey into the world of fashion designing. We provide our students with the latest technology, equipment and materials to create and experiment with to find new and exciting designs.

Opportunities for our students include entering The Clothes Show and the Bradford Textile Society Awards. Our students also get the chance to pitch for a place at either New Designers London or Graduate Fashion Week.

Our expert teaching staff create supportive and positive learning environments for our fashion courses that cover practical and theoretical elements, as well as project work and talks from visiting experts from a wide range of fields. You will also benefit from our extensive industry links, enabling you to draw on their vast experience, better understand fashion marketing and trends, and improve your employability.

You can find out more about more about our fashion designing courses by visiting our Fashion and Textile courses page or getting in touch with our team.

Call +44 (0)1204 900 600 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk to find out more about applying for the next intake.

For questions relating to funding, finance, wellbeing, accommodation or disability services, our award-winning Student Services Team is here to help.

*The Complete University Guide – North West Region 2019, 2020, 2021