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Dokazala je da se može voditi globalni modni biznis, a da se ne žrtvuju sopstveni principi She proved that you can run a global fashion business without sacrificing your personal principles

not fashion.” Nevertheless, through her own work Stella has earned her place among the greatest: and has done so as an innovator who has put animal welfare, material research and environmental issues at the heart of her practise; as someone who created the first and only ve- gan “It” bag; and who proved that you can run a global fashion busi- ness without sacrificing your per- sonal principles. She is now increasing her influ- ence via a new position – at luxu- ry goods conglomerate LVMH (we don’t even need to note that you can expect the most prestigious port- folio with the abbreviation of Lou- is Vuitton Moët Hennessy), where she has been engaged as a sustain- ability advisor and works closely with heir to the empire Antoine Arnault. Antoine describes Stel- la’s approach as “passionate” and “pragmatic”, while he is fascinat- ed by her ability to find a common language even with the leaders of brands that have operations based on the use of leather and fur (for instance Fendi, which belongs to this corporation). Stella embraced the challenge of devising an agenda for more sus- tainable fashion production in a way that only she could. Her passion for the environment is born of her love for animals. Raised as a vegetari- an, with principles passed down to her from her mother Linda, she was categorically opposed to the use of leather and fur in production from

the start of her work in the fash- ion industry. As she often stress- es in interviews “it was even more horrendous to kill an animal for a bag than a meal”. However, after reading a 2008 UN report on cli- mate change, she began consider- ing all the ways the fashion indus- try imperils nature. Persuading the leaders of the luxury products seg- ment of the advantages of recycling is no mean feat – at the end of the day, these people snobbishly view recyclables as something contrary to prestige. “Weavers in Lake Co- mo [Italy] would tell me openly ‘I’m not working with a recycled fibre, I only work with the finest virgin’, but I was persistent,” she points out proudly, adding that the situ- ation has changed drastically dur- ing the pandemic. However, from a fashion per- spective, Stella's designer’s stamp isn’t overshadowed by her “eco” ethos. What’s more, it stands out with the leisurely luxury that’s to be expected of someone born into the rock aristocracy. Her brand is known for elegant vegan accesso- ries and light pieces with sophis- ticated tailoring. In her upcoming spring collection, she draws inspira- tion from her origins and the condi- tions of our new (fashion) normal. Just like the rest of us, Stella is hop- ing for days when we will again live without Covid protection measures and be able to don evening gowns covered with sequins and trimmed with neon lace.

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