Look To The Stars News: Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney Says No To Leather

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:15:00 +0000

In a shift in strategy, PETA – along with Stella McCartney – is urging fashionistas to shed not only fur but also leather this Fashion Week with a viral video exposé of the skins trade hosted by McCartney.

“As a designer, I like to work with fabrics that don’t bleed; that’s why I avoid all animal skins,” says McCartney in the video. “Please join me in exploring the huge variety of fashionable shoes, belts, purses, and wallets that aren’t the product of a cow’s violent death.”

As reported in the New York Times, the campaign, set to debut in Manhattan cabs, has had a bumpy start. Because style editors and buyers from around the world scurry between runway shows in taxis during Fashion Week, PETA planned to run a video blitz on taxi video screens—but VeriFone Media, which places the cab ads, refused to allow PETA to buy airtime, saying that the screens run consumer promotions, not cautions. Undeterred, PETA will launch the video on fashion blogs, via tweets from celebrities, and on the Facebook pages of PETA’s million-plus online activists.

Paul McCartney Gets Behind Meat Free Cookbook

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:30:00 +0000

A new cookbook inspired by the Meat Free Monday campaign – and featuring a foreword by Paul, Stella and Mary McCartney – has hit the shelves of bookstores in the UK

Following the huge success of the McCartney family’s Meat Free Monday campaign, the new cookbook launched yesterday and was inspired by the simple idea that going without meat for just one day of the week can make a huge difference to the planet, our health and even our pocket.

The campaign, which was launched in 2009, came about after the United Nations issued a report which stated that the livestock industry as a whole was responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the whole of the transport sector put together. Meat is in fact responsible for a staggering 18 per cent of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Paul McCartney Documentary To Chronicle Reactions To 9/11

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:00:00 +0000

As the United States prepares to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania, SHOWTIME will premiere a highly-anticipated feature documentary.

“The Love We Make”, which chronicles Paul McCartney’s poignant and cathartic journey through the streets of New York in the aftermath of the World Trade Center’s destruction, and during the planning and performance of the monumental benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, “The Concert for New York City,” which took place less than six weeks after the terrorist attacks.

Directed by iconic documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles (Gimme Shelter, Salesman, Grey Gardens) and award-winning filmmaking partner, Bradley Kaplan (Muhammad and Larry, Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!, Sand and Sorrow), The Love We Make was shot in the signature cinéma vérité style that Maysles pioneered and made famous when he filmed the Beatles’ first visit to America in the legendary 1964 documentary What’s Happening! The Beatles in the U.S.A.

Emma Watson And Alberta Ferretti Create Luxury Eco-Brand

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Alberta Ferretti and Emma Watson have joined forces to create high-fashion’s first eco-label.

The 5 piece collection was launched on the 21st of March and has been hugely successful, with two pieces selling out completely. Proceeds from the sales will be donated to People Tree, a fair-trade British clothing company. All the clothes are made according to ethical guidelines, with fair-trade fabrics and good working conditions. On her choosing of celebrity, Ferretti said that Emma Watson ‘was an obvious choice for me on this project as we share a deep sensibility for the green cause’.

This is no doubt referring to Watson’s other three People Tree Clothing collections that she has released in the past two years. All four of her ethical collections reflect perfectly Watson’s personality, put simply by Ferretti as ‘fresh, spontan[eous] and simpl[e]’.

Naomi Campbell Announces Celebrity Charity Shop

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Model Naomi Campbell and her Fashion For Relief campaign are to open a one-week-only pop-up charity shop in London next month.

The shop will feature items owned by the supermodel and other celebrities – including Little Britain’s David Walliams – as well as labels such as Stella McCartney. Naomi will front the shop, along with other celebrities, to benefit the Prince’s Trust, a charity established by Prince Charles to offer support by training, mentoring and financial assistance to help disadvantaged young people achieve their potential.

The pop-up shop will open its doors at Westfield London with a special preview night on Tuesday 5th April and then stay open to the public until Wed 13th April 2011.

Natalie Imbruglia Narrates PETA Anti-Fur Video

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Natalie Imbruglia has narrated a new anti-fur video released by PETA to coincide with London Fashion Week.

“There is no kind way to rip the skin off animals’ backs”, says Imbruglia. "Anyone who wears any fur shares the blame for the torture and gruesome deaths of millions of animals each year.

“Saving animals is as simple as choosing synthetic alternatives instead of real fur.”

Chernobyl Children's Project Announces Hot Celebrity Charity News

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:00:00 +0000

The Chernobyl Children’s Project International has announced some exciting celebrity charity initiatives.

Stella McCartney’s New York store will host a special exhibition by Helena Christensen for Fashion’s Night Out on September 10.

Photography purchased at the event will benefit Chernobyl Children’s Project International. The exhibition is curated by Neil Grayson of The Dactyl Foundation and the photography will be available for purchase through the end of September.

Stars Raise £48,000 At Oxfam Shop In London

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:30:00 +0000

Last month, LookToTheStars reported about a celebrity pop-up shop that aimed to raise charity cash for Oxfam at London’s Selfridges store. We can now reveal the shop raised over £48,000 in one week.

  A team of A-list stars, led by Annie Lennox and Whistles CEO Jane Shepherdson, helped to create, stock and staff The Oxfam Curiosity Shop – Britain’s biggest charity pop-up shop. Open from Friday 14 to Thursday 20 May in Selfridges’ Ultralounge, the pop-up shop sold celebrity-donated items from icons including Annie Lennox, Beyoncé Knowles, Elle Macpherson, Shirley Bassey, Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney plus thousands of handpicked items from Oxfam shops and boutiques across the country.

  Selling clothing, music, books, art and homewares, the Selfridges-based shop made more profit in one week than the £42,000 profit that the average Oxfam shop makes in a year – with over 10,000 people flooding through the doors. If it had traded for a year The Oxfam Curiosity Shop could have made an incredible £2.5 million, the equivalent of 60 Oxfam shops’ profits.

Paul McCartney Inspires Hard Rock To Create Meat Free Monday Menu

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The Hard Rock Cafe in London has announced it will introduce a special menu inspired by Paul McCartney’s Meat Free Monday campaign.

Launching on June 7, the iconic restaurant will offer a three-course vegetarian meal every Monday, with options such as the Linda McCartney Vegetarian Burger.

“Since our founding in 1971, Hard Rock has been known for delicious fare, commitment to music and dedication to philanthropy, and ‘Meat Free Mondays’ is the perfect combination of these attributes that have made our brand famous,” said Marc Carey, European Regional Sales & Marketing Manager. “We’re also extremely proud to partner with our Hard Rock Calling 2010 headliner Paul McCartney and show support for his charity!”

Online Auction Celebrates Celebrity Oxfam Charity Shop

Fri, 14 May 2010 13:30:00 +0000

The Celebrity Oxfam Curiosity Shop opens today, May 14, in London – and a special online auction has been launched to celebrate.

From Friday 14 May to Thursday 20 May Selfridges’ Ultralounge, the London store’s permanent arts and exhibition space, will be transformed into The Oxfam Curiosity Shop – staffed by celebrities from Annie Lennox to Beverley Knight with all proceeds going to Oxfam.

Shoppers will be able to browse fantastic one-offs; from a special collection of Livia Firth’s red carpet dresses, to items from icons including Alexa Chung, Annie Lennox, Helen Mirren, Natalie Imbruglia and Corinne Bailey Rae and designer donations from Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, Roger Vivier and more. 

British Stars Write Letter To End Violence Against Women

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:00:00 +0000

A number of British stars have added their names to an open letter written to U.K. government officials in a bid to end violence towards women.

Annie Lennox, Corinne Bailey Rae, Kate Nash, Stella McCartney, Samantha Morton and Dame Vivienne Westwood have lent their support to the ActionAid UK campaign, which aims to stop female abuse. The letter, published in The Times letter pages, urges the government to make the issue a “foreign policy priority” following the appointment of a new minister to tackle global violence against women and girls.

The letter states, "Violence affects one in three women globally and is a leading cause of death and disability among women of all ages.

Annie Lennox To Launch Star-Studded Charity Shop

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

A selection of A-list stars have joined Oxfam and Selfridges to create, set-up, stock and staff Britain’s biggest charity pop-up shop.

Stella McCartney Launches Charity Tees For Meat Free Mondays

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Fashion designer Stella McCartney has designed two new t-shirts to raise awareness of Meat Free Mondays.

“MFM (Meat Free Monday) is about us all taking control of the environment we live in for our kids and the generations to come,” she said. “Whether you eat meat or not, you can be part of this decision to limit the meat industry destroying our planet’s resources.”

The tees are part of her second childrenswear collection for GapKids, and will be available in selected London stores.

LTTS Exclusive - My Favourite Dress For Save The Children

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Look To The Stars’ UK Correspondent Richard Barker attended a special charity event in London recently, and filed this report.

The weather is improving and the legendary Zandra Rhodes has injected some colour back into my life. I was lucky enough to attend the launch of My Favourite Dress at the Fashion and Textile Museum, London.

This unique event was hosted by Zandra Rhodes OBE and Suzy Menkes CBE Fashion. Various members of the fashion elite turned out to support the new title published by ACC Publishing Group, with 10% of proceeds being donated to Save the Children.

Stars Do Whatever It Takes For Charity In Qatar

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Whatever It Takes is to hold a massive sale in Qatar next week featuring a huge amount of celebrity-designed items.

The items include t-shirts, computer accessories, stationary, watches, plates, and alarm clocks, wallets, and bags featuring artwork donated by such celebrities as Snoop Dogg, Giorgio Armani, Heidi Klum, Coldplay, Kanye West, Nicole Kidman, Foo Fighters, Donna Karan, Samuel L. Jackson, Stella McCartney and George Clooney.

 Each purchase makes a direct humanitarian impact on the lives of children in South Africa. By working with our partners – Trade plus Aid South Africa, Twilight Children in Hillbrow, FLOC – For the Love Of Children, Trauma Unit – Cleveland Police Station, Cleveland / Denver Informal Settlement, and Ekukhanyeni Combined School – we provide life sustaining meals, blankets, educational supplies, medical care and other social services.

Charitable Celebrities To Receive 21st Century Leaders Awards

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Celebrities will be out in abundance in Doha, Qatar, next week for the Whatever It Takes Experience presented by 21st Century Leaders and Whatever It Takes.

As well as a private art experience and gala dinner, several stars will be honored with 21st Century Leaders Awards at this massive charity event.

The Doha 21st Century Leaders’ Awards are granted to individuals who, whilst being leaders in their own fields, have also made a serious commitment and significant impact on their chosen cause.

Paul McCartney Launches Meat Free Mondays

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Sir Paul McCartney is spearheading a campaign to encourage people to “go vegetarian” for at least one day every week. Meat Free Monday is a food campaign to encourage the world to help slow climate change by reducing their meat consumption by having one meat free day a week.

The former Beatle is leading the star-studded campaign that includes Stella McCartney, Yoko Ono, Kelly Osbourne, Moby, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, Ricky Gervais, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Sheryl Crow, artist Jeff Koons and chefs Yotam Ottolenghi and Giorgio Locatelli.

“I think many of us feel helpless in the face of environmental challenges, and it can be hard to know how to sort through the advice about what we can do to make a meaningful contribution to a cleaner, more sustainable, healthier world,” said McCartney. “Having one designated meat free day a week is actually a meaningful change that everyone can make, that goes to the heart of several important political, environmental and ethical issues all at once. For instance it not only addresses pollution, but better health, the ethical treatment of animals, global hunger and community and political activism.”

Celebrities Do Whatever It Takes For Charity

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:30:00 +0000

A huge selection of celebrity-designed bags and T-shirts are currently available at the UK’s premiere celebrity charity auction website, Buy Once Give Twice.

The auction site is hosting the auction for Whatever It Takes, a unique charity artwork project which inspires hope by gathering artworks from leaders in all fields; royalty, film, music, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, sports, literature etc. The artworks are used to ethically produce Whatever It Takes products which are then sold to raise funds for charitable causes chosen by each contributing leader.

Going under the hammer in the auction are T-shirts featuring designs by The Killers, Pink, Snoop Dogg, Nicole Kidman, Hilary Duff, Lucy Liu, Toni Collette, Coldplay, Minnie Driver, Keane, Whoopi Goldberg, Green Day, Barry Manilow, Penelope Cruz, Melanie C, Annie Lennox, and the Kaiser Chiefs. There are also bags and purses designed by Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, Lucy Liu, Kanye West, Slash, David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, and Stella McCartney.

Gwyneth Paltrow Launches Robin Hood Auction

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Gwyneth Paltrow is auctioning off her old clothes for a poverty charity.

The Oscar winner is donating a selection of “vintage” clothes to one of her favorite charities.

“I thought maybe I would eBay some of my favorite and most treasured things to raise some money for the Robin Hood Foundation, who do a lot of amazing work in New York City,” she wrote on her blog. “So check it out if you are interested.”

Stella McCartney Honored By NRDC

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Fashion designer Stella McCartney was honored by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) last week at their 11th annual Forces for Nature benefit, for her refusal to use leather or fur in her designs.

“We believe it is important to honor individuals who understand that environmental stewardship can and should play a role in the work they do and the products they produce,” said NRDC President Frances Beinecke in a press release. “Both Stella McCartney and David Zaslav demonstrate that you can be protectors of the environment and leaders of industry at the same time. Their trailblazing work in the environmental arena raises the bar, and we hope everyone in the media and fashion world will take note and follow their lead.”

In speaking out for fur- and leather-free fashion, McCartney says she would like to see an end to the 50 million animals that are killed each year to support the fashion industry. Besides the myth that the animals are all by-products of the meat industry, there are other environmental impacts that she pointed out, such as the water and chemicals needed to tan leather.

Stella McCartney Designs Tees For Comic Relief

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:00:00 +0000

British designer Stella McCartney has designed a line of T-shirts to raise money for Comic Relief and has called on the help of some of her celebrity friends to help promote them.

Advertising campaigns for the new Tees – one of which features a photo of her father, Paul McCartney, with The Beatles – feature Claudia Schiffer, Gwyneth Paltrow and Keira Knightley in photos shot by McCartney’s sister, Mary.

’It’s a real honor to be involved in such a tremendous cause and be a part of the Red Nose Day campaign 2009," said Stella McCartney. "The designs of the T-shirts were inspired by iconic images of iconic people by iconic photographers and adding an element of humor to them.’

Karaoke With The Stars Raises Much Needed Cash

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Gwyneth Paltrow might be about to outshine Coldplay-singing husband Chris Martin behind the microphone… but maybe not quite yet. The 35-year-old actress showed off her vocal talents at a charity karaoke show in London last Thursday, after a $90,000 bid prompted her to take to the stage.

The event, held at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, attracted a number of stars to get up on stage and sing their favorite tunes to benefit the Hoping Foundation. Hosted by veteran presenter Bruce Forsyth, the evening’s entertainment hoped to raise $1 million to help Palestinian children.

Paltrow is reported to have sung Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly”, and gained a standing ovation for her effort. Other stars to hit the stage included Jeff Beck, Jarvis Cocker, Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Stella McCartney, and Lily Cole.