Designer blends high fashion, live horses, and vegan innovation in a bold Paris Fashion Week showcase
PARIS: Renowned British designer and animal rights advocate Stella McCartney transformed the runway into an equestrian arena as she unveiled her Winter 2026 collection at Paris Fashion Week, celebrating the Lunar New Year’s Year of the Horse.
Staged inside a riding hall at Paris’ Bois de Boulogne, the showcase blurred the lines between fashion and performance art. In a dramatic opening, five black and five white horses entered the sandy arena, moving in synchronized circular patterns before models stepped onto an oval catwalk surrounding the ring.
The Winter 2026 lineup leaned heavily into equestrian codes — thigh-high riding boots, stirrup trousers styled with sharp tailoring and denim, and bold preppy sweatshirts. Classic riding silhouettes were reimagined with contemporary cuts and vibrant textures.
Speaking to Reuters, McCartney underscored her sustainability mission. “There’s a lot of new innovations in the show… Everything’s plant-based, vegan — there are no animal glues, there are no dead animals,” she said.
The collection also featured plastic-free sequined dresses adorned with pleats and bows, alongside multicolored crochet scarves that injected energy into structured looks.
Founded 25 years ago, the Stella McCartney label recently regained full independence after buying back a minority stake from LVMH. Notable attendees included her father, Paul McCartney, and Antoine Arnault, seated beside model Natalia Vodianova.
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