Stella McCartney buys back her eponymous brand from LVMH

This marks her second exit from major conglomerates

Stella McCartney is leaving the French group LVMH after five years of collaboration. She has repurchased a minority stake in her fashion brand. However, the split appears to be amicable. The designer will continue to advise LVMH and its leadership on sustainability matters as a global ambassador.

Interestingly, this is Stella’s second exit from a conglomerate – back in 2019, she also bought back her brand from Kering, LVMH’s main competitor in the luxury goods market.

Eva Mendes with a Stella McCartney bag

Stella McCartney has been interested in fashion from an early age. At just 16, she worked as an intern for the famous designer Christian Lacroix. In March 1997, two years after graduating from Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Stella McCartney was appointed Creative Director of Chloé, replacing Karl Lagerfeld. In 2001, she left Chloé to establish her own eponymous label, a stake of which she immediately sold to Kering (then known as PPR).

Pamela Anderson in a Stella McCartney suit

Stella McCartney was one of the first designers to reject the use of natural fur and leather. While this has become a mainstream trend today, selling luxury products made from eco-leather and faux fur in the early 2000s was a significant risk. However, as we can see, it didn’t prevent Stella McCartney from becoming a successful brand throughout its years of existence.