Celebrating the iconic Elyse
We celebrate the iconic Elyse shoe’s 10th anniversary – marking a decade since Stella McCartney took a step forward for vegan, cruelty-free luxury footwear – with a limited-edition capsule of four exclusive styles. Three dipped in a high-gloss monochromatic finish and one covered in lead-free crystals, each shoe is fitted with an FSC-certified beech wood platform and signature saw-edge sole.
A step forward for cruelty-free footwear
Bringing together the upper of a men’s Derby with the feminine, fashion twist of a signature platform silhouette, it rests on an immediately recognisable sustainably sourced, FSC-certified wooden wedge and saw-edged microsole. Each pair is handcrafted in Italy using 100% cruelty-free materials and is vegan down to the glue.
"Every year, fashion kills over 1 billion cows, sheep, goats and other creatures for leather (PETA). The industry is also driving the destruction of vital natural environments; animal agriculture, where leather comes from, is responsible for 80% of the Amazon’s deforested areas (WWF). Stella McCartney has never used leather, feathers, fur or skins."
An Iconic Debut
The Elyse debuted at the Stella McCartney Winter 2014 runway show, embodying the dualities signature to the brand – a blend of masculine and feminine, classic and sporty, timeless yet contemporary. This ageless style quickly became a favourite amongst the celebrity set, including Kendall Jenner, Beyonce, Rihanna, Gigi Hadid, Oprah, Viola Davis and beyond.
Conscious Craftmanship
Inspired by the ultra-high heel trend of the time, Stella McCartney wanted to provide an answer that was on-trend yet comfortable and easy to wear. Artisans in Italy got to work, creating a laser-cut a sleek and minimal Derby upper from soft Alter Mat and a pitch-less, 80mm chunky platform sole, sculpted from layers of FSC-certified beech wood – both were united with animal-free, water-based glues and suddenly, the Elyse was born.
