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.
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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.
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"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."
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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.
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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.
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