Stella McCartney x Veuve Clicquot: Turning grape waste into vegan luxury
Celebrating a new step in fashion innovation, we are partnering with Veuve Clicquot to pioneer a grape-based alternative to animal leather that embodies both LVMH Maisons’ shared values and long-term commitments to sustainability, circularity and regenerative practices.
Leather’s environmental impact is incredibly high; animal agriculture contributing an estimated 11-17% of the world's GHG emissions, with 65% of that being from cattle. Our next-gen leather alternative, VEGEA, is made of 80% vegetal, renewable and recycled raw elements. All grape stems used are grown regeneratively by Veuve Clicquot at its historical vineyard, and the material is solvent-free, metal-free as well as free from dangerous and toxic substances.
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By-products of Veuve Clicquot’s harvest are combined with vegetal oils and natural fibres from agriculture, giving VEGEA a 40% lower impact on global warming as well as a 50% reduction in water usage compared to fossil fuel-based alternatives to leather.
Using this highly innovative, regenerative and circular fabric, Stella McCartney has handcrafted six accessories – a selection of which debuted at our Summer 2024 runway show during Paris Fashion Week.
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The Legacy
Both Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot were founded by pioneering women who disrupted and drove change within their respective fields, each rooted in craftsmanship, passion and innovations that created new, better possibilities.
Led by Stella’s passion, we aim to inspire others within our industry and beyond to pursue cruelty-free and more sustainable alternatives. Similarly, Madame Clicquot contributed to shaping a modern champagne bottle and invented the riddling table – two innovations that revolutionised the champagne industry, gaining her the title of 'La Grande Dame de la Champagne’. Over 200 years ago, she purchased the vineyard our material’s grape by-products are harvested from.
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The Products
We have used the Veuve Clicquot grape-based alternative to craft a capsule of products that includes three iconic Frayme bags, a bottle holder to house Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and two variations of our signature Elyse sandals – these also have a platform wedge made from recycled cork collected from Veuve Clicquot’s cellars in Reims.
The range will be available to pre-order from the 11th of December, 2023.
I am so thrilled to be part of this first-of-its-kind partnership between a fashion house and a champagne Maison – connected by our shared passions for sustainability, craftsmanship and innovation. This collaboration is the perfect blend of my cruelty-free vision with Veuve Clicquot’s incredible natural ingredients, using waste to circularly create a luxurious alternative to animal leather that can be easily scaled and change the industry. You truly cannot tell the difference; this is a better way.
