Leave it to Stella McCartney to arrive fashionably late to her own party—or perhaps, right on time. Twenty one years after becoming the second-ever designer to collaborate with H&M (the first was Karl Lagerfeld), the designer has teamed up with the Swedish retailer for a new collection, with a shared vision and responsibility that bridges past and present. “Reworking pieces from my archive brought back so much energy and joy,” she said of the reunion.
The partnership carries the buzz of its original reception, notably dubbed “a shopping riot,” “McCartney Madness” and “Stellamania” in the press at the time. It’s a level of hype that the launch party hosted in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood seemed determined to match. DJ sets by Mark Ronson, Zuri Marley, and Daisy O’Dell, and later, a surprise live performance by English rapper Dave, certainly rose to the occasion.
McCartney stepped out of her black SUV with Janelle Monáe and entered an already packed room. Inside, it girls including Amelia Gray, Yasmin Wijnaldum, and Lila Moss posed for photos in pieces from the unreleased collection, while boxes of Joe’s Pizza did the rounds. A group of models disguised as stylish partygoers eventually emerged from the crowd and onto the stage, blurring the line between catwalk and club while unveiling key looks.
“Celebrating here in New York, surrounded by friends and collaborators, feels like a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come on sustainability in our industry—and to stay honest about how far we still have to go, together,” McCartney noted. The collection, crafted from certified and recycled fibers along with alternatives to conventional fabrics like industrial corn, underscores both the lifelong environmentally-conscious designer’s and H&M’s commitment to collective impact.
Reneé Rapp, a friend of McCartney’s who fronts the new campaign (alongside models Angelina Kendall and Adwoa Aboah) was also in attendance. It was something of a full circle moment for the actor and singer, who reflected on her early days in the city post-high school when she made her first designer purchase. “It was my first time being an adult out on my own. I was making my own money and really wanted to buy something expensive,” Rapp told Vogue. “One of the first things I bought was a pair of Stella jeans—pink, splatter-painted balloon denim. I still have them!”
Years later, Rapp’s connection to McCartney felt instant and personal. “I remember the first time I met her in person, she acted as if we had been friends for years. And I always really appreciate that, especially in a work-y kind of setting because it immediately takes me out of myself and gets me into a little bit of perspective.”
Wearing a snakeskin bomber and gray belted trousers from the collection, Rapp humorously recalled the moment McCartney called her up to ask her to be part of the campaign. “This b*tch will FaceTime me at the most inopportune times, and I FaceTime her at the most inopportune times because she’s in London most of the time and I’m in L.A.,” Rapp laughed. “She was like, ‘Reneé darling, we have to do this. We have to do this. When are we doing this? We’re going to do this, right?”
It’s safe to say the pair got it done.
The collection launches in select stores and on hm.com on May 7.
