The Stella McCartney brand drew attention to animal welfare by featuring a diverse group of animals—sheep, cows, rabbits, and chickens—alongside residents of The Gentle Barn in Santa Clarita, California, in a campaign for its Spring 2023 collection. Reports from WWD highlighted this collaboration between fashion and compassion, spotlighting how fur and leather stand-ins can tell a story without harming living beings.
In addition to the beloved shelter animals, the campaign also featured Madeline Cline, a public figure known for her affinity for animals and her supportive stance on humane practices in fashion. Her involvement helped carry the message beyond a standard fashion shoot, emphasizing a humane lens on style and design.
Stella McCartney’s spring lineup pays homage to the work of Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara, whose drawings and bold, punk-inspired graphics have long challenged conventional fashion norms. The collection translates Nara’s rebellious energy into wearable art, with prints and silhouettes that invite conversation about creativity, youth, and the ethics of clothing production.
According to the brand description, the footage seeks to demonstrate how loving animals can coexist with the fashion industry. It underscores the belief that every living thing holds inherent value, and it uses visual storytelling to push viewers to rethink the materials and methods used in making clothes. The campaign positions care for animals as a central tenet of contemporary fashion, inviting consumers to consider impact as they shop.
Stella McCartney herself has spoken about the philosophy behind the campaign, articulating a personal creed that ties nourishment to wardrobe choices. She emphasizes that choices made about what we eat and what we wear are connected and have far-reaching consequences. Her message calls for action that goes beyond individual preferences, urging the industry and its audiences to imagine a future where fashion champions sustainability, animal welfare, and planetary health rather than contributing to a cycle of harm.
The campaign was photographed by Theo Wenner, whose lens captures the emotional resonance of the project. The imagery blends candid moments with stylized fashion, aiming to evoke empathy and reflection. Through a fusion of gentle storytelling and bold stylistic elements, the shoot invites viewers to engage with questions about responsibility, beauty, and the evolving standards of modern fashion.
Earlier reports noted that McCartney’s team has a history of integrating equestrian elements into runway presentations, reflecting a longstanding interest in animal-friendly approaches to design. The broader conversation around the brand’s work continues to explore how inspiration drawn from nature and from animal advocacy can inform a collection that feels both contemporary and principled. By aligning a fashion showcase with a humane message, the campaign situates style within a broader ethical framework that resonates with audiences across North America and beyond.