(PRESS RELEASE) Stella McCartney and Thélios – the eyewear expert of French luxury group LVMH – announce their exclusive long-term partnership for Stella McCartney’s eyewear category. The agreement will see Stella McCartney collaborate with Thélios on sustainable innovation in the category, while the latter also develops, manufactures and distributes Stella McCartney eyewear beginning with the Spring/Summer 2021 collection, available as of November 2020.
Stella McCartney commented: “Since day one, we have been committed to creating materials that are the most desirable, with the least impact on the planet – including in the plastic-heavy luxury eyewear category. We introduce to Thélios our bio-tech solutions and sustainable innovation, and are thrilled to have their experts join us in growing Stella McCartney eyewear’s eco-friendly vision.”
The partnership of Stella McCartney and Thélios will mark a new chapter in its ambition to provide products made of alternative raw materials. The first collection will incorporate a row of sustainable features like bio-lenses, composed of 39% castor oil with a carbon reduction emissions of 40% on the raw material. In addition, the frames will feature an ecological version of bio-acetate, composed of fibres derived from wood and cotton seeds, plant-based plasticisers and 68% organic carbon content. For the first time, Stella McCartney Kids collection will also feature bio-acetate.
Giovanni Zoppas, CEO of Thélios, added: “We are delighted to welcome Stella McCartney to the Thélios family at a time when sustainability and protecting the environment could not possibly be more important for us and our industry. Her unique vision will also benefit our other Maisons that are truly committed to limiting their environmental footprint and using sustainable materials.”
This new partnership will allow Stella McCartney to continue to evolve its effortless style and sustainable material innovation in the eyewear category. It will be enriched by Thélios’s unique expertise, housed at its manufacturing facility in Longarone.
The Stella McCartney eyewear collection will be available in Stella McCartney stores and online on StellaMcCartney.com as well as within Thélios’s selective distribution network.