Amelia Gray Fronts New Capsule Featuring Mycelium Python and Apple-Based Croc Designs
Stella McCartney has introduced a limited-edition update to its Elyse shoe, adding new vegan materials and an in-store and online personalization option. Model Amelia Gray fronts the campaign, wearing the elevated platform silhouette with pieces from the brand’s Savile Row tailoring, lingerie, and Stellawear lines.
First launched in 2014, the Elyse has become one of the brand’s signature products, known for combining a masculine edge with a platform sole and a lightweight, saw-edged micro-sole. The shoe has remained leather-free since its debut and is crafted from cruelty-free materials in Italy. The updated capsule includes new versions in grey, navy, and vegan interpretations of exotic skins: python made from mycelium and crocodile using repurposed apple waste.
According to the brand, the Elyse is constructed with FSC-certified wood and uses adhesives free from animal products. The move aligns with Stella McCartney’s long-standing commitment to forgo leather, feathers, fur, and animal skins entirely.
“Every year, fashion kills over 1 billion animals for leather (PETA),” the brand states in its materials. “Among them are creatures killed for exotic skins, including more than 500,000 pythons from Southeast Asia and 1.5 million crocodiles. 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).”
A new personalization option is available for a limited time, offering customers the chance to add brass initial charms to their pair of Elyse shoes. The service is being offered at select Stella McCartney boutiques worldwide.
Since its initial release, the Elyse has gained a following among celebrities such as Kendall Jenner, Rihanna, Gigi Hadid, Oprah, and Beyoncé. The brand’s recent update pushes the style further into sustainable territory, introducing next-gen materials with the same emphasis on silhouette and functionality.
