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Green Me
Production techniques & innovations
Posted in Green Me
A couple of frequently asked questions about the production process:
Q. What are the challenges raised by not using leather in the manufacturing process?
A. When it comes to shoes, because synthetic or woven materials are thinner and less elastic than leather, the main difficulty is achieving a uniform product in production. This is because many of the industrial techniques and machines used in leather shops are not appropriate for non-leather shoe manufacturing.
As a consequence, this means that most of the steps in the production of both bags and shoes are executed solely by hand by skilled artisans – our bags for example, can only be produced in a couple of factories found in Italy that specialize in non-leather production. About 70% of the work is done by hand, and as a result, it costs us up to 70% more to make a pair of shoes than any other brand – yet we don’t mark it up for the customer.
Q. How do your non-leather shoes and bags look so luxurious?
A. It’s a painstaking – yet pain-free – process of our design team sourcing, studying and testing a range of textiles that combine different blends of organic and synthetic fibres until they decide upon a fabric that looks stunning, yet versatile enough to undergo a variety of production techniques.
Because of the scientific research that goes into creating these blended fibres and subsequently, their scarcity, innovative materials could be considered a true luxury rather than leather which has become a commodity.
Both bags and shoes require the use of glue, and this too is diligently tested as to ensure the high ethical standards for which Stella McCartney is renown. No fish glue, or any other glues derived from animal parts, are used in the production of our shoes and bags.
Q. What are the challenges raised by not using leather in the manufacturing process?
A. When it comes to shoes, because synthetic or woven materials are thinner and less elastic than leather, the main difficulty is achieving a uniform product in production. This is because many of the industrial techniques and machines used in leather shops are not appropriate for non-leather shoe manufacturing.
As a consequence, this means that most of the steps in the production of both bags and shoes are executed solely by hand by skilled artisans – our bags for example, can only be produced in a couple of factories found in Italy that specialize in non-leather production. About 70% of the work is done by hand, and as a result, it costs us up to 70% more to make a pair of shoes than any other brand – yet we don’t mark it up for the customer.
Q. How do your non-leather shoes and bags look so luxurious?
A. It’s a painstaking – yet pain-free – process of our design team sourcing, studying and testing a range of textiles that combine different blends of organic and synthetic fibres until they decide upon a fabric that looks stunning, yet versatile enough to undergo a variety of production techniques.
Because of the scientific research that goes into creating these blended fibres and subsequently, their scarcity, innovative materials could be considered a true luxury rather than leather which has become a commodity.
Both bags and shoes require the use of glue, and this too is diligently tested as to ensure the high ethical standards for which Stella McCartney is renown. No fish glue, or any other glues derived from animal parts, are used in the production of our shoes and bags.