Stella McCartney Named Chevalier of France’s Légion d’Honneur

Stella McCartney has received France’s highest national honour. She was named a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur during a ceremony at the Élysée Palace, where the award was presented by Emmanuel Macron.

Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Légion d’Honneur is the highest order of merit in France. It recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to the country or to wider international cultural and professional life. The honour is sometimes awarded to non-French citizens.

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The ceremony was attended by a small group of guests including McCartney’s father, Paul McCartney, media executive Oprah Winfrey and fashion editor Anna Wintour.

McCartney launched her fashion label in 2001 and has consistently avoided the use of leather and fur in her collections. The brand has focused on developing alternatives to animal-derived materials and exploring lower-impact production processes.

Photo – Instagram

France has played a role in her professional career. Early on, she trained in Paris and completed an internship with the couture house founded by Christian Lacroix. In 1997 she was appointed creative director of the Paris-based fashion label Chloé, succeeding Karl Lagerfeld. She has continued to present collections in the city as part of Paris Fashion Week.

Photo – Instagram 

The French honour follows recognition in the United Kingdom. McCartney was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2013 and was later promoted to Commander of the same order by King Charles III for services to fashion and sustainability.

She graduated from Central Saint Martins in London in 1995. Since establishing her brand, McCartney has promoted the use of animal-free materials and has spoken publicly about environmental issues connected to the fashion industry.