Stella McCartney launches first luxury handbag made from Mirum – the circular alternative to leather
Mirum contains no plastics and requires no tanning or additional water inputs, and it has a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional leather
Designer Stella McCartney has etched another first onto her sustainable credentials with the launch of her Mirum handbags – crafted from a new vegan, plastic-free alternative to animal leather innovated by Natural Fibre Welding (NFW). The use of the innovative leather alternative makes her the first brand to pioneer its debut in luxury handbags.
Mirum is a customisable material crafted in a three-stage process using bio-neutral, certified bio-based ingredients such as natural rubber, natural fibres, plant-based oil, and pigments like biochar and rust. It contains no plastics and requires no tanning or additional water inputs – so it avoids creating waste water.
It has a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to conventional animal and synthetic options; while petroleum-based leather alternatives produce seven to 15.8 kg of CO2 per square metre, Mirum only creates 0.8 to 2.1kg CO2, according to a study commissioned by NFW.
The result is a luxury-quality leather alternative that is both supple and durable, easily cleaned and fully water resistant. Stella McCartney reinvents her house signature handbags, the Falabella and Frayme, with the use of Mirum.
The Mirum used in the Falabella bag is made at NFW’s facility in Peoria, Illinois, before being sent to Italy to be handcrafted into Stella McCartney accessories. The Falabella handbag also features an iconic recycled brass chain handle, recyclable aluminium body chain, two special re-edition medallions in zero-waste zamak (a zinc alloy), organic cotton lacing, and a lining crafted from recycled polyester, sourced from water bottles.
The Falabella family was launched in 2009 and as the original newcomer in vegan handbags, with over one million sold globally, according to the brand. The new Mirum iterations are available in brandy and black colourways.
“My winter 2023 show is both a celebration of the love between humans and animals, as well as a call-to-action to take a stand for our planet – the perfect setting to introduce my iconic Falabella and Frayme bags in Mirum.
“I have long dreamed of the day when we would see a plant-based alternative to leather that does not kill a single creature and can be easily given back to Mother Earth, without creating waste. There is no compromise on desirability or durability; the future of fashion has arrived,” McCartney said.
The handbags were launched at Stella McCartney’s Winter 2023 runway show at Paris Fashion Week, and are available to shop, retailing at €950 for the Falabella and €1,495 for the Frayme, in Stella McCartney boutiques and online at stellmccartney.com
