H&M Unveils a Visionary Collaboration With Stella McCartney

H&M's Ann-Sofie Johansson & Stella McCartney

Almost 20 years after their debut partnership launch in November 2005, H&M announced a second co-design collaboration with renowned designer and sustainability pioneer, Stella McCartneyl; built upon the designer’s astounding archive. The edit celebrates McCartney’s specific design DNA, featuring signature styles, iconic silhouettes and house code derived from chapters in the story of her brand.

The details of the collaboration are locked behind an NDA that's basically iron-clad. However, lucky for us, the people who are desperate for any insight but don’t have the criminal know-how to break into H&M headquarters and sift through confidential documentation, we got a little a taste of what's to come.

At the Fashion Awards in London, held on the 1st of December, a little glimpse of the collaborative collection was offered to us. Dressed in looks from the upcoming collection, Amelia Gray, Anitta, Emily Ratajkowski, Yasmin Wijnaldum, Bel Priestley, Alton Mason and Kiara Nirghin were all in attendance.

And according to the little that Ann-Sofie Johansson, the Head of Womanswear at H&M, could offer, there will be, “Prints, sparkles, lace”. And from what we saw on the night, there were crystals, off the shoulder draping and vibrant reds. Johansson went on to say, “The red-carpet looks are a teaser and within them are various little archive details that fashion fans will for sure spot.”

“We wanted to make sure we captured the Stella attitude,” Johansson continues. “The feminine strength, the insouciance. From her pioneering work at Chloé in the ’90s, when she brought a cool London energy to Paris, to her rule-breaking designs under her own label in the ’00s.”

The collection will be launched in August of 2026 and will feature certified, responsible materials, many of which will be recycled. It will demonstrate examples of alternatives for conventional fabrics and textiles. The edit also celebrates McCartney’s specific design DNA, featuring signature styles, iconic silhouettes and house code derived from chapters in the story of her brand.

This new partnership marks a reconceptualisation of the H&M designer collaboration by expanding the conversation beyond the creation of a collection and placing a specific focus on advocating sustainability, through discussion, debate and action.

A big part of this collaboration involves starting a new Insights Boards, which is an initiative that brings together different voices and perspectives from across the fashion industry, to create a space for curiosity and listening. The Insights Board aims to find new avenues for brands, and for the whole industry, to influence and ideate change across the board, as well as to further raise awareness for animal welfare and innovation-driven solutions.

The goal of the collaboration, from the collection through the Insight Board, is meaningful dialogue, exceptional design, and long-lasting impact. At the core of McCartney and H&M’s vision is the belief that sustainability must remain as something that the fashion industry talks about, in a way that promotes transparency, discussion and, most importantly, hope.

Considering the impact that the fashion industry has on the environment, such an initiative is needed to bring about change in the approach that the industry has on the overall wellbeing of our planet.

“I’m excited to reunite with H&M 20 years after our first collaboration. Reworking pieces from my archive brought back so much energy and joy. This second partnership feels like a chance to look at how far we’ve come on sustainability, cruelty-free practices and conscious designs - and to stay honest about how far we still have to go, together. I am thrilled to have H&M join me on this road, real change only happens when we push from both the outside and the inside, and I’ve always believed in infiltrating from within to move the industry forward.” – Stella McCartney

“Stella is a true ground breaker. From the start, she disrupted fashion with designs that put forward a rule-breaking femininity. This collection is full of must-have pieces that nod to that legacy. Stella’s moral compass and tireless commitment to sustainable practices have long inspired all of us at H&M, so it’s an honour to partner with her on such an ambitious project.” - Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M

The Stella McCartney H&M collection will launch in South Africa in Autumn 2026/

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