Stella McCartney launches exclusive Brazil range

«For me, Brazilian women are cool and sexy I have to say, and they are definitely aware when it comes to fashion,» the 43-year-old designer said.

«I think they’re very much at the forefront of fashion,» said McCartney, daughter of Beatles legend Paul, as she launched the apparel for C&A.

She added she was driven by a desire to take a sustainable and responsible approach to her work — values she said came from her parents.

«I grew up in the countryside, on an organic farm, so I was very aware of the seasons of nature.

«So for me, when I went into fashion, I wanted to be responsible, and have a different take on luxury fashion, where I would not work with fur or leather,» said McCartney, adding she wanted her collection to be affordable options for the buying public at large.

«I try to approach what I do in fashion in a sustainable and a responsible way, so not only in the materials that I use, but the way that I source and manufacture my product,» she said of a range priced between $35 and $150 and made from fabrics including cotton, viscose, lame and lace.

Working on collaborations such as her current one with the C&A chain meant «pausing fast-fashion, just slowing it down for a moment, so that the consumer who maybe can’t afford our clothes can come and have a different experience with C&A.»

McCartney said she saw her range as «quite timeless, so it’s fast-fashion — but it’s meeting luxury in a way that you will have these garments, I hope, in the way they’re designed, in the way which we’ve sourced the highest (quality) materials we could with C&A.

«I think what we have done here is a good example of what we can do with fast fashion. I think they will last you longer than normal fast-fashion,» said McCartney, adding she was «emotionally attached to everything I create.»

She told reporters fashion was «not just about luxury,» hence her collaboration with a high street store.

«I also worked with a lot of sustainable and environmentally friendly fabrics in this collaboration, so for me, it’s about doing fast-fashion in a way that just slows it down a little bit,» McCartney explained.

«C&A is an incredible brand. It’s been really exciting as we’ve worked together once before.

Much, but not all, of the collection is Brazil-made, with some items produced in Asia — primarily China and India — C&A vice president Paulo Correa said.

Correa noted McCartney had launched an exclusive Brazil range in 2011 «and it was very successful.»