Stella McCartney's plea for planet after deal with fashion's richest man

British designer Stella McCartney pleaded for fashion to "wake up" and help save the planet on Monday after her first Paris show as part of the industry's biggest luxury conglomerate.

"The world is crying out for change and it is our responsibility to act now," said the creator, whose label is a pioneer of ethical fashion.

Her comments come days after LVHM's billionaire owner, Bernard Arnault -- the second richest man in the world -- attacked Greta Thunberg at the launch of his group's environmental drive.

Attack on Greta Thunberg

"She doesn't offer anything other than criticism," he told reporters in Paris after the event, where McCartney also spoke.

The designer has become Arnault's personal advisor on sustainability since he bought into her brand in July, although she remains the majority shareholder.

Arnault's LVMH group, whose huge stable of luxury brands includes Dior, Louis Vuitton and Givenchy, is seen as lagging behind its French rival Kering.

'Not just a trend'

Sustainability "is the future of fashion, not just a trend", she said.

"The younger generation are standing up and telling us that our house is on fire and that we need to respond like we are in a crisis, because in fact it is a crisis," she said. 

To the sound of Donna's Summer's "Love to Love You Baby", McCartney projected images of coupling pangolins, Artic foxes and other endangered species onto the Belle Epoque ceilings of the Opera Garnier in Paris.

A model presents a creation by Stella McCartney during the fashion show.

Lace and classy grace

McCartney insisted her classy spring summer collection was "the most sustainable ever" and included raffia bags made by female artisans in Madagascar, with the material coming from communities fighting deforestation.

It also included a luxurious-feeling new fake fur called Koba, made from plant-based plastics and recycled polyester, and shoes with sustainable wooden heels and sneakers made from "second life plastic".

With Kaia Gerber -- the daughter of 1990s supermodel Cindy Crawford -- wearing one of a series of ingenious flower print dresses, the catwalk was dominated by elegant lace and Mughal crenellation fringed creations.

Agence France-Presse