Sustainable fashion designer Stella McCartney designed Minnie Mouse’s first pantsuit in a move to bring the Disney icon’s look up to date.
A century is a long time to wear the same dress, even for a Disney character. The nearly 100-year-old Minnie Mouse has now stepped into modernity with a power pantsuit, courtesy of sustainable designer, Stella McCartney.
McCartney was chosen for the project because of her “legacy of female leadership,” as well as her commitment to sustainability.
“Minnie has always had a special place in my heart,” McCartney said in a press video. “We share the same values, and what I love about Minnie is that she personifies happiness, self-expression, authenticity…plus she has such great style.”
Stella McCartney designs
McCartney has been at the forefront of the sustainable fashion movement since the designer launched her label two decades ago. She’s eschewed unethical and unsustainable products such as leather and fur since inception.
The daughter of Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney, the designer has taken style cues from the band’s heyday. Her most recent collection featured looks inspired by another Disney project, the eight-hour Disney+ Beatles Get Back series directed by Peter Jackson.
The McCartney-designed suit is a custom blue tuxedo featuring black polka dots and, in true Minnie fashion, a matching bow.
In true McCartney style, the suit marks another first for a Disney character; it’s the first design made from “responsibly sourced fabrics.”
During the early days of Covid lockdown, McCartney outlined a sustainability manifesto.
“My A to Z originated during lockdown; a moment of pause that allowed our community to reflect and return to the world more mindful. A guiding alphabet, each of the 26 letters is a conversation about our values,” the designer wrote in November 2020. She partnered with a number of global artists including Olafur Eliasson, Jeff Koons, and Sam Taylor-Johnson to bring the manifesto to life.
Last November, the designer detailed her experiences during the COP26 climate summit taking place in Glasgow. Through a series of events and posts for Vogue, she championed a shift in the fashion industry, which is one of the most resource-intensive.
She also encouraged extra attention be paid to today’s youth in this climate fight.
“Younger people will suffer the consequences of climate change and are so much more aware of it as a problem, but also its potential solutions,” she said. “When they speak, we owe it to them to listen.”
The pantsuit
The pantsuit has been a statement piece for years, most recently popularized by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Vice President Kamala Harris. For Minnie, McCartney hopes it’s also a nod to shifting perceptions about gender norms.
McCartney says the look is an acknowledgment of what she hopes is a representation of inclusivity and empowerment.
“I wanted Minnie to wear her very first pantsuit at Disneyland Paris, so I have designed one of my iconic costumes — a blue tuxedo — using responsibly sourced fabrics,” the designer said. “This new take on her signature polka dots makes Minnie Mouse a symbol of progress for a new generation.”
Minnie temporarily ditched her dress in 2019 in favor of a maritime uniform that featured pants. The new design will also be featured on a limited-edition t-shirt with the slogan “Divine Feminine.”
The character’s new look will be revealed at Disneyland Paris in March for International Women’s Day and the park’s 30th anniversary. It will also be featured on McCartney’s Winter 2022 runway show on March 7th.
