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Stella McCartney debuts plant-based feathers at Paris Fashion Week

Stella McCartney spring/summer 2026 runway show, France

France – At Paris Fashion Week, Stella McCartney unveiled a striking alternative to bird feathers: plant-based Fevvers. The spring/summer 2026 collection, titled Come Together, featured three pastel dresses adorned with the innovative material, developed in partnership with UK start-up Fevvers and Indian textile house Chanakya International.

‘I realised not that long ago that feathers were a whole other barbaric part of the industry,’ McCartney said. Her mission to eliminate animal cruelty from fashion now extends beyond leather and fur to feathers, a material she says causes the deaths of billions of birds annually.

Feathers, often sourced from ostriches, ducks and peacocks, face growing backlash from animal rights groups due to inhumane farming and harvesting practices. While faux feathers offer a cruelty-free option, they’re usually plastic-based and environmentally harmful.

Fevvers, by contrast, is natural, vegan and biodegradable. ‘Each feather has a uniqueness, like a fingerprint,’ said co-founder James West. ‘This material passes the second-glance test, you assume it’s real.’

Explore our macrotrend report Biofabricated Futures which analyses the breakthrough use of biology to engineer sustainable materials and its potential to transform markets and drive future growth.

Strategic opportunity

Partner with future-focused material start-ups to replace animal-derived components such as feathers and leather in your supply chain to position your brand at the forefront of nature-positive design and ethical luxury

Pedestrians are walking faster and lingering less in public spaces

US – Pedestrians in American cities are moving faster and spending less time lingering in public spaces, according to a new study from MIT’s Senseable City Lab.

Using computer vision and artificial intelligence to analyse videos from four locations in Boston, Philadelphia and New York researchers found that walking speeds rose by 15% between 1980 and 2010, while instances of people stopping to linger or interact fell by 14%.

These statistics signal a growing perception of city streets as corridors for movement rather than environments for social interaction. ‘These findings highlight a changing urban dynamic, where efficiency increasingly shapes public space usage, potentially impacting social connections and the community-building role of these environments,’ the study notes.

The implications for urban design are significant. To create spaces that encourage slowing down and social engagement new strategies may be required, from rethinking street layouts to enhancing the appeal of outdoor community activations.

For inspiration on innovative placemaking, explore our report Five Global Placemaking Projects to Watch.

Shrub Hill Masterplan, Worcester by AR Urbanism, UK

Strategic opportunity

As urban life evolves, understanding how people move, gather and socialise can guide the design of cities that balance efficiency with community needs. How can you design retail, hospitality and cultural touchpoints that slow people down through sensory engagement, comfort or community connection?

Stat: Taylor Swift’s new album movie breaks US box office

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, Global

North America – Taylor Swift’s latest project, The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, turned a listening event into a box office hit, earning £24.6m ($33m, €28.3m) in US and Canadian cinemas during its opening weekend.

Blending Swift’s video for The Fate of Ophelia, lyric visuals and the artist’s reflections about her new album The Life of a Showgirl, the AMC-distributed Official Release Party became the top-grossing movie in North America despite minimal promotion and no advance screenings.

Internationally, it generated £9.7m ($13m, €11m) just two weeks after its announcement. This marks Swift’s second cinematic collaboration with AMC, following The Eras Tour concert film, which grossed £195m ($261.7m, €224.3m) globally in 2023.

The success of The Official Release Party of a Showgirl highlights how Swift continues to redefine fan engagement, transforming music launches into communal cinema experiences that generate cultural and commercial impact.

In our Parasocial Relationships in 2030 report, we analysed how sing-along screenings of the animated movie KPop Demon Hunters are driving new forms of experiential fandom.

Strategic opportunity

Consider how to reimagine product launches as cinematic experiences. For instance, can you turn brand or product unveilings into theatrical, shared events that blur entertainment and commerce to offer a sense of exclusivity and community?