Younger McCartney Signs With a New Label

Gucci Group, a luxury conglomerate famously successful for hiring new young talent to resuscitate old-school design houses, is launching a label for young designer Stella McCartney.

McCartney, 29, the daughter of Beatle-turned-sir Paul McCartney and his late environmentalist wife, Linda, will leave the French house of Chloe, which she was hired to revive in 1997.

“I’m incredibly excited by the decision,” she said in a statement. McCartney rocketed to stardom on fringed rock ‘n’ roll dresses and glam T-shirts embraced by famous friends such as Liv Tyler and Chrissie Hynde. At her most recent show, in March, the designer’s fall collection showed a new maturity with smart-looking asymmetrical dresses and long, appliqued coats.

In the next few years, Gucci Group plans to bankroll a line of women’s ready-to-wear clothing and accessories for McCartney, plus several boutiques.

Gucci creative director Tom Ford said, “Her clothes have an enormous appeal to women around the world. Stella’s design talent, energy and star power will ensure her continued success.”

McCartney’s design assistant, Phoebe Philo, 27, will assume the role of creative director at Chloe.