The fashion industry has been rocked by the coronavirus, with designers and retailers all around the world feeling the effects.
Stella McCartney is the latest designer to come under pressure.
The designer has furloughed hundreds of staff and has asked those who are still working to take a pay cut, despite her personal fortune estimated at more than £60 million (€68,347,557.06).
Stella McCartney designs are loved by celebs, she designed Megan Markle’s gown for the reception at her wedding, and the brand is worth an estimated £500 million (€568,862,500.00).
Her staff at her flagship stores in London received letters informing them of the company’s news.
According to the Daily Mail as many as half of the 1,400 employees at her 51 stores worldwide were being placed on furlough. Many of her stores, including her New York and Los Angeles have all been forced to close due to lockdown measures.
She will now be using taxpayer money offered through the British Government bailout scheme to help pay for her staff. But it’s understood that she has told her staff that there are no plans in place to top up wages.
Some of her employees have hit out at her ‘morally wrong’ actions.
‘We had all expected much more from Stella, but she has shown no loyalty. She prides herself on social credentials, but we have just been dumped.’
People have taken to Twitter to express their dismay with one saying ‘daddy’s massaged your ego long enough to play fashion designer. Do not expect the UK public to do the same.’
Stella McCartney is not the first designer to face public scrutiny during the COVID-19 outbreak.
TV presenter Piers Morgan slammed Victoria Beckham calling her a ‘pampered prima donna millionaires’ after it was announced the designer was to furlough 30 staff.
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