Designer Stella McCartney took home a £1.5 million dividend last year as her brand enjoyed unrivalled exposure from designing kits for the Great British Olympic team.
2012 was a busy year for Stella McCartney - as well as designing 500 or so kits for Team GB, the designer was feted at the British Fashion Awards and named in the Queen's New Year's Honour's List - but it's all paid off. Literally.
Sales last year at Stella McCartney Limited rose 25 per cent to £25.7 million, meaning that profits jumped by 39 per cent thanks to the unrivalled exposure the brand received around the Olympic Games. Pre-tax profits rose to £4.6m from £3.3m in 2011, accounts show.
McCartney personally owns half the company, meaning that the mother-of-four had the pleasure of taking home a £1.5 million dividend. The other half of the brand is owned by luxury conglomerate Kering, which also owns stakes in Christopher Kane, Gucci, Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen.
McCartney designed the Olympic kit in partnership with Adidas, and enjoys an ongoing collaboration with the sportswear retailer.
"I'd do it forever and ever" said McCartney about designing the Team GB kit. She told The Telegraph earlier this year: "It's funny, it took up so much of my life last year - everyone's life. And it was an incredible experience, one of the most incredible experiences ever to work on, and to be a part of that, even in a small way, was just amazing for me.
