Stella McCartney has made headway as crusader against animal cruelty and maintains a vegan fashion line and lifestyle, but despite her penchant for organic fabrics, don't feel compelled to call her a sustainable designer. "It's not very sexy sounding, is it," she retorted recently at a Neiman Marcus shopping event in San Francisco when it was suggested that she is the face of sustainable luxury. "We've never shouted about it, and until recently no one has really mentioned it except for journalists. If anything, people would ridicule us when it came up!"

"That said, naturally I'm proud of it, because that's where fashion is going," she continued. "It's the most modern thing you can do. It's just the way I work – fashion isn't separate from the rest of your life. When we can do something that is environmentally conscious in the collection, then we do. If it looks like crap, then we don't do it."

More of our Q&A with Stella after the jump:

What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for sustainable design?
For example, knitwear is a no-brainer, there's so much organic product out there. It's much harder with shoes or bags, a little easier in jersey. In every collection you learn a little more.

Is it getting easier?
No! Surprisingly there are not more choices, and I find myself working with the same organic fabrics. There are some interesting things happening with recycled silk or plastic, but it's not there yet.

Do you think it's important for your customers?
It's not my first thought when I'm designing. My job to create incredibly beautifully made, desirable, emotional products for women. If someone says, oh, I love that bag, and then they read it's vegan, I feel like I've achieved something.

You don't use fur or leather in your collections. How do you feel about repurposed or vintage leather or fur?
I used to be fine with it, I even used to wear old stuff, but not anymore. You have to have a trained eye to tell when something is vintage. Most people can't tell, so it makes it seem like you approve, or that fur is okay.

How has the recession changed the way you work?
I believe that my designs should be accessible to everyone, but I also believe in high quality and beautiful workmanship, and yes, that gets expensive. We try to balance it, with entry point pieces, but some of them are bigger investments. Of course, I hope you'll have those items for the rest of your life.

How do you describe your point of view as a designer?
I'm interested in the psychology of women. I really believe that I work for my customers, and that it's important to make clothes that women want to wear. Usually I'm surrounded by 7' tall glamazons, and it's their job to look good in the clothes and not give opinions.