Gabriela Hearst, the creative force behind Chloé for the past three transformative years, is bidding farewell to her role as the brand’s creative director. Chloé has confirmed the rumors, and with her departure, Hearst is preparing to enter a new chapter.
Gabriela Hearst’s Sustainable Vision
Joining the Chloé family in March 2021, the Uruguayan designer brought with her a strong focus on sustainability, which she had embodied in her namesake brand. Under her creative direction, Chloé embraced a purpose-driven future for fashion, becoming a certified B Corp in October 2021. This designation marked the brand’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility.
Fashioning Sustainability
During her time at Chloé, Hearst spearheaded several sustainability initiatives. One notable milestone was the introduction of a social impact measurement tool in 2022, showcasing the brand’s dedication to transparency and accountability. Taking it a step further, Chloé launched a resale program that utilized digital IDs for tracking, ensuring authenticity and traceability in the secondhand market. The collaboration with Atelier Jolie, Angelina Jolie’s fashion brand, showcased Hearst’s passion for craftsmanship and sustainability. The womenswear capsule collection celebrated artisans’ work while incorporating lower-impact materials. This collaboration exemplified Hearst’s commitment to ethical and environmentally conscious fashion.
A Fond Farewell – Hearst’s Reflections
As she prepares to bid adieu to Chloé, Gabriela Hearst expressed her gratitude for the brand. She leaves with immense pride in the positive changes they achieved, putting both people and the environment at the forefront of their design perspective. Hearst lauded Chloé’s history of strong female leaders and left a clear message that a woman can indeed do it all and have fun while doing so.
Looking Ahead
It’s known that the company remains committed to female designers, following the footsteps of its inspirational founder, Gaby Aghion. Among the potential candidates, Chemena Kamali stands out. Kamali, currently the design director for women’s ready-to-wear at Saint Laurent, has prior experience with Chloé, having served as head of design for ready-to-wear and design director for pre-collections from 2012 to 2015. Though the brand has not commented on the matter, anticipation builds as the world awaits the next chapter in Chloé’s history. With Gabriela Hearst’s final collection set to be showcased during Paris Fashion Week on September 28th, it promises to be a celebration of joy and creativity. As we bid adieu to one chapter, we eagerly anticipate the new direction Chloé will take with the arrival of a new creative visionary.