Gabriela Hearst exits Chloé: "It has been the greatest privilege"
Gabriela Hearst will step down as creative director of Chloé after presenting her final collection for the house in September. The designer took on the role, alongside heading up her namesake brand, three years ago.
A WWD report broke the news last month that Hearst's next collection – spring/summer 2024 – for Chloé will be her last, and she will leave to focus on her eponymous label. News circulated today confirming her exit, with Chloé yet to name her successor.
The designer shared a heartfelt statement addressing her departure: “It has been the greatest privilege to share my creative vision and to add my voice to the story of Chloé, a remarkable maison that I have always loved so dearly."
She continued: "I am grateful to have been part of the incredible team laying strong foundations for a purpose-driven future for fashion, and I am so proud of the positive change we have collectively achieved in developing a business and design perspective that puts our people and our environment first."
Hearst was first appointed creative director of Chloé in December 2020, taking over from over from Natacha Ramsay-Levi. Although her time at the French fashion house has been relatively short, she has achieved something quite extraordinary – under her sustainability-focused direction, Chloé was the first European luxury fashion house to be given B Corp status.
As well as introducing more environmentally-friendly fabrics into the collections and launching a resale programme, Hearst also restructured her collections into chapters, each one focussed on a pioneering climate solution. At Chloé, just like at her namesake brand, Hearst's entire focus was on bettering the fashion industry and encouraging more sustainable approaches to production and consumption.
In her role as creative director of Chloé, Hearst followed in the footsteps of a number of prestigious designers, including Stella McCartney, Karl Lagerfeld, Clare Waight Keller, Phoebe Philo and, most recently, Ramsay-Levi. Hearst also made history as the first female designer with a multicultural heritage (she is from Uruguay and the United States) to take the helm of a Parisian fashion house.
Chloé officially addressed the news, with the fashion house's president and CEO Riccardo Bellini explaining: "brought great energy and a dynamic creative vision to her role at Chloé, contributing to a period of significant progress for the business, and writing a powerful new chapter in the story of our maison.
He added: "I would like to warmly thank her for bringing so much of herself to this mission – her passion, drive and values, and for her unwavering commitment to supporting the maison’s meaningful progression in shaping a more responsible future, true to the legacy of our founder."
It's a time of change for the luxury label, as Gabriela Hearst recently announced a special partnership with Angelina Jolie's new company, Atelier Jolie.
The actress and designer have co-designed a womenswear capsule collection together, consisting mostly of eveningwear that is inspired by pieces Jolie has worn in the past. Everything has been produced with deadstock and low-impact materials, while the team will also spotlight the work of the artisans involved.
"An exercise in modern femininity, the capsule collection celebrates authentic women-to-women connections," Chloé said of the project.
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