Following the unveiling of her final collection in September, Gabriela Hearst will leave her position as creative director of Chloé. Three years after taking on the position, Hearst made the decision to step down from the brand in order to zero in on her own line.
In a moving message about leaving, the fashion designer said: “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.”
Adding: “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.”
In December 2020, Hearst became Chloé’s creative director, taking over from Natacha Ramsay-Levi, she then debuted her first collection for Richemont-owned Chloé in March 2021. Under her sustainability-focused direction, Chloé became the first European luxury fashion house to achieve B Corp status. Hearst introduced environmentally-friendly fabrics, launched a resale program, and restructured collections into chapters focusing on climate solutions.
However, Hearst and Atelier Jolie, Angelina Jolie’s new clothing line, are set to go ahead as planned, having worked together to produce a womenswear capsule collection utilizing deadstock and lower-impact materials.
Chloé followed a brand-elevation strategy by emulating Hearst’s refined style and quality. She managed the introduction of recyclable Gayia eyewear and low-impact Nama footwear. To increase the Chloé customer base, she also collaborated with Moon Boot, Teva, Barbour, and Eres.
