Gabriela Hearst will say goodbye to the position of creative director of Chloé after presenting her latest spring summer 2024 collection of the brand in September. The news circulated today because Chloé confirmed her exit, but made no mention of a possible successor. Chloé has officially commented on the news, through the president and CEO of the fashion house Riccardo Bellini who underlined how the designer has 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.”
In addition to running her eponymous brand, Gabriela took over the role at the company three years ago.
Despite Hearst’s relatively short time at the helm of Chloé, her presence was impressive and influential.
In 2021, the French label became the first luxury fashion house in Europe to obtain Benefit Corporation (B Corp) certification (a third-party standard that legally obliges companies to act in the interests of people and the environment ). In addition to introducing greener fabrics to the collections and launching a resell program, Hearst has also reimagined its collections in chapters, each focusing on a pioneering climate solution.
This, together with highly acclaimed collections and a 60 percent increase in revenues during Hearst’s first two years on the job, clearly demonstrates the importance of her contributions.
Hearst, who joined Chloé in 2020, is said to have chosen to step away from her role as creative director to focus on her eponymous label, whose success in the realm of sustainable fashion is steadily growing.
“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 said in a statement. “Very few houses have such a history of strong female leaders who have each made their unique contribution to the maison, under the inspirational legacy of its founder Gaby Aghion. I feel empowered and excited about the work done at Chloé and, moreover, to leave a clear message that a woman can do it all and have fun while at it.”
The separation from the brand took place in a more than amicable way, given the need and desire of the designer to focus not only on her own label, but also on other projects. An example of this is the very recent collaboration that Hearst managed between Chloé and the actress Angelina Jolie, who recently announced her intention to launch a new fashion house.
