AN UPDATE FROM THE EDITOR: As of today, July 6th, the rumors that were swirling last month have been confirmed. Gabriela Hearst is departing Chloé after 3 years at the French House. She will present her last collection for the Spring/Summer 2024 season at Paris Fashion Week in September, Vogue Business reports.
Hearst’s time at Chloé has been defined by her sustainability efforts. During her time at the helm of the brand, she was responsible for further defining the Chloé vision while elevating its brand strategy. In a statement, Gabriela Hearst reflected fondly on her time, expressing gratitude for being part of one of “few houses [that] have such a history of strong female leaders.”
“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.” -Gabriela Hearst
It’s unclear who will take Hearst’s place at the helm of the brand, though it’s been reported that designer Chemena Kamali, who is currently design director for women’s ready-to-wear at Saint Laurent, is in talks as a replacement. Kamali previously worked at Chloé between 2012 and 2015 as head of design for ready-to-wear and design director for pre-collections.
Rumors Are Swirling
Late in 2020, Chloé announced that designer Gabriela Hearst would step into the role of Creative Director following Natacha Ramsay-Levi’s departure. Soon thereafter, Hearst debuted her first collection at Paris Fashion Week Fall 2021, and it was clear that a new Chloé was in town. Putting an emphasis on sustainable luxury, Hearst’s time at Chloé has been all about furthering the French House’s commitment to the environment.
She has succeeded in doing so, boosting profits for the brand all the while, but according to WWD, her time as a Chloé Girl is coming to an end shortly.
While nothing has been confirmed by the brand itself, sources say that Hearst will be leaving the brand to focus on her namesake label, founded in 2015. Her vision for Chloé aligned deeply with her own personal vision, and her collections have been mostly well-received, and it remains unclear if there are further reasons for the split. It is said that Heast will show her final collection for the spring 2024 season this coming fall. We’ll continue to share updates as further new breaks.
What do you think of this rumor?
