Designer Gabriela Hearst unveiled her first collection for Chloé yesterday, one hundred years to the day of founder Gaby Aghion’s birth. The fall 2021 collection is inspired by the brand’s continued commitment to sustainability and the greater good of society as a whole. The concept of moving forward emerges through a subtlety in design and every piece was created with purpose in mind.
Aghion herself was once quoted as saying “there was no luxury ready-to-wear; well-made clothes with quality fabrics and fine detailing did not exist”, and as the show began with this quote, the brand emphasizes its commitment to quality and workmanship. Throughout the collection, knitwear and woven pieces are seen in soft marbled colors with a slightly irregular form, all handmade in a Parisian workshop.
Emblematic House codes are reimagined like the scalloped detailing that Aghion used in her 1960 show. The detailing appears on RTW as well as a leather handbag called the Juana Bag. Hearst also introduces a new version of an old classic for her debut.
The designer’s first luxury bag was a Chloé Edith bag, and fittingly enough the show featured 50 vintage Edith bags that were repurposed with leftover materials from the collection. Each piece is unique, and these appear alongside new Edith reissues, which include a mini version, a tote and a doctor’s bag.
Other new styles include hand-knit leather totes which are finished with a wooden C made from recycled materials. The subtle branding detail is hand-knit into the handle. The bags are a stark contrast from Hearst’s predecessor, proving that there’s a new Chloé in town. View bags from the runway below.
[images via Chloé]
