Uruguay-born, New York–based designer Gabriela Hearst, has been officially appointed creative director of French luxury fashion house, Chloé. The news follows on from Natacha Ramsay-Levi's departure announcement late last week, with CEO Riccardo Bellini welcoming her in a statement this morning.
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Gabriela Hearst to our Maison. I have always admired her vibrant creative energy and exquisite sense of quality and craft. Her powerful vision of more responsible fashion truly embodies the values and sense of commitment of today's Chloé women," read the statement.
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Hearst is the first non-European to hold to the prolific title, and her passion for sustainability and approach to responsible fashion is a clear drawcard for the French brand and the direction they are looking to take moving forward. During an interview with WWD early in November, Bellini hinted at the transition to a more sustainably-minded business model, revealing that Chloé was seeking B Corporation certification for its social and environmental performance and creating an advisory board to hold the company accountable.
“What a brand stands for, its beliefs and values, will become as relevant as products and aesthetics.”
Hearst first burst onto the scene in 2015, with her eponymous label that quickly gained traction for its highly desirable bags – the Nina bag especially, gaining it-bag status and garnering an 100-person-long waitlist. From there, Hearst shared her first runway show for fall 2017, a collection and event that was produced with as little environmental impact as possible. She continues to champion environmental responsibility by sourcing deadstock materials, opting for eco-friendly fabrics like linen, cutting out more damaging ones such as cotton, and chooses to use recycled yarns whenever she can.
Following the announcement of her appointment, Hearst shared in a statement that she is, "excited for the opportunity to work under the leadership of Riccardo Bellini and support him in his commitment to create a business that is socially conscious and in balance with our environment."
2020 has certainly been a significant year for Hearst. In addition to her appointment as creative director of Chloé, she was also named as a CFDA Fashion Award winner for the American Womenswear Designer of the Year category. Hearst plans to show her first collection with Chloé in March 2021, while continuing to operate her namesake brand.
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