Chemena Kamali is the new creative director of Chloé

French fashion house Chloé has just announced its new artistic director, Chemena Kamali. Her career has ranged from Saint Laurent to Chloé ateliers, having worked for Phoebe Philo and Clare Weight Keller. Kamali's appointment comes just five days after McGirr's appointment at McQueen, and renews Chloé's desire to keep a woman at the helm, following Stella McCartney, Philo, Waight Keller, Martine Sitbon, Hannah MacGibbon and Gabriela Hearst. Kamali's first collection will be presented in lookbook in January, while the first catwalk show will be staged at Paris Fashion Week in February 2024. 

«My heart has always been Chloé. It has always been since I walked through its doors more than 20 years ago,» Kamali shared. «The return is natural and very personal. I am extremely honoured to take on this role and build on the vision that Gaby Aghion and Karl Lagerfeld defined at the beginning of the maison's history. I hope to capture the emotional connection and spirit of Chloé for today.» Born in Germany, Kamali studied design at Trier University of Applied Sciences and then at Central Saint Martins in London, starting alongside Philo at Chloé from 2007. In 2013 she returned to the style offices of the Parisian fashion house alongside Clare Waight Keller, while in 2016 she was chosen by Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent. Over the years she has also worked for Alberta Ferretti and Strenesse, serving as a consultant for the Los Angeles-based brand Frame. 

Kamali's arrival at the helm of Chloé once again represents the willingness of Richemont, the parent group of the fashion house, to choose female designers for the brand - even at a time when everyone else seems to be pulling in the opposite direction. Hearst's departure was made official last July, and her last show was presented at Paris Fashion Week in September, a joyous celebration of her farewell that combined the brand's French roots with the designer's Uruguayan roots in a party with music. In three years, Hearst has made drastic changes to the fashion house, incorporating projects focused on sustainability, including upcycling and a materials tracking initiative. Thanks to the designer and her commitment to environmentally friendly fashion, Chloé's improved production practices have enabled the house to become the first luxury brand in the world to achieve B Corp certification in 2021. At the same time, Hearst's designs have contributed to Chloé's 60% growth in sales.