Chloé names Chemena Kamali as new creative director

Chloé has named Chemena Kamali as its new creative director replacing Gabriela Hearst who presented her final collection for the Richemont-owned house at Paris Fashion Week this month.

German designer Kamali, a graduate of Central Saint Martins, began her career at Chloé as part of Phoebe Philo's team and rejoined the house as design director under Clare Waight Keller in 2013. In 2016 she went on to join Yves Saint Laurent ready to wear design director under Anthony Vaccarello. Her appointment at Chloé marks a "meaningful return for her and the brand", the company said. ​

“My heart has always been Chloé’s. It has been since I stepped through its doors more than 20 years ago. Returning feels natural and very personal. I am extremely honoured to be taking on this role and to be building on the vision that [brand founder] Gaby Aghion and Karl Lagerfeld defined early in the Maison’s history. I hope to capture the emotional connection and spirit of Chloé for today," Kamali said.

Chloé CEO Riccardo Bellini added: “I am proud to welcome Chemena Kamali to Chloé. Her extraordinary creative talent, extensive experience and unique connection with the brand’s legacy and values make her a natural choice for the Maison. Chemena’s vision, inspired by her love for the brand, will truly celebrate Chloé’s unique DNA. Chemena is both the Creative Director of Chloé and the embodiment of the Chloé spirit. I am excited to see her vision come to life."

Uruguayan design Gabriele Hearst stepped down from the brand after three years to concentrate on her own brand. During her tenure at Chloé she set out to bring a greater focus on sustainability with the brand achieving B-Corp status in 2021.

Chemena Kamali, meanwhile, will present her first pre-collection for Chloé in Paris in January 2024, followed by her Fall-Winter 2024 collection during Paris Fashion Week in February 2024. ​

She is the second high-profile appointment in luxury fashion in recent days. Last week Kering revealed that Seán McGirr would take over as creative director at Alexander McQueen, having most recently worked under Jonathan Anderson at JW Anderson. Like Kamali, McGirr, studied under the late Professor Louise Wilson, known for training many of fashion's most successful designers, at Central Saint Martins.