French fashion house Chloé has tapped Chemena Kamali to lead creatives for the labe. The appoinment was announced 10 days following designer Gabriel Heart’s final show for the Richemeont-owned label, held during Paris Fashion Week. Kamali will present her first collection for Chloé in January 2024.
The German-born Kamali is a graduate of Central Saint Martins in London. She started her career at Chloé as a member of Phoebe Philo’s design team and later returned in 2013 as a member of Clare Waight Keller’s team. Her professional background also includes serving as the women’s design director at Saint Laurent, and she most recently contributed her expertise as a consultant for the contemporary line Frame.
In a statement released on Monday, Kamali expressed her connection to Chloé, saying, “My heart has always been with Chloé’s. It has been since I first walked through its doors more than two decades ago. Returning feels natural and deeply personal.”
Kamali will have big shoes as Hearst’s replacement. Known for a pushing the label in a more sustainable direction, Hearst was responsible for the Nama sneaker, a shoe popular enough to be widely copied.
