Gabriela Hearst: Who is the new Chloé creative director?

Uruguayan designer renowned for focus on sustainability

(Rex Features)

On Monday, it was announced that Gabriela Hearst would be succeeding Natacha Ramsay-Levi as creative director at Chloé.

During her four years at the helm of the luxury French fashion house, Ramsay-Levi established a reputation for her slick, feminine and empowering designs.

Hearst is set to bring an entirely new vision to the brand, with Chloé CEO Riccardo Bellini commenting: “I have always admired [Hearst’s] 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.”

Speaking about her appointment, Hearst commented: “I am grateful for an opportunity at such a beloved brand as Chloé. 

“I am thankful to Natacha Ramsay-Levi and all the other extraordinary designers that have come before her and helped build on the purposeful vision of [Chloé’s founder] Gaby Aghion.”

But who is Hearst? And how could her focus on sustainability transform Chloé? Here’s everything you need to know.

Who is Gabriela Hearst?

Gabriela Hearst is a self-taught Uruguayan American designer. She grew up on her family’s ranch in central Uruguay and studied performing arts in New York.

In 2004, she launched her own label, Candela, in Brooklyn. The collection comprised T-shirts with silk-screen illustrations and, in 2006, expanded to include shoes.

She founded her eponymous brand in 2015 and has continued to rise to success ever since, having won numerous awards.

In 2016, Hearst won the Woolmark prize for womenswear and in 2018 she was awarded the Pratt Institute’s “fashion visionary” award.

In 2020, Hearst was named “American womenswear designer of the year” by the CFDA.

She is married to John Augustine Hearst, whose family owns Hearst Corporation, the leading US media company that owns publications such as Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar.

What is her brand known for?

Gabriela Hearst is renowned for its accessories, such as its Nina bag, which was named after Nina Simone.

The small top-handle handbag has been worn by countless celebrities, including the Duchess of Sussex, and there is currently a long waiting list for it.

Meghan Markle carries the Nina bag (Getty Images)

Another one of Hearst’s signature features is tailoring. The designer is renowned for her flattering and sophisticated double-breasted suits that come in a range of vibrant hues.

How does Hearst champion sustainability?

Hearst is revered within the industry for her commitment to environmentalism.

Last week, she was named as one of the British Fashion Council’s top five brands driving change within the sustainability sector.

The Uruguayan designer also runs her namesake brand from her ranch in Uruguay and has operated a no-plastic policy at her runway shows for many years. In 2017, Hearst became the first brand to introduce compostable bio-plastics for all their packaging.

For spring/summer 2020, she also became the first fashion label to stage a carbon-neutral fashion show.

Speaking about her ambitions to bring her eco-conscious spirit to Chloé, Hearst said she is keen to “create a business that is socially conscious and in balance with our environment”.

Which celebrities have worn Hearst’s clothing?

Hearst’s designs have been worn by countless famous faces, including Oprah and First Lady-elect, Jill Biden.

Jill Biden pictured with Hearst in one of her designs at a charity gala in October (Getty Images)

She has also dressed Selena Gomez, Zoe Kravitz, Glenn Close, and Meghan Markle, who wore a black Gabriela Hearst dress while on tour in New Zealand in 2018.

The actor Laura Dern wore a Gabriela Hearst gown to the Met Gala in 2019, while Uma Therman did so to the event in 2018. 

Will Hearst remain at her namesake brand when she joins Chloé?

Hearst will remain creative director at her own brand when she officially joins Chloé.

The fashion designer’s first collection for the brand will be presented during Paris Fashion Week in March 2021.