Chemena Kamali Appointed Chloé’s New Creative Director

CHEMENA KAMALI IS THE NEW CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF CHLOÈ. THE ALUMNA OF SAINT LAURENT, ALBERTA FERRETTI – AND CHLOÈ IS EXPECTED TO SHOW HER FIRST COLLECTION DURING PARIS FASHION WEEK IN FEBRUARY 2024.

PARIS, FRANCE — Last summer, D.M. Fashion Book reported that Gabriela Hearst exited luxury leather goods and apparel brand Chloé after a significant three-year stint (see it here).

The Parisian house appointed Chemena Kamali to succeed Hearst at the creative helm.

Kamali  is an alumna of Saint Laurent, and she also worked at Chloé under both Phoebe Philo and Clare Waight Keller earlier in her career. Kamali is the latest female designer to helm the Paris-based fashion house.

Karl Lagerfeld held the creative director role at Chloé for many years, but otherwise the maison has a long history of female leads, from Stella McCartney and Philo, to Hannah MacGibbon and Waight Keller, to Natacha Ramsay-Levi before Hearst.

Hearst was Ramsay-Levi‘s successor (see it here). Ramsay-Levi brought an edgy élan to the brand over a nearly four-year stint. She was named creative director after Clare Waight Keller exited Chloé in 2017, after six years (see it here). The brand’s Fall/Winter 2017 collection in the City of Lights during Paris Fashion Week on March 2, 2017 was  Waight Keller‘s final collection for the house.

Kamali and Seán McGirr, who recently succeeded Sarah Burton as creative director of Alexander McQueen (see it here), studied under British professor of fashion design Louise Wilson. Before her death in 2014, Wilson was based at the Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London. Wilson mentored and shaped the careers of designers including Christopher Kane, Roksanda Ilincic and Mary Katrantzou.

Kamali is set to unveil a pre-fall collection for Chloé next January, followed by a runway debut for fall 2024 during Paris Fashion Week in February.

Born in Germany in 1981, Kamali undertook a Master of Arts in Fashion at Central Saint Martin’s University of the Arts in London under Professor Louise Wilson. Chemena graduated with distinction in 2007. The highly accomplished German designer has over two decades of experience including a long tenure with Chloé. She began her career at the Maison as part of Phoebe Philo’s team and later rejoined as Design Director to Clare Waight Keller in 2013. Most recently, from 2016, she was Women’s Ready to Wear Design Director for Anthony Vaccarello at Saint Laurent. ​
​
The appointment of Chemena Kamali as Chloé’s new Creative Director marks a meaningful return for her and the Maison.​
​
“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.” – Riccardo Bellini, President & CEO of Chloé. ​
​
“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 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. I am very grateful to Riccardo Bellini, Philippe Fortunato and Johann Rupert for this opportunity and their trust.” – Chemena Kamali, Creative Director of Chloé. ​

Her résumé also includes stints at Alberta Ferretti and Strenesse. She recently consulted for Los Angeles-based contemporary brand Frame.

Photos Credit: David Sims