Gabriela Hearst's first collection for the Parisian fashion house also coincided with the 100th birthday of Gaby Aghion, founder of Chloé
The collection, pulled together in only two months, introduces elements of Gabriela Hearst's South American upbringing to Chloé's classic designs. Flowing dresses, ponchos and iconic bags, including the Chloé Edith bag, are pulled out of the archives and given a Hearst-style makeover, culminating in the invention of the puffcho.
What is a puffcho? It is a blanket poncho with Bordeaux stripes and fringes that is hybridised with a high puffer collar. A combination that the fashion world has never seen before, this innovative design follows Tod's, Fendi and Prada in experimenting with different outerwear silhouettes but with a focus on functionality.
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The leftover cashmere, denim and jacquard from the pieces in this collection, including the puffcho, are fully repurposed in line with the fashion house's dedication to sustainability and reducing their environmental impact. For example, they are fastened onto second hand Chloé Edith bags, adding to the patchwork aesthetic of the collection.
The discarded fabrics are also used to create the Sheltersuit Chloé Backpack. In this collaboration with Bas Timmer, fellow designer and founder of Sheltersuit Foundation, Hearst's latest collection also strives to drive social change. With the sale of each backpack, Chloé funds the making of two Sheltersuits, which are weather-proof jackets with detachable sleeping bag that can change the lives of people experiencing homelessness.
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