By Hannah Fox
Creative Director of French brand Chloé, Clare Waight Keller, is officially stepping down after six years. This announcement comes after weeks of speculation. Spokespeople at Chloé have “no comment” about Waight Keller stepping down, and there’s no word of who will take her place.
“Clare has been a remarkable partner at Chloé over the past six years,” Geoffroy de la Bourdonnaye, chief executive of the company, said in a statement. He went on to say that Waight Keller left her mark on the brand by infusing a “cool and easy brand into the Chloe Wardrobe.”
Waight Keller joined the Chloé team in 2011 from Pringle of Scotland, where she was the creative director. At Chloé, she brought a “bohemian flare” to the brand, and the has been accredited with growing the label since she began her career with them.
There have been a number of speculations as to why Waight Keller is leaving and also what she will do next. Last year Waight Keller moved her family from Paris to London and has been working between the two cities since. There have also been creative directors in the past, such as Raf Simons leaving Dior for Calvin Klein, who have left simply for other opportunities. It has not been announced what the actual reason for her departure is.
All we know so far is that this is an amicable breakup. Waight Keller will show her last collection for Chloé at Paris Fashion Week on March 2nd. The fashion house is also throwing a party for their parting creative director on the evening after her autumn/winter 2017 collection show. We’re hoping to hear more soon, and see what changes this move brings to Chloé!