Gabriela Hearst Exits Chloé
A month after WWD broke the news of Gabriela Hearst‘s departure from Chloé, the brand officially confirmed the announcement yesterday. The creative director’s last collection will be showcased on September 28th during Paris Fashion Week for the Spring/Summer 2024 season. Currently, no successor has been named, but a search is actively underway. Riccardo Bellini, the president and CEO of Chloé said that Hearst, “brought great energy and a dynamic creative vision to her role at Chloé, contributing to a period of significant progress for the business, and writing a powerful new chapter in the story of our maison.” [WWD]
Guram Gvasalia Is Creating Costumes for Madonna’s Tour
Vetements‘ creative director, Guram Gvasalia, has collaborated with Madonna over the past few months to create costumes for her upcoming Celebration Tour. Gvasalia made the announcement in an Instagram post, expressing gratitude to Madonna for the opportunity. He wrote, “Working closely together on the costumes for your tour and merging our visions and creativity into one big CELEBRATION has been a privilege and an honor. Witnessing your work ethic, determination, and drive has been incredibly inspiring. Now I understand why you are who you are. You are a fighter, an icon, and THE QUEEN!” Madonna’s Celebration Tour was originally scheduled to include 84 dates across North America and Europe. However, the tour was postponed last month when the artist was hospitalized due to a “serious bacterial infection.” She is expected to recover, although rescheduled dates have not yet been announced. In an article with The New York Times, Gvasalia expressed his aspiration to achieve a level of success similar to Jean Paul Gaultier, who designed looks for Madonna’s Blond Ambition Tour in 1990. Gvasalia, who is also the brother of Demna, the creative director of Balenciaga, mentioned their different approaches to their respective work. He stated, “I believe my brother is immensely talented, but my own approach is completely different. He had a great run of 10 years, and I believe his era is slowly reaching its finish line. Now it is my time.” [NYT]
Tom Ford’s Creative Director Peter Hawkings to Debut in Milan
The industry eagerly anticipates Peter Hawking’s debut for Tom Ford, scheduled for this September. It has been announced that Hawking’s debut will take place in Milan. Notably, Tom Ford and chairman Domenico De Sole will continue to serve as advisors to support Hawking throughout the remainder of the year, guiding him through his first collection. The Tom Ford Gucci era holds significant importance in both Ford’s and Hawking’s careers, as Hawking began his tenure at Gucci under Ford in 1998. The choice of Milan as the location for Hawking’s debut could potentially signal the brand’s new vision. [Vogue]
Alexandre de Betak Is the Chair of Creative Strategy at the Independents
After more than 30 years and over 1,000 shows, Alexandre de Betak is stepping down from his role at production agency Bureau Betak. He will now assume the position of Chair of Creative Strategy at parent company The Independents, which acquired Bureau Betak in 2021 and also owns PR company – Karla Otto, influencer marketing platform – Lefty, and creative agency – Prodject. This announcement comes at an exciting time for the parent company, as they have plans to double the size of the group and achieve $700 million in annual revenues by 2025. To support this growth and future acquisitions, the company recently secured $400 million from investment firm TowerBrook Capital Partners and FL Entertainment. De Betak said, “Fashion shows and events are becoming more important than ever, but they’re part of a wider shift in the way fashion and luxury brands communicate. What this step up will allow me to do is really dedicate myself to thinking about the future, to working on the strategy of how to creatively reinvent what the future of fashion communications can be.” In his new role, de Betak will be responsible for setting strategy, attracting top talent, and identifying potential new acquisition targets. Under his guidance, the group will also invest in an incubator program aimed at nurturing small yet promising creative companies that could potentially collaborate with The Independents. [Vogue Business]
Chris Chambers Understands The Value Of A Great Fashion And Music Connection
After working with Andre 3000, Erykah Badu, Mariah Carey, Naomi Campbell, and Usher, publicist Chris Chambers spoke with Models.com to give insight on how he got his start, how he helps to shape an artist’s vision, and how important it is to work with others in the industry, at all levels.Find the interview here.
Model of the Week: Rookie Elise Kouzou Debuted at Valentino Couture
Models.com spoke to Elise Kouzou about walking the Alberta Ferretti Resort 2024 show, designing clothes, and her favorite song of the moment. Check out the interview here.
Thom Browne Sets a Theatrical Stage for His Couture Debut
Thom Browne’s mesmerizing couture debut took his usual tailored suiting to new, artisanal heights. From the grand stage of Opéra Garnier, the captivating theatrical performance wowed audiences as each model became a character inspired by Visage’s ‘Fade to Grey.’ Exquisitely detailed pieces had trompe l’oeil findings hidden in sequined patchwork coats, dramatically ballooned sleeves, and draping that amazed us. Read the rest of the review and see the exclusive images shot by Melodie Jeng here.
And don’t forget some of this week’s couture fashion Week coverage, including a behind-the-scenes glimpse backstage with Achol Ayor at Fendi and a Runway at Schiaparelli.
