Chloé Proposes a Neo-Renaissance for Spring 2022

This season, 55% of the ready-to-wear collection has been created from lower impact materializations like organic silk, deadstock fabrics, and recycled cashmere. The season touched upon several other key features like a portion of the designs manufactured by WFTO fair trade members in Akanjo and Manos del Uruguay, a partnership with Nations Refugee Agency’s Made 51 providing handbag embellishments, and the use of responsible leather sourced from the Leather Working Group. It also marked the start of a collaboration with Adriano Goldschmied’s The Denim Project, aiming to continuously improve upon the footprint of the house’s denim line.

While sustainability is a clear focus, the integrity and artistry of the designs remained at the foregrunt. The collection proposed a new movement for the modern-day, a Neo-Renaissance, acknowledging the Arts and Crafts movement that occurred in response to the dehumanization of the Industrial Revolution. Coupled with hopes of climate success, the house looked at the romantic expressions of pre-Raphaelite portraiture to inform the dress-centric suite of designs for the upcoming year.

Silhouettes featuring full sleeves and long skirts were updated through the use of fabrications like denim and leather faintly recalled period styles, also in details like metal eyelets and mixed textural knits. There were matching skirt suits in warm hues and dresses with frilled shoulders, belted at the waist in leather—like our favorite dress in navy blue with colorful embroidered embellishments. There were also loose-fitting knit maxi-dresses that embodied an easy elegance, and a suite of designs made with denim, including a leather-and-denim trench coat, a pair of knee-high boots, and a fitted dress with a rust-hued satin skirt.

Standout elements we’re still thinking about included the colorful stitching on sneakers; intricate weaving making up details on pockets and full garments; intermingled textures like chunky knits with smooth leather; and the intricate floral cut-outs seen decorating skirt hems, handbags, and collars.