Chloé Leads The Way For Sustainable Luxury Brands With Brand New B Corp Certification

Chloé has bragging (and bagging) rights. 

The couture fashion house became the luxury industry’s first brand to nab the coveted certification as a B Corp.

Sounds business-y and boring, right?

WRONG. 

If you care about the environment and the world, you’ll want to read on and see why Chloé achieving this status is a HUGE deal.

What Is A Certified B Corp?

“Businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose,” according to bcorporation.eu.

“B Corps form a community of leaders and drive a global movement of people using business as a force for good.”

On top of the obvious good, a B Corp certification “is one of the most demanding certifications that evaluates brands’ social and environmental impact.”

Applicants have to answer over 300 questions about governance, workers, communities, and impact on the environment.

Chloé issued a statement about their B Corp designation, saying “We are proud to be the first luxury Maison to join this community of leaders, driving a global movement of people using business as a force for good. 

“By becoming B Corp certified, we reinforce our ongoing commitment to taking accountability for our impact on people and the planet.”

Chloé doesn’t see this as their end game — it’s a new stage in their change towards a purpose-driven model, revamping how they do business. 

“B Corp will help us frame our transformation, and we hope to inspire other organizations in our industry to join the movement,” Chloé added.

How Did Chloé Get There?

A hint at what was coming arose in April, when the brand scrubbed all previous social media and posted a photo of nature. 

They continued giving hints of what they were working towards — a more sustainable future at the iconic fashion house.

The B Corp certification was the result of over 18 months of shared work by their teams. 

‘Women Forward. For a Fairer Future,’ is a mission to “bring positive impact to people & the planet. This is our purpose guiding all we do,” says Chloé’s manifesto. 

“We have decided to transform our operations and shift our mindset through efforts in everyday practices.”

Chloé’s parent company, Richemont, has promised changes toward more sustainability and is a home for companies that show a “demonstrable commitment to having a positive environmental and social impact beyond creating value for shareholders.”

Creative Director Gabriela Hearst

Gabriela Hearst, who became Chloé’s Creative Director in 2020, had a big hand in pushing the brand toward sustainability. 

The prêt-à-porter and accessories designer launched her own namesake collection in fall 2015, built on the principles of “timelessness, uncompromising quality and sustainability,” in addition to her work for Chloe. 

Within her own brand, she uses deadstock fabrics, limited releases, certified natural fibers, and in 2019 became plastic-free — both front and back of house — with the use of compostable TIPA packaging and introducing recycled cardboard hangers.

In 2018, Hearst opened her first flagship store, located on Madison Avenue in the Carlyle House, a New York institution. 

Following her mission on sustainability, the store was “built without synthetics or chemicals, using natural, non-treated reclaimed oak, built-in light occupancy sensors throughout the space to reduce electrical consumption. 90% of the material waste generated during the construction process was recycled.”

With Hearst so dedicated to responsible design and sustainability, you can see why Chloé achieved the coveted B Corp certification.

Giving Back With Sheltersuit

In collaboration with Sheltersuit, a non-profit organisation, Chloé designs unique bags and coats that are made from upcycled materials — including those from previous Chloé collections.

With each backpack or coat bought, two Sheltersuits are financed — one included in the purchase price, and one donated by Chloé. 

“We want to shine a light on how the fashion industry can reduce the suffering of people experiencing homelessness while upcycling materials responsibly,” states the Sheltersuit website. 

“Our first step is an exciting collaboration with Chloé. A French fashion house from Paris who is prioritising sustainability and social impact in an effort to take on a much larger global issue — with us.”

What exactly is a Sheltersuit? It’s a home that you wear. 

It was designed in the Netherlands by Bas Timmer, who launched Sheltersuit in his native home after witnessing the effects of homelessness firsthand. 

“I felt the obligation to do something when the father of my two friends who was homeless at the time died due to hypothermia on the streets,” he told Vogue.

The suit is a water-resistant, insulated jacket and sleeping bag, which zip together to keep a person warm and dry when they sleep outside.

Sheltersuits are distributed in the United States and in France in partnership with local NGOs, contributing both support and a social role to the homeless community.

The Rise Of The Fashion B Corp

Of those 4,000-plus B Corp companies, almost 200 come from the apparel, accessories, jewelry, and footwear space, where growth seems to be noteworthy as of late. 

Chloé is hoping to lead a charge among similarly-situated entities. 

In an interview, Chloé CEO Riccardo Bellini said that the French fashion house “upgraded our operations, governance and policies in a way that allows us to operate in a more environmentally and socially responsible manner.” 

In addition to being “proud of [the new certification] as a company,” he also said Chloe “aims to inspire many others to join” what he calls “a real community of leaders who share a mind-set, and the belief that business can be a force of good.”

“We upgraded our operations, governance and policies in a way that allows us to operate in a more environmentally and socially responsible manner.”

Moving Forward

58% of materials used for Chloé’s spring 2022 collection are considered low impact.

With these changes, Chloé has cemented its status as one of the most progressive and sustainable luxury brands in the world.

The bar has significantly been raised and other fashion houses and luxury brands would be wise to follow suit — preferably sooner rather than later.

What do you think of Chloé’s sustainability efforts? Do you think other luxury brands should try sustainable fashion? Tell us below in the comments!

If You Want More Sustainable Fashion, Read These:

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