Chloé x Atelier Jolie: what does Angelina Jolie’s first collection look like?

Angelina launches her fashion label Atelier Jolie

Despite her increasingly rare public and mediatic appearances, Angelina Jolie has made her mark with memorable looks and roles since her career started in the 1980s. In addition to being a fashion icon for many generations, the actress is also an inspiration for her international commitments toward political and climate refugees as a member of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

These two passions have given birth to a unique brand – Atelier Jolie. While the label has only been introduced a few days ago, it heralds a revolution in an industry often criticized for its sectarian nature and harmful ecological impact. Designed as a collective, the brand will not be led by a single artistic director but rather by a whole creative team, drawing its inspiration from suggestions made by future customers.

In fact, Atelier Jolie’s website is already offering the opportunity to submit one’s application and ideas to those who wish to be part of this large group of designers. Inclusivity and collaboration are key concepts since Angelina Jolie wants to form a team that will support apprenticeship for refugees and marginalized people, whose jobs will be based solely on their skill set. Her commitment also extends to clothes manufacturing, with pieces made from reused materials, fabric scraps and unused stock. Based in New York, Atelier Jolie will unveil its first collection in collaboration with a prestigious fashion house by the end of the year...

Atelier Jolie’s first collaborative collection with Chloé

The values promoted by Angelina Jolie and Gabriela Hearst through their respective brands seem to perfectly match. Thus, the two committed designers have joined forces to launch Atelier Jolie’s first capsule collection in collaboration with Chloé.

“From the moment I heard about Angelina’s vision for Atelier Jolie, I believed in it. It is a way to elevate others through the beauty of garment-making and her deep respect for the environment. It’s an honor for me that Chloé will be the first collaborator for Atelier Jolie, as both have high ideals for the betterment of our species. That is why I love Angelina and Chloé so dearly,” Gabriela Hearst says.

Mixing fluid, feminine silhouettes with refined fabrics, the collection by Chloé x Atelier Jolie unfolds in elegant, timeless creations – babydoll dresses, lavaliere-collared shirts made from organic silk, black velvet capes, and black three-piece suits made from wool gabardine. An evening wardrobe available in a sober color palette, which echoes both Angelina Jolie’s refined style and Chloé’s signature pieces.

Gabriela Hearst, a committed designer at Chloé

Appointed as Chloé’s creative director at the end of 2020, Gabriela Hearst has revolutionized the house within three years only. While many fashion and luxury brands have slowly been implementing dramatic changes over the past few years now, the designer is setting a fast and effective pace in line with Angelina Jolie’s commitment.

While she designed her first Fall/Winter 2021-2022 collection from fabrics formerly used by the house’s previous creative directors, she has eventually managed to ensure that 20% of her ready-to-wear is produced by members of the World Fair Trade Organization. Introducing new sustainable suppliers – right down to the packaging – Chloé intends to offset the carbon emissions from her fashion shows by funding several projects, such as the reforestation of mangroves in Myanmar.

October 2021 was the climax of her commitment. Less than a year after her official appointment, the fashion designer at the head of her own label in New York managed to obtain the B Corp certification, which assesses the social and environmental impact of the fashion house based on 300 questions about its management, employees, and environmental impact. Although Gabriela Hearst has since left her position as Chloé’s creative director, the collaboration with Atelier Jolie will still be available in early 2024.

The Chloé x Atelier Jolie collection thus includes at least 80% of low-impact materials, a higher percentage than any previous collection from the B Corp house, and 50% of the collection is manufactured by Fair Trade-certified companies. In addition, it also benefits from partnerships with Akanjo, a Fair-Trade social enterprise based in Madagascar committed to train and promote artisans, and with La Fabrique Nomade, a Paris-based programme promoting the professional integration of refugee artisans in France.

Chloé x Atelier Jolie’s collection will be available in stores and online at www.chloé.com in January 2024.

Translation by Emma Naroumbo Armaing.