20th Century Designers: Designer Project: Chloe: Biography 1921-Present

Introduction/Biography

(Chloe French Fashion)

Gaby Aghion established the house of Chloe in 1952 and is recognized as the first designer of the brand. Gaby was born in 1921 in Alexandria, Egypt, and later moved to Paris, France in 1945. Gaby was an Egyptian designer who would be described as a ‘dark beauty and a bohemian spirit’ (Chloe biography) She was raised in a family of wealth, and was granted the privilege to be French educated while growing up. The spouse of Gaby was Raymond Aghion, a man of great intelligence and affluence. It was with him that Gaby decided to move to Paris in 1945.The early influences of Aghions could first be seen when her mother brought a seamstress to the family’s home, creating beautiful items of clothing that were inspired by Parisian designs. Aghion briefly traveled to Paris to study when she was 18. The culture of Paris and the people around her brought her the inspiration she needed to become a clothing designer. Paris itself was the true influence of her future designs.

WWII had just ended in Paris when Aghion had arrived. A feeling of bliss was in the air as France had finally been liberated. Since the war had just come to a close, there wasn’t very much wealth seen within the city. Most of the clothing houses only provided haute couture, the style of which the wealthy could afford. Aghion and her business partner Jacques Lenoir decided to create a line of clothing that had the feeling of an haute couture piece, but would be designed as ready to wear fashion. They wanted styles that would be in parallel to the sense of happiness that flooded the streets of Paris. When deciding the name of the brand, Gaby and Jacque wanted something that would be feminine and appealing to the customers. “The pair chose the name Chloé for its warm feminine appeal, a mood that was perfectly in unison with the feeling of post war Paris.” (Chloe biography). With the name chosen, and the inspiration in the heart of Gaby, the designs ready to be made, and the house of Chloe was born.

Below are images that represent the designs of Chloe: