French fashion house Chloé becomes B Corp certified

Luxury fashion house, Chloé, has become the first European luxury brand to be accredited as a B Corporation, reaffirming its commitment to social and environmental policies.

Chloé’s classification as a ‘Benefit Corporation’ highlights the company’s recent transformation to a purpose-driven business, which began in June 2020. Following the Reformation, a number of ambitious programs were launched to deepen the company’s commitment to diversity and eco-friendly practices.

B Corp, a nonprofit network run by B Lab, holds companies accountable for their social and environmental impact, with extensive analysis of governance, workers, communities, and environmental impact. The meticulous certification procedure assesses legal accountability, public transparency, environmental performance, and social responsibility in both product and company operations.

Chloé, which is owned by Richemont, is following in the footsteps of luxury resale site Vestiaire Collective and UK store Wolf & Badger in earning B Corp certification. Those who earn the certification are considered part of a “global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy,” by the network.

Riccardo Bellini, Chloé CEO, said that it is their firm view that they need to take full accountability for the impact they have on people and earth, injecting purpose throughout all they do, redefining how they do business, and actively participating to build a better world. B Corp provides them with a tremendous platform for accelerating and guiding this change.

Bellini added that they’re proud of this accomplishment and grateful to the many employees in the firm who worked tirelessly for more than 18 months to make it happen. By becoming a B Corp, they are reaffirming their resolve to always challenge themselves to utilize their brand and business to do good.

The label claims to be the first luxury Maison to receive accreditation, and it hopes to inspire others to do the same. A significant portion of Chloé’s commitments has been concentrated on the company’s long-term development, both in terms of production and operations. Amanda Nguyen, a Nobel Laureate, was recently selected as an external expert to the newly formed sustainability board.

On a company level, employees have also been set annual sustainability objectives at the corporate level, with a variety of measurable goals to be assessed by this board.

In addition, the house claimed that it intends to shift to lower-impact materials for its collections, beginning with its SS22 line, which was made using 58% eco-conscious materials.

Further pledges have focused on social responsibility, such as its ‘Women Forward. For a Fairer Future’ objective, which has been included in its corporate status. The manifesto emphasizes women’s advancement and the rebalancing of gender-based inequities, and the label has implemented a number of changes in its day-to-day operations as a result of the manifesto.

It has also partnered with Fair Trade certified social entrepreneurs and the creation of a volunteer program that works with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs).