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Chrome Hearts

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Chrome Hearts
Company typePrivate company
IndustryLuxury goods, Fashion
Founded1988
FounderRichard Stark, Leonard Kamhout, John Bowman
HeadquartersHollywood, Los Angeles
Area served
China, England, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Saint Barthélemy, South Korea, Taiwan, United States
Key people
Laurie Lynn Stark, Jesse Jo
ProductsClothing, Accessories, Jewellery, Furniture, Leather, Eyewear, Fragrances
WebsiteChrome Hearts

Chrome Hearts is a luxury brand from Hollywood, founded in 1988 by Richard Stark, Leonard Kamhout and John Bowman.[1][2][3][4][5] It is currently co-owned by Richard Stark and his wife Laurie Lynn Stark.[5] Its logo contains a cross with the brand name around it on a circular ribbon. The brand produces silver, gold, and diamond accessories, alongside eyewear, leather items, apparel, furniture, kitchenware, and random objects. They are known for using leather, silver, and ebony.[6][7] The production site covers three blocks in the middle of Hollywood[8] and consists of multiple buildings and factories around the world.[9] Production is mainly done in-house at the big production site in Hollywood.[10] As of 2021, they have 1000 staff at their Los Angeles production site.[10] Although not officially disclosed by Chrome Hearts, the brand is estimated to be worth around $1 billion, with a whopping revenue of $34.0M annually.[9]

History

[edit]

Richard Stark and John Bowman started the business in a Los Angeles garage in early 1988.[4][5] Bowman was a manufacturer of leather goods, while Stark merchandised top grade raw leathers.[4] They initially established the label in order to produce leather jackets that weren't available on the market.[5] The third partner was master[4] sterling silver jeweller[5] Leonard Kamhout.[4] The company's first task was a costume design for Chopper Chicks in Zombietown,[5][11] co-starring the girlfriend of Steve Jones,[5] the lead guitarist of the Sex Pistols; Stark took the name of the brand from the working title of the movie.[8] In 1992, the brand was awarded Accessory Designer Award of the Year by the CFDA.[5] In 1994,[5] Stark, Bowman, and Kamhout had a falling-out, and Bowman and Kamhout withdrew from the brand.[12] Since 1994, Chrome Hearts has been co-owned by Richard Stark and his wife Laurie Lynn Stark.[5]

In 1996, the first Chrome Hearts boutique opened at 159 East, 64th Street, Manhattan, New York City.[13] In 1999, a second boutique opened in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo. In 2000, Richard Stark collaborated with Tommy Perse, owner of Maxfield, and architect Mark Steele to build a third boutique in West Hollywood, Los Angeles.[14] In 2003, Chrome Hearts opened a boutique at Prince's Building, Hong Kong.

In the early 2000s, Chrome Hearts began publishing its own fashion magazine, which featured interviews and celebrity photoshoots, many of which were shot by Laurie Lynn Stark.[15] It was published until 2017.[15]

In April 2020, Chrome Hearts sued clothing brand MNML for using their trademark cross symbol on jeans.[5][16]

Chrome Hearts rings

Goods and products

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Chrome Hearts is primarily recognized for its clothing, accessories, furniture, leather products,[17] and eyewear.[18] Majority of their products are produced in their Hollywood production factory.[10]

In 2016, they introduced their first fragrance collection, based on two scents, featuring products such as incense and Eau de Parfum.[19]

Chrome Hearts sunglasses

Collaborations

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In 2002, Chrome Hearts introduced a collaboration with The Rolling Stones featuring the band's iconic "Lips and Tongue" motif.[20]

In 2007, Japanese fashion brand Comme des Garçons collaborated with Chrome Hearts on a series of pendants and garments.[21] Prior to this, in the 90s, Rei Kawakubo from Comme des Garçons had already worked with the brand by displaying their products in the Aoyama flagship store.[5]

In 2009, fashion brand BAPE (A Bathing Ape) collaborated with them on a series of t-shirts including the 12-piece limited edition Chrome Hearts X BABY MILO. [22]

In 2010, they partnered on shoe design with the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation,[23] and Rick Owens.[24] The shoes are adorned with various silver embellishments. In 2010, they collaborated with Owens on jewelry and sneakers which were unveiled at Paris Fashion week.[1]

In June 2013, Chrome Hearts partnered with the K-pop girl group 2NE1 for a limited collection to celebrate the launch of the brand in South Korea with department store Shinsegae.[25]

In March 2014, Chrome Hearts bought a minority stake in high-end knitwear brand The Elder Statesman.[26] The firm employed its hallmark silver accents in a customization of the iconic Adidas Stan Smith in early 2016.[27]

In November 2014, Chrome Hearts opened their Miami boutique, with a Fahey/Klein Gallery on the second floor that showcased photographs from the 20th century by various photographers.[28] Additionally, the boutique displayed artworks by Los Angeles artist Matt DiGiacomo and photographs from the Robert Mapplethorpe Estate.[28] A store for the luxury fashion brand The Elder Statesman and another branch of David's Cafe, a Cuban café in Miami, was also built within the boutique.[28]

In December 2015, Ladurée worked with Chrome Hearts and opened a macaron and tea café on the ground floor of Chrome Hearts' Miami store.[29] The café also sold a collectible macaron box.[29] On the second floor, they collaborated with Sean Kelly Gallery to display artworks by artists such as Mariko Mori.[29]

Chrome Hearts has had multiple collaborations with Virgil Abloh from Off-White.[5] In 2015 and 2016, they collaborated on capsule collections,[5] with the latter primarily consisting of t-shirts.[30] In 2018, they released a hoodie and another collection.[5] In 2019, Abloh, alongside Louis Vuitton, hosted a fashion show at their New York branch.[5]

Bella Hadid used to visit the factory in LA as a teenager and collaborated with the brand on a 40-piece apparel and accessories collection released in 2017.[31] The Chrome Hearts x Bella collection debuted at Paris Fashion Week,[32] and is sold exclusively at Selfridges.[33][34] Bella's sister Gigi Hadid has modeled for the brand.[35] It has had a few collaborations with Bella Hadid since then, including the release of an eyewear collection[9] and also tie-dye t-shirts, for a Feeding America fundraiser during the COVID-19 pandemic.[36] These 49 t-shirts were hand-dyed by Bella Hadid, released in three different styles and sold for $260 each with all of the proceeds given to the fundraiser.[37]

In 2020, Drake collaborated with Chrome Hearts for his Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which included a customized hood ornament, air conditioning knob and rims.[38] It was displayed at the Miami Institute of Contemporary Art for 1 week.[38] They also worked with Snapchat's Lens Studio to display an augmented reality version of the Rolls-Royce.[38] In May 2021, they worked together again to release a collection to promote Drake's album Certified Lover Boy.[39] This collection was limited and was exclusively sold in Chrome Hearts' Miami store.[39]

In June 2021, Chrome Hearts and Baccarat co-produced a decanter and tumbler set, featuring Chrome Hearts' Pyramid Plus design.[40]

Locations

[edit]
Chrome Hearts boutique at the Beijing Yintai Centre

Currently, there are Chrome Hearts boutiques in:[41]

Each Chrome Hearts boutique has been regarded as unique from one another as a result of the diversity of both interior design and exclusive clothing products.[10] Chrome Hearts is sold in luxury malls such as Bergdorf Goodman, Isetan, Prince's Building and Selfridges.[9] In 2018 and 2021, the brand opened a pop-up store in New York for the Sex Records collection, which included products such as customised clothing and toy cars.[46]

Awards and honours

[edit]

In 1992, Chrome Hearts won the Council of Fashion Designers of America Accessories Designer of the Year award.[5][8][12][47] In 2022, Richard and Laurie Lynn Stark received the CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.[48]

References

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  1. ^ "Company Overview of Chrome Hearts LLC". Bloomberg. June 25, 2018. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Feitelberg, Rosemary (April 12, 2017). "Chrome Hearts Opens Second New York City Store in the West Village". Women's wear Daily. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Kan, Eugene (Jan 11, 2010). "Chrome Hearts 10th Anniversary Collection". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e Buck, Genevieve (August 19, 1992). "Chrome Hearts: Leader of the pack". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Destefano, Mike (July 2, 2020). "The Evolution of Chrome Hearts". Complex. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  6. ^ T.S, Fox (May 4, 2016). "Chrome Hearts Introduces Its Own Incense". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2024 – via Women's Wear Daily.
  7. ^ "Chrome Hearts eyewear: A short history". Precision Watches. August 15, 2016. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Maxwell Williams, Stark Contrast: Chrome Hearts V magazine July 14, 2016
  9. ^ a b c d Moore, Booth (December 4, 2019). "Moore From L.A.: How Chrome Hearts Is Wooing the Next Generation". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on May 1, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d Gallagher, Jacob (November 1, 2021). "Is 'Made in the U.S.A.' Dead? Not For L.A. Brand Chrome Hearts". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021.
  11. ^ Shears, Jack (March 14, 2012). "Two Chrome Hearts that beat as one". Paper. Archived from the original on November 28, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Rotman, Asaf (July 27, 2016). "Surfaced Chrome Hearts". Grailed. Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  13. ^ Clarke, Katherine (March 19, 2013). "Rock 'n' roll design duo lists classic UES townhouse for $14 million". The Real Deal. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  14. ^ Cohen, Edie (April 2002). "Mecca on Melrose: L.A. is flocking to the jewelry-and-leather house that architect Mark Steele and Chrome Hearts designer Richard Stark built". Interior Design: 210 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
  15. ^ a b Williams, Ryan (December 9, 2021). "A History of the Fashion Zine". CR Fashion Book. Archived from the original on January 4, 2022.
  16. ^ "Chrome Hearts is Suing Fast Fashion Streetwear Brand MNML for Allegedly Hijacking its Famous Trademark". The Fashion Law. April 24, 2020. Archived from the original on April 25, 2020.
  17. ^ Davis, Alyssa (February 24, 2021). "Get Your Hands on Chrome Heart's Most Exclusive Drop Yet". CR Fashion Book. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  18. ^ Brogan, Rory (Mar 16, 2012). "Chrome of luxury". The Optician. 243: 19 – via ProQuest.
  19. ^ Tran, Khanh T.L. (3 May 2016). "Chrome Hearts Introduces Incense as Part of First Fragrance Collection". Women's Wear Daily.
  20. ^ "Chrome Hearts Remixes 2002 Rolling Stones Collaboration". WWD. December 1, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  21. ^ "Comme des Garçons x Chrome Hearts Collection". hypebeast. November 29, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  22. ^ "A Bathing Ape x Chrome Hearts T-shirts". HYPEBEAST. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  23. ^ Ruano, L. (July 12, 2010). "Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation x Chrome Hearts Sneakers". Hypebeast. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  24. ^ David Fischer, Chrome Hearts x Rick Owens Sneakers Highsnobiety May 26, 2010
  25. ^ "Check out 2NE1's fierce CF for '2NE1 Loves Shinsegae'". allkpop. 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  26. ^ Lisa Wang, With Shared Artisan Ethos, Chrome Hearts Invests in The Elder Statesman businessoffashion.com MARCH 31, 2014
  27. ^ Cheng, Zarah (January 2016). "Chrome Hearts x adidas Originals Stan Smith". Hypebeast. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  28. ^ a b c "Tour the New Miami Outpost of Chrome Hearts". Architectural Digest. 2014-11-30. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  29. ^ a b c Tran, Khanh T.L. (October 12, 2015). "Chrome Hearts and Ladurée Add French Flair to Miami". Women's Wear Daily.
  30. ^ Wheeler, André (2021-12-02). "Every Object Was a Canvas". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  31. ^ Nakiska, Tempe (May 19, 2017). "Family Affair: Bella Hadid talks us through her collection for Chrome Hearts". Hero. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  32. ^ Yotka, Steff (March 1, 2017). "Bella Hadid's Chrome Hearts Collab Will Debut at Paris Fashion Week". Vogue. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  33. ^ Ella Alexander, Bella Hadid talks us through her debut fashion collection for Chrome Hearts Harper's BAZAAR 16 May 2017
  34. ^ Natalie Theodosi, Bella Hadid x Chrome Hearts Makes London Debut at Selfridges Women's Wear Daily, May 12, 2017
  35. ^ @chromeheartsofficial on Instagram
  36. ^ Diderich, Joelle (4 May 2021). "How tie-dye is helping fashion overcome the pandemic blues". Women's Wear Daily – via ProQuest.
  37. ^ Bobila, Maria. "You Can Buy Shirts Tie-Dyed By Bella Hadid For Charity". Nylon. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  38. ^ a b c Kleinman, Rebecca (1 May 2020). "Drake Taps Chrome Hearts to Customize His Rolls-Royce". Women's Wear Daily.
  39. ^ a b Takanashi, Lei; Destefano, Mike (May 15, 2021). "A Brief History of Drake's Relationship With Chrome Hearts". Complex. Archived from the original on 2021-10-14. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  40. ^ Campuzano, Luis (15 April 2021). "Chrome Hearts and Baccarat Unveil Latest Collaboration". Women's Wear Daily.
  41. ^ Official page
  42. ^ Official page, USA
  43. ^ Official page, Asia
  44. ^ Official page, Europe
  45. ^ Official page
  46. ^ Silbert, Jake (2021-09-10). "Chrome Hearts Sex Records New York Pop-Up: Inside Look". Highsnobiety. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  47. ^ There's just no place like Chrome MICHELLE DALTON TYREE, Japan Times, DEC 30, 1999
  48. ^ "The 2022 CFDA Fashion Awards Winners". cfda.com. November 8, 2022. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
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