Gaby Aghion facts for kids

Gabrielle Aghion (born Hanoka; 3 March 1921 – 27 September 2014) was a French fashion designer. She is famous for starting the French fashion house Chloé. Gaby Aghion is also known for creating the idea of "prêt-à-porter" fashion. This means clothes that are ready to buy and wear, not custom-made.

Early Life and Moving to Paris

Gabrielle Hanoka was born in Alexandria, Egypt. Her family had Greek and Italian Jewish roots. Her father managed a cigarette factory, and her mother loved French fashion.

She met her future husband, Raymond Aghion (1921–2009), when they were both seven years old. Raymond came from a wealthy family. He was interested in making society fairer for everyone. He even started groups and published magazines about these ideas.

Gabrielle and Raymond married when they were 19. In 1945, they moved to Paris, France. They continued to meet with writers and thinkers who shared similar ideas about society. They became friends with famous writers like Louis Aragon and Tristan Tzara.

Starting Chloé: A New Kind of Fashion

Aghion started her fashion brand, Chloé, in 1952. Her husband, Raymond, opened an art gallery in 1956. He focused on modern art.

Gaby Aghion did not like the stiff, formal clothes that were popular in the 1950s fashion. She wanted to create soft, comfortable, and feminine clothes. These clothes were made from beautiful fabrics. She called them "luxury prêt-à-porter." This meant high-quality clothes that people could buy right away, off the rack. This was a new idea at the time.

She set up her first workshop in a small room above her apartment. In 1953, Aghion teamed up with Jacques Lenoir. He handled the business side, while Gaby focused on designing the clothes.

The first Chloé fashion show happened in 1956. It was held during a breakfast at the Café de Flore. This café was a popular spot for young, creative people in Paris.

Gaby Aghion once said, "Everything was yet to be invented, and this thrilled me." She hired many new and talented designers. One of them was Karl Lagerfeld, who later became very famous. Her son, Philippe, remembered Karl Lagerfeld joining Chloé in the mid-1960s. He said Karl was shy at first, but he and Gaby made a great team. Karl quickly understood the spirit of Chloé.

Aghion continued to lead Chloé until 1985. Then, a company called Dunhill Holdings bought it. Gaby Aghion passed away in Paris on 27 September 2014.

In October 2023, the Jewish Museum in New York opened an exhibition. It was called Mood of the moment: Gaby Aghion and the house of Chloé. This was the first museum show about Aghion's work.

Awards

• French Legion of Honor (2013)