Chrome Hearts, the cult label followed by Drake, Yungblud and Dua Lipa.

30th October 2024

With collections made when inspiration hits, rather than as the seasons command, the Chrome Hearts story began in the late 80’s when founder Richard Starks spotted a gap in the market for leatherwear. 36 years later, a firm family legacy has been built and a new generational resurgence is strong.

Stark, who sourced cowhides for manufacturers teamed up with his silversmith housemate Leonard Kamhout and belt manufacturer John Bowman. Together they created the early pieces that founded the leather apparel brand. Stark later bought out his partners to take sole control of the brand. With costumes featured in a number of films in 1989, the Chrome Hearts style quickly gained the attention of leading actors and musicians including the Sex Pistols, the Cult, Aerosmith, Cher, Elton John and Nicholas Cage. It featured in Maxfield’s LA store collections of 1991.

Since then, Chrome Hearts have collaborated with Comme Des Garçons, Rick Owens, Off White, The Rolling Stones. The brand was also favoured Karl Lagerfeld, who famously sported a fistful of their rings. Younger stars Billy Ellish, Drake, The Weeknd, Dua Lipa and Yungblud. In fact Yungblud is the boyfriend of Jesse Jo Stark, Richard Stark’s daughter who is a singer/songwriter as well as a designer and artist for Chrome Hearts. Her brother Kristian Stark is presently on track to take over the company with his design, development and entrepreneurial vision of the CH brand and his model/designer sister Frankie Belle excels in her own fashion circles and has founded swimwear/accessory line Dipped in Blue, with best friend Kono Lulu.

There are now Chrome Hearts retail stores and trusted affiliates across Asia, the United States and Europe. Appointment only access, secret drops and limited availabilities maintain consumer demand and prices rival brands Louis Vuitton, Hermes. The range now includes eatherwear, jewellery, crystal, fragrances, intimates and even custom leather car interiors embossed with gothic crosses, daggers and symbols of fleur-de-lis. The branding aligns with Richard and Laurie Stark’s ethos of a long-standing classic Chrome Hearts brand. The baroque-style cross emblem is the key identifiable factor when buying a piece of the highly sought-after collection made in its own Hollywood factory/design studio with its specialised in-house artists, collaborators and family of creators.