Laurie Lynn Stark and Richard Stark

Laurie Lynn Stark and Richard Stark are the co-owners and visionary entrepreneurs behind Chrome Hearts, an L.A.-based luxury leather goods, jewellery and lifestyle brand. They are celebrated for pioneering a fiercely independent, rock‑and‑roll aesthetic that has cultivated a cult following while maintaining uncompromising artisanal standards and eschewing marketing trends.

Richard Stark, born and raised in Utica, New York, began Chrome Hearts in 1988 crafting custom leather gear for himself and fellow motorcycle riders. Laurie Lynn, a trained designer, brought her own extensive background in fashion—beginning as a swimwear designer and stylist, and expanding into costume design, photography, and creative direction. Her artistic vision continues to shape the brand’s feminine perspective, photographic identity, and internal culture. By 1992, the brand earned the CFDA Best Accessories Designer Prize.

Under their direction, Chrome Hearts’ headquarters in Hollywood has gradually expanded into a sprawling hub including workshops for leather, precious and semi precious jewellery, stone setting, wood and carpentry — doubling as both factory and creative residence. The brand releases its handcrafted, limited‑run pieces through their 36 global boutiques, cultivating exclusivity and loyal collectors.

Their influence extends beyond product: celebrities like Cher — who commissioned a custom jacket in the 1990s — and artists such as Rihanna, Drake, Timothee Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Travis Scott, Central Cee and Dua Lipa have embraced Chrome Hearts’ signature crosses and heavy leather, cementing the brand as a cultural icon.

In 2022, the CFDA recognised their enduring impact with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.