Designer Hedi Slimane exits Saint Laurent
Looks from the Saint Laurent fall/winter collection presented last month in Paris, left, and in February in Hollywood, right, flanking outgoing creative director Hedi Slimane.
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Los Angeles-based designer Hedi Slimane, who reinvigorated the Yves Saint Laurent brand, is leaving the French luxury fashion label, parent company Kering announced Friday on its website.
Slimane, who served as Saint Laurent’s creative director, has lived in Los Angeles since 2008. The label’s atelier has been located in L.A. since 2012, while the couture atelier remained in France. Slimane’s exit from YSL is the latest in a series of high-profile firings and departures of celebrated designers from major fashion houses.
“What Yves Saint Laurent has achieved over the past four years represents a unique chapter in the history of the House,” said Francois-Henri Pinault, chairman and chief executive of Kering, in the announcement. “I am very grateful to Hedi Slimane, and the whole Yves Saint Laurent team, for having set the path that the House has successfully embraced, and which will grant longevity to this legendary brand.”
Kering said a new creative team for the brand would be announced in due time.
For a swan song, Slimane had a Saint Laurent runway presentation in mid-February at the Hollywood Palladium of the French luxury label’s fall 2016 menswear collection and Part 1 of its women’s ready-to-wear collection. It was the first time Saint Laurent had a full-scale fashion show in the L.A. area.
The show was attended by Justin Bieber, Demi Moore, Lenny Kravitz and daughter Zoë Kravitz, Sam Smith, Jane Fonda, Sylvester Stallone, Joan Jett, Lee Daniels, Zac Efron, Liz Goldwyn, Linda Ramone, Pamela Anderson and others.
In 1961, designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé, created the storied luxury brand.
Slimane is credited with giving the brand a fresh start while respecting its origins, as when he rebranded the ready-to-wear line as simply Saint Laurent. Slimane’s Saint Laurent was known for its more spirited, youthful tone compared to the designs of former YSL creative directors Tom Ford and Stefano Pilati.
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