Saint Laurent
ESTABLISHED
1961
HEADQUARTERS
Paris, France
FOUNDER
Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé
WHO DESIGNED THE SAINT LAURENT LOGO?
The current Saint Laurent logo was designed in 1963 by A.M. Cassandre.
WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF SAINT LAURENT?
Saint Laurent was founded by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé.
WHO IS THE OWNER OF SAINT LAURENT?
Saint Laurent is owned by luxury goods group Kering.
WHERE ARE THE SAINT LAURENT HEADQUARTERS?
The Saint Laurent headquarters are located in Paris, France.
IS YSL AND SAINT LAURENT THE SAME?
YSL and Saint Laurent may feature slightly different logos, but they are the same brand. The only difference is that products carrying the YSL logo may be older, sharing many of the early values of this brand when it started in 1961
WHY IS SAINT LAURENT SO EXPENSIVE?
The brand's glamorous appeal, high-end materials, and meticulous craftsmanship are what make YSL products so expensive. Yves Saint Laurent is known for its high quality materials. Their items are made from only the finest fabrics and materials such as silk, genuine leather, and metal.
1961
Yves Saint Laurent is founded by designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé.
1962
Yves Saint Laurent presents his first collection. His first customer is French actress Catherine Deneuve.
The Reefer jacket is introduced.
1966
Yves Saint Laurent opens the Rive Gauche ready-to-wear boutique in Paris.
Le Smoking suit launches. It is considered revolutionary in women’s fashion.
1968
The YSL jumpsuit launches.
1969
Saint Laurent opens a Madison Avenue store.
1971
Perfume Rive Gauche launches.
Saint Laurent’s 40’s collection sparks controversy over its claimed romanticization of German occupation during WWII.
1977
The Opium fragrance launches.
1978
YSL cosmetic line launches.
1983
A retrospective display of Yves St Laurent’s work is shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City – marking the first time a living designer had been exhibited.
1997
Hedi Slimane is announced as creative director and helps relaunch YSL Rive Gauche Homme.
1998
Alber Elbaz designs three ready-to-wear collections.
During the ‘98 World Cup, Yves St Laurent stages a show of 300 models on the pitch of the Grand Stade de France.
1999
Gucci buys the YSL name and asks Tom Ford to become creative director and design the ready-to-wear collection. Saint Laurent would continue to design haute couture.
2000
Stefano Pilati joins to run YSL’s ready-to-wear women’s line. He is later promoted to oversee the men’s line too.
2002
Saint Laurent retires to Marrakech after a battle with drug issues. As a result of his departure, the couture side of the fashion house is closed and the focus lies on ready-to-wear.
2004
Tom Ford departs, leaving the role of creative director to Stefano Pilati.
2008
Yves Saint Laurent dies from brain cancer at his home in Paris.
2012
Hedi Slimane takes over as creative director. He drops the Yves and renames the ready-to-wear line Saint Laurent. The iconic YSL logo remains on accessories, handbags, shoes and cosmetics.
Slimane moves the design studio to Los Angeles, California.
2015
Slimane relaunches the couture line.
2016
Saint Laurent announces Slimane will be leaving the house.
Slimane files a lawsuit against Saint Laurent.
2018
Anthony Vaccarello is appointed new creative director.
2019
Saint Laurent announces the opening of two new museums in Paris and Marrakech, celebrating the legacy of the brand’s founder.
The brand begins to address sustainability, initiating steps towards reducing its environmental impact.
2020
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saint Laurent opts out of Paris Fashion Week for the 2020 season to set its own pace for collections.
The brand launches the "WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS" t-shirt, with 100% of the profits benefiting organizations that support gender equality.
2022
Saint Laurent returns to the physical runway with its Winter 22 collection, once again under the lights of the Eiffel Tower, asserting the importance of Parisian identity to the brand.
2023
YSL debuted their collection at Neue Nationalgalerie to great critical acclaim.
