Highsnobiety

Saint Laurent

ESTABLISHED

1961

HEADQUARTERS

Paris, France

FOUNDER

Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé

INSTAGRAM

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.

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