1961
Paris, France
Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé
The current Saint Laurent logo was designed in 1963 by A.M. Cassandre.
Saint Laurent was founded by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé.
Saint Laurent is owned by luxury goods group Kering.
The Saint Laurent headquarters are located in Paris, France.
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
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.
Yves Saint Laurent is founded by designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé.
Yves Saint Laurent presents his first collection. His first customer is French actress Catherine Deneuve.
The Reefer jacket is introduced.
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.
The YSL jumpsuit launches.
Saint Laurent opens a Madison Avenue store.
Perfume Rive Gauche launches.
Saint Laurent’s 40’s collection sparks controversy over its claimed romanticization of German occupation during WWII.
The Opium fragrance launches.
YSL cosmetic line launches.
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.
Hedi Slimane is announced as creative director and helps relaunch YSL Rive Gauche Homme.
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.
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.
Stefano Pilati joins to run YSL’s ready-to-wear women’s line. He is later promoted to oversee the men’s line too.
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.
Tom Ford departs, leaving the role of creative director to Stefano Pilati.
Yves Saint Laurent dies from brain cancer at his home in Paris.
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.
Slimane relaunches the couture line.
Saint Laurent announces Slimane will be leaving the house.
Slimane files a lawsuit against Saint Laurent.
Anthony Vaccarello is appointed new creative director.
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.
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.
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.
YSL debuted their collection at Neue Nationalgalerie to great critical acclaim.