It's the end of an era for French fashion house Saint Laurent Paris, as Hedi Slimane has announced he is exiting as creative director.
WWD reports Kering, Saint Laurent's parent company, made a joint statement with the luxury label on Thursday just a mere hours after Slimane's original contract expired, cuing the end of a "four-year mission, which has led to the complete repositioning of the brand."
Hedi Slimane.
"What Yves Saint Laurent has achieved over the past four years represents a unique chapter in the history of the house," said François-Henri Pinault, chairman and chief executive officer of Kering, in the statement. "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."
Slimane will be remembered for establishing rock 'n' roll inspired wear with a '70s glam rock aesthetic for the brand, all while bringing the label back "its authority," as recently showcased at his recent star-studded Palladium event in Hollywood.
Everyone from Justin Bieber to Lady Gaga to Pamela Anderson consider themselves a fan of the 47-year-old's work, which does slim-fit designs so well. And 'It' girl Cara Delevingne recently returned to modelling after a brief hiatus in Saint Laurent's La Collection de Paris campaign, shot by the French designer himself.
Saint Laurent chief executive Francesca Bellettini says Slimane is leaving behind an, "incredible foundation for the brand to build on for its continuous success."
Designer Anthony Vaccarello is widely expected to be named Slimane's replacement. Previous successors to the brand include Alber Elbaz and Tom Ford.
We'll miss you with Saint Laurent, Hedi! But we know it's only a matter of time (days, even) before you land yourself a major role with another legendary fashion house (*cough* Dior *cough).
Also on HuffPost
