Hedi Slimane sues Yves Saint Laurent owner Kering

Hedi Slimane has launched a lawsuit against his former employer, Kering, the conglomerate which owns Saint Laurent among other brands including Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga and Gucci.

“Kering confirmed the lawsuit in a statement and said it concerned Slimane’s non-competition obligation,” reports Reuters. “Kering said it had lifted this clause at the end of Slimane’s contract, freeing him from this potential constraint.”

The company also said that this dispute “does not alter the group’s recognition of Slimane’s contribution,” who changed the face of the Saint Laurent in his four-year tenure, and doubled its revenue.

Slimane parted ways with Saint Laurent in April of this year and, several days later, former Versus Versace creative director Anthony Vaccarello joined the brand as his replacement. Following his departure, Saint Laurent wiped the history of the Instagram account created under the designer, leaving only a portrait of its new CD.

While Vaccarello’s Saint Laurent debut isn’t until October, the brand revealed his first advertising campaign earlier this week – a series of simple black-and-white photos taken by Collier Schorr, that hint at a more pared-back direction for the house.