Business is booming for Hedi Slimane at Saint Laurent

Turns out Hedi Slimane is very, very good for business. According to figures released by luxury group Kering, Saint Laurent revenue has doubled since Slimane took over as designer from Stefano Pilati three years ago. In 2014 alone, Slimane's leadership ensured sales rose by 27 per cent to a staggering €707.3 million euro. 

It's worth remembering that Slimane's appointment was controversial in some parts of the industry. Dropping the "Yves" in Yves Saint Laurent? Relocating the design studio to Los Angeles? Slimane definitely didn't shy away from putting his stamp on the house, in the same way he started Dior Homme. In our review of his first autumn/winter collection for Saint Laurent, we said: "No doubt the narks will be hung up on how young, sexy, gutsy and Cali grunge it all was – a brilliant thing..."

Now Slimane has proved the doubters wrong – turns out young, sexy, gutsy Cali grunge really does sell, sell, sell.

As Fashionista points out, Kering will be hoping to replicate his success across its other brands, especially Gucci and Puma. While Saint Laurent is booming, overall profits for the goup dropped five per cent from €1.75 billion in 2013 to €1.66 billion. Now that Kering has appointed Alessandro Michele as the new Gucci designer and landed the PR-friendly coup of Rihanna as Puma creative director, it's probably hoping to replicate Slimane's magic touch across all of its brands.  

(h/t Wall Street Journal)

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