Saint Laurent
Kering · France
Saint Laurent is the Paris house founded by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, owned by Kering since 1999. Known for Le Smoking and its YSL monogram, it is Kering's second-largest brand and has been designed by Anthony Vaccarello since 2016.
| Founded | 1961, Paris |
|---|---|
| Founders | Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé |
| Owner | Kering (since 1999) |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Creative director | Anthony Vaccarello (since 2016) |
| Beauty | YSL Beauty, owned by L'Oréal |
| Website | ysl.com |
What is Saint Laurent?
Saint Laurent is a French luxury brand offering ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes and accessories for women and men. It is owned by Kering. Anthony Vaccarello has been creative director since April 2016. The YSL Beauty line, which carries the Yves Saint Laurent name, is owned by L'Oréal.
History
Yves Saint Laurent, previously Christian Dior's successor, founded his couture house with partner Pierre Bergé in the early 1960s; the first collection was shown in 1962. The house introduced Le Smoking tuxedo for women and the Rive Gauche ready-to-wear line in 1966, and its logo was designed by A. M. Cassandre in 1963. Sanofi bought the business in 1993, and PPR, now Kering, acquired it in 1999. Haute couture closed in 2002. Hedi Slimane renamed the ready-to-wear line Saint Laurent in 2012, and Vaccarello succeeded him in 2016.
Products and positioning
Saint Laurent is positioned as a sharp, Parisian luxury brand with a strong rock and evening wear identity. Leather goods and shoes are the commercial core, supported by ready-to-wear and accessories. Vaccarello also founded Saint Laurent Productions, a film production company.
Business model and distribution
The brand sells mainly through directly operated stores and its own e-commerce. According to Modaes, Saint Laurent's revenue was 2.643 billion euros in 2025, down from the previous year. In 2026 Kering strengthened its product organisation, hiring former Isabel Marant chief executive Anouck Duranteau-Loeper as product director as part of its ReconKering plan.
Why it matters
Saint Laurent is Kering's second pillar after Gucci and has been one of the more stable brands in the group during the luxury slowdown. Its mix of heritage, leather goods and a consistent creative director makes it a reference for brand management.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Saint Laurent?
Saint Laurent fashion is owned by Kering, which acquired the house in 1999. The YSL Beauty business is separately owned by L'Oréal.
Is YSL the same as Saint Laurent?
Yes. Yves Saint Laurent, or YSL, is the original name of the house; its ready-to-wear has been branded Saint Laurent since 2012. The YSL monogram is still used on accessories and on L'Oréal's beauty line.