Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) is a French luxury fashion house known for its high-end clothing, accessories, and fragrances. It was founded by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé in 1961.
Since then, the brand has been through various changes of ownership and management. One common question that often comes up is whether YSL is owned by Louis Vuitton.
The short answer to this question is no, YSL is not owned by Louis Vuitton. However, the two brands are connected in some ways. To understand this better, let’s take a closer look at their histories.
YSL was acquired by Gucci Group (now Kering) in 1999. At the time, Tom Ford was the creative director of both Gucci and YSL.
Under his leadership, YSL experienced a revival and became one of the most profitable brands within the group. However, after Ford’s departure in 2004, YSL struggled to maintain its momentum.
In 2012, Hedi Slimane was appointed as the creative director of YSL. He introduced a new vision for the brand that focused on rock-and-roll-inspired designs and edgy marketing campaigns. This approach proved to be successful as it attracted a younger audience and boosted sales.
Meanwhile, Louis Vuitton has been part of LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) since 1987. LVMH is a multinational luxury goods conglomerate that owns several other high-profile brands such as Dior, Fendi, Givenchy, and Bulgari.
Although YSL and Louis Vuitton are not owned by the same company, they do have some shared history. In 1990, LVMH attempted to take over Gucci Group but was unsuccessful due to resistance from Gucci’s management team led by Tom Ford and Domenico de Sole. This event marked the beginning of a long-standing rivalry between LVMH and Gucci Group.
In 2018, YSL announced that it would no longer participate in Paris Fashion Week, which is organized by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. The move was seen as a strategic decision to distance itself from LVMH and focus on its own identity.
In conclusion, YSL is not owned by Louis Vuitton but has some connections to the brand through their shared history within the luxury fashion industry. Despite this, YSL has managed to establish itself as a distinct and influential brand under the leadership of talented designers like Tom Ford and Hedi Slimane.