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Since its creation in 1961, Yves Saint Laurent has indelibly influenced and marked the fashion industry. With more than 45 years of unique history, Yves Saint Laurent is one of the most prestigious houses of the industry. Across barriers of time and borders, the Yves Saint Laurent signature means fashion and creativity delivered in innovative ways. the brand designs and markets a broad range of women’s and men’s ready-to-wear products, leather goods, small leather goods, shoes and jewellery.
Throughout the years, the groundbreaking designs of the Yves Saint Laurent couture house have created innovative pieces of clothing that have become classic icons.
Its founder, the couturier Yves Saint Laurent, built a reputation as one of the 20th century’s most innovative and provocative designers. He created signature looks and styles, and left a legacy of timeless iconic products such as the tuxedo, the pantsuit, the safari jacket and the trench coat. Yves Saint Laurent was also the first Couture House to launch, in 1966, the modern concept of luxury women’s ready-to-wear, in a collection called ‘Rive Gauche’, which represented the first step in making luxury labels accessible to a wider public.
Acquired by Gucci Group in 1999, Yves Saint Laurent has been positioned at the top end of the luxury goods market. Under the management of Valérie Hermann, CEO since 2005, and Stefano Pilati, Creative Director since 2004, the brand has renewed the exceptional legacy of its founder while bringing a contemporary approach to its collections. Around the world, Yves Saint Laurent is a signature combining elegance, discreet but recognisable lines, refined details and top-quality fabrics, synonymous of perfection for both men and women’s luxury goods.
The Yves Saint Laurent network currently comprises 64 directly-operated stores, including flagship stores in Paris, New York, London, Milan, Hong Kong and Beverly Hills. The brand is also present in the most prestigious boutiques and multi-brand department stores in the world.
Yves Saint Laurent’s revenue continued to climb in 2007 to reach €221 million, up 22% on a comparable basis. Recurring operating losses decreased significantly from €49 million in 2006 to €32 million in 2007.
With much acclaim by celebrities and an ever-increasing interest from the press, Yves Saint Laurent has confirmed its status as an emblematic brand and trend-setter. In 2007, Yves Saint Laurent also launched the innovative Edition 24 collection, specifically designed for women travelling around the world. The iconic Muse bag, launched at the end of 2005, confirmed its status as a best-seller, followed by the success of the Downtown and Tribute bags. Yves Saint Laurent also launched the new Uptown, Catwalk and Besace bags, that all showed promising starts.
Key figures for Yves Saint Laurent
- Brand established in 1961
- 221 € million in revenue in 2007
- 1,002 employees at the end of 2007
- 64 directly-operated stores at the end of 2007
BREAKDOWN OF 2007 REVENUE BY PRODUCT CATEGORY
BREAKDOWN OF 2007 REVENUE BY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA