Hedi Slimane launches new legal attack on Kering

On 5th October, French news agency AFP learned from a source close to the matter that Hedi Slimane, the former Creative Director of Yves Saint Laurent, has launched a new legal offensive against the label's owner, the Kering group.

The darling of the fashion world was already engaged in litigation with Kering, about the enforcement of a $13 million non-competition clause, and according to the source he is now demanding a sum of "nearly €10 million” from François-Henri Pinault's group. The sum corresponds, according to Slimane, to the variable part of his remuneration for the last year he spent in charge of the legendary fashion house, explained the source.

Still according to the source, the talented designer is demanding that Kering abide by a partnership agreement giving Slimane certain rights, notably the right of access to information, as a minority shareholder in Saint Laurent. The case about the partnership agreement should be discussed on 19th October in a hearing at the Paris trade court.

As for the non-competition clause, at the end of June Kering was sentenced to pay $13 million to Hedi Slimane, but the group has appealed against the ruling. Questioned by AFP, Kering has declined to comment.

Hedi Slimane, 47, took charge of design at Saint Laurent in 2012, after a brilliant career at Louis Vuitton and Dior Homme.

In the course of four years, he reawakened the venerable fashion house, by attracting a younger, more directional clientèle thanks to his androgynous looks, fitted cuts and skinny jeans. The label's sales sky-rocketed, revenue rising from €353 million in 2011 to €974 million in 2015.

For Slimane, it was a return to his roots, since he first cut his designer teeth at Yves Saint Laurent, between 1996 and 2000, as collection director for menswear.