Saint Laurent ends decade-long tenure of designer Vaccarello as part of wider group revamp

PARIS, Oct 9 (Reuters) – Belgian designer Anthony Vaccarello is leaving Saint Laurent after a decade as the brand’s creative director, the brand’s owner Kering said on Friday. 

Vaccarello, appointed in 2016 to succeed Hedi Slimane, turned the French couture brand into a global powerhouse by tapping into strong Chinese demand, reaching well over €3 billion in annual sales in 2023, before losing traction amid a wider industry slowdown.

A new creative director for the label will be announced soon, Kering said. The company, whose shares are down 31% this year, is due to report third-quarter sales on Oct. 22. 

With runway shows staged against a lit-up Eiffel Tower, Vaccarello, sought to preserve the label’s Parisian identity while expanding its reach, pushing the brand into film production, including Cannes-winning “Emilia Pérez”. 

Saint Laurent was the last major Kering brand to cling on to its creative director amid a luxury industry slowdown that already prompted designer changes at Gucci, Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta. 

The exit comes as Kering CEO Luca de Meo seeks to overhaul the group after years of decline. Gaining new foothold on the Chinese market will be a top priority. 

Saint Laurent’s gross revenues fell by 9% and 6% in 2024 and 2025, before largely stabilizing this year, Kering said. 

(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Makini Brice)

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