Anthony Vaccarello leaves Saint Laurent after ten years
Kering confirmed the creative director's exit and said a successor will be named soon. Saint Laurent is the last major brand in the group to change its designer.
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Luxury group Kering on Friday announced that Anthony Vaccarello is leaving his post as creative director of Saint Laurent. The 44-year-old Belgian took over in 2016, succeeding Hedi Slimane; his spring/summer 2027 collection, shown in Paris on September 29, had already been seen as a farewell. Kering said a successor would be named soon. Kering CEO Luca de Meo praised Vaccarello's "creative vision and exacting standards".
Under Vaccarello, the brand's annual sales passed well over 3 billion euros in 2023, Reuters reported, before gross revenue fell 9 percent in 2024 and 6 percent in 2025; this year it has largely stabilised, according to Kering. Barclays analysts expect the new creative lead to focus on under-represented areas such as women's daywear, menswear, high-end leather goods, and China and Asia.
Following Gucci, Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta, which changed creative directors last year, Saint Laurent is the last major Kering brand to switch designers. De Meo is overhauling the group amid the luxury slowdown; Kering shares are down 31 percent this year, according to Reuters. Industry speculation points to Chloé creative director Chemena Kamali, formerly womenswear design director at Saint Laurent, as a possible successor – this has not been confirmed.