Top image: Hedi Slimane

Hedi Slimane is leaving Saint Laurent. The news came today, confirming that the designer will depart the house after four years as its creative and image director.

“What Yves Saint Laurent has achieved over the past four years represents a unique chapter in the history of the House,” said François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering in a joint statement issued by Yves Saint Laurent and Kering, the luxury group that owns the heritage brand.

“I am very grateful to Hedi Slimane, and the whole Yves Saint Laurent team, for having set the path that the House has successfully embraced, and which will grant longevity to this legendary Brand,” he said.

According to the statement, the exit comes at “the end of a four-year mission, which has led to the complete repositioning of the brand”. It also follows months of unconfirmed speculation that Slimane may soon depart.

In February, Slimane showed his FW16 collection in Los Angeles’ famed venue The Palladium, in a show dedicated dually to LA’s music scene, and the pioneering spirit of Yves Saint Laurent’s Rive Gauche line in its 50th anniversary. In early March, he showed his women’s ready-to-wear collection at the new La Maison Yves Saint Laurent in Paris, spotlighting the house’s return to its spiritual home on the Left Bank of the Seine river, a symbolic relocation that has come under Slimane’s directorship.

Today’s departure is the latest in a long line of recent designer moves, including Alber Elbaz from Lanvin, Raf Simons from Dior and Alexander Wang from Balenciaga.

Slimane has yet to comment on the news. His next move is yet to be announced.