Yves Saint Laurent, the man regarded as one of the great figureheads of 20th-century French fashion, once said: “Fashion dies, but style remains.” A brave statement for a fashion brand to acknowledge, but a truism nonetheless.
When the incoming creative director, Hedi Slimane, decided to rebrand YSL as Saint Laurent, we were concerned – this was a brand steeped in history, one that introduced the suit for women and dressed the revolutionaries at Studio 54; a brand that could be solely credited with rendering ready-to-wear reputable.
Yet, all that Slimane, a French-born Italian-Tunisian designer responsible for a seismic shift of ideals in dress in the 1990s, has done is continue to observe Saint Laurent’s story. For, like his predecessor, this is a man who obviously has little interest in commercial fashion, but a great deal in modern design and luxury.
The latest addition to the Saint Laurent permanent collection, a range of unisex monogrammed luggage consisting of around 30 pieces, uses the very logo designed by the artist Cassandre for Yves Saint Laurent in 1961, except this time woven into a repeating chain motif.
Made in workshops in Italy from a natural coated cotton weft canvas, the “Monogram Saint Laurent” print comes in a range of muted shades of brown and black, and the collection has been extended to include traditional accessories linked to travel, such as small leather goods and toiletry essentials.
Focused on functionality and utility, the canvas has a special coating to reinforce resistance, helping it to maintain its authentic appearance and lustre over time.
As an added treat for the jet-setters among us, personalised initials can be stamped on to the pieces in select Saint Laurent stores.
ktrotter@thenational.ae
