Founder of the Maison was Yves Saint Laurent, designer of Algerian origin but French by adoption. At just 17 years old, the very young Yves began working for Christian Dior, who succeeded him as head of the label in 1957. It was in 1962 that, acquired a solid experience, Yves decided to launch his own brand, together with his partner Pierre Bergè. Sensual and sophisticated, the Saint Laurent woman paraded with typically male garments, such as the trench coat, the tuxedo jacket, the trousers. It was a revolution. Followed by collections inspired by art (such as the one dedicated to Mondrian in 1965), to Algeria, its homeland, to imperial China up to the glittering '40s. Yves radically changed the world of prêt-à-porter, gaining a place of honor in the Olympus of fashion. In 2012 the artistic direction went to Hedi Slimane, a Franco-Tunisian designer, whose collections wisely combine an androgynous femininity, a clear homage to Yves, a rock'n'roll aesthetic and sophisticated. In April 2016 Anthony Vaccarello was appointed new creative director.