Hedi Slimane
Encyclopedia
Hedi Slimane is a French fashion designer of Tunisian, Italian-Brazilian origins. He studied political sciences (CPGE
Sciences-Po), and Art History
at the École du Louvre
, and was also educated as a tailor. From 1992 to 1995 he worked for Jean-Jacques Picart, notably on the centenary exhibition of Louis Vuitton
's "LV" monogram label.
appointed him as Collections and Art Director at the house of Yves Saint Laurent
in 1997, and they relaunched YSL Rive Gauche Homme. He left the house in 1999, and was invited to create his own label within the Gucci
Group. He was invited to join the Prada
Group to design for the Jil Sander
label. Instead, he chose to work at Christian Dior
, where he became the creative designer for men’s clothing, and designed the line of Dior Homme
in 2000. In 2002, the Council of Fashion Designers of America
named him the International Designer of the Year in New York. In 2003, he was appointed creative director for Christian Dior men's fragrances, including Eau Noire, Cologne Blanche, Bois d'Argent, Dior homme, and Dior Homme Intense. He also created the first skincare lines for Dior, the "Dermo" system.
In July 2007, Slimane left the house of Dior. In an attempt to convince him to stay, Dior's parent company, LVMH offered to finance Slimane's own signature line. Slimane rejected their offer in February 2008. He stated on his website that he did not want to lose his creative freedom, sell his name, or give up the control of his own brand. He is expected to debut a line of his own which will include womenswear.
Slimane has scouted and recruited many models for his fashion shows from the streets of London, New York, and Berlin, who fit his aesthetic. Isaac Ferry, the son of rocker Bryan Ferry
, made his catwalk debut at one of Slimane's shows when he was 16 years old.
When Karl Lagerfeld
lost 42 kg (roughly 92.6 pounds) in 13 months in 2001, his explanation was “...I suddenly wanted to dress differently, to wear clothes designed by Hedi Slimane,” he said. “But these fashions, modeled by very, very slim boys—and not men my age—required me to lose at least 40 kg. It took me exactly thirteen months.” The diet was created specially for Lagerfeld by Dr. Jean-Claude Houdret, which led to a book called The Karl Lagerfeld Diet.
and designing album covers for artists such as Phoenix
and Daft Punk
. In 2004, he published "Stage", a collection of his Rock musician photography
. He has published several other books of his photography and has contributed writing and photography to many fashion magazines including Vanity Fair
.
In April 2008, Slimane left for the US, and started a new project, "Young American", which was partly shown at the FOAM Museum in July 2007. He had two other shows: at Arndt and Partners Gallery in Berlin—titled "Sweet Bird of Youth" (a group show, with contributions from emerging artists in the New York art scene), and a solo show at Ellipse Foundation for contemporary art. He also collaborated on the exhibition "Perfect Stranger", at Gallery Almine Rech, in Paris, February 2008, another show at Koyanagi Gallery in Tokyo, and one at the Musac Contemporary Art Museum in Spain in May 2008.
The cover and promotional art for The Fame Monster
by Lady Gaga
was photographed by Slimane in 2009.
Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles
The classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles , commonly called classes prépas or prépas, are part of the French post-secondary education system. They consist in two very selective years , acting as a prep course with the main goal of training undergraduate students for enrolment in one of the...
Sciences-Po), and Art History
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
at the École du Louvre
École du Louvre
The École du Louvre is an institution of higher education and French Grande École located in the Aile de Flore of the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France, and is dedicated to the study of archaeology, art history, anthropology and epigraphy....
, and was also educated as a tailor. From 1992 to 1995 he worked for Jean-Jacques Picart, notably on the centenary exhibition of Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
's "LV" monogram label.
Professional life
Pierre BergéPierre Bergé
Pierre Bergé is a French industrialist and patron. He is perhaps best known as the co-founder of Yves Saint Laurent Couture House and former partner of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.-Early life:...
appointed him as Collections and Art Director at the house of Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent (brand)
Yves Saint Laurent or YSL is a luxury fashion house founded by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. Today, its chief designer is Stefano Pilati. Yves Saint Laurent, founder of the brand, died in 2008.-History:...
in 1997, and they relaunched YSL Rive Gauche Homme. He left the house in 1999, and was invited to create his own label within the Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
Group. He was invited to join the Prada
Prada
Prada S.p.A. is an Italian fashion label specializing in luxury goods for men and women , founded by Mario Prada.-Foundations:...
Group to design for the Jil Sander
Jil Sander AG
Jil Sander AG is a fashion house founded by Ms. Jil Sander in Germany in 1968. Its minimalist trademarks include striking silhouettes, high-end fabrics, and meticulous detail, emphasizing quality over flash...
label. Instead, he chose to work at Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
, where he became the creative designer for men’s clothing, and designed the line of Dior Homme
Dior Homme
Dior Homme is the menswear division of Christian Dior SA, the French clothing retailer. Dior Homme is currently under the creative direction of Kris Van Assche since spring/summer 2008...
in 2000. In 2002, the Council of Fashion Designers of America
Council of Fashion Designers of America
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association of over 350 of America’s foremost fashion and accessory designers. As of 2009, Diane von Fürstenberg is the group's President and Steven Kolb is the Executive Director...
named him the International Designer of the Year in New York. In 2003, he was appointed creative director for Christian Dior men's fragrances, including Eau Noire, Cologne Blanche, Bois d'Argent, Dior homme, and Dior Homme Intense. He also created the first skincare lines for Dior, the "Dermo" system.
In July 2007, Slimane left the house of Dior. In an attempt to convince him to stay, Dior's parent company, LVMH offered to finance Slimane's own signature line. Slimane rejected their offer in February 2008. He stated on his website that he did not want to lose his creative freedom, sell his name, or give up the control of his own brand. He is expected to debut a line of his own which will include womenswear.
Slimane has scouted and recruited many models for his fashion shows from the streets of London, New York, and Berlin, who fit his aesthetic. Isaac Ferry, the son of rocker Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry, CBE is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. Ferry came to public prominence in the early 1970s as lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band Roxy Music, who enjoyed a highly successful career with three number one albums and ten singles entering the top ten charts in...
, made his catwalk debut at one of Slimane's shows when he was 16 years old.
When Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld is a German fashion designer, artist and photographer based in Paris. He has collaborated on a variety of fashion and art related projects, most notably as head designer and creative director for the fashion house Chanel...
lost 42 kg (roughly 92.6 pounds) in 13 months in 2001, his explanation was “...I suddenly wanted to dress differently, to wear clothes designed by Hedi Slimane,” he said. “But these fashions, modeled by very, very slim boys—and not men my age—required me to lose at least 40 kg. It took me exactly thirteen months.” The diet was created specially for Lagerfeld by Dr. Jean-Claude Houdret, which led to a book called The Karl Lagerfeld Diet.
Non-fashion projects
Slimane has a background in furniture design, fragrance, store design, and photography. He is perhaps best known for the slim silhouette of his menswear. In addition to his work as a fashion designer, he has been involved in various other projects, including as editor-in-chief of LibérationLibération
Libération is a French daily newspaper founded in Paris by Jean-Paul Sartre and Serge July in 1973 in the wake of the protest movements of May 1968. Originally a leftist newspaper, it has undergone a number of shifts during the 1980s and 1990s...
and designing album covers for artists such as Phoenix
Phoenix (band)
Phoenix is a Grammy Award winning French indie rock band from Versailles, founded by Thomas Mars, Deck d'Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz.-Formation and early years:...
and Daft Punk
Daft Punk
Daft Punk are an electronic music duo consisting of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter . Daft Punk reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France and met with continued success in the years following, combining elements of house with synthpop...
. In 2004, he published "Stage", a collection of his Rock musician photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
. He has published several other books of his photography and has contributed writing and photography to many fashion magazines including Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
.
In April 2008, Slimane left for the US, and started a new project, "Young American", which was partly shown at the FOAM Museum in July 2007. He had two other shows: at Arndt and Partners Gallery in Berlin—titled "Sweet Bird of Youth" (a group show, with contributions from emerging artists in the New York art scene), and a solo show at Ellipse Foundation for contemporary art. He also collaborated on the exhibition "Perfect Stranger", at Gallery Almine Rech, in Paris, February 2008, another show at Koyanagi Gallery in Tokyo, and one at the Musac Contemporary Art Museum in Spain in May 2008.
The cover and promotional art for The Fame Monster
The Fame Monster
The Fame Monster is the third EP by American recording artist Lady Gaga. It was released on November 18, 2009 through Interscope Records. Initially planned to be included on a re-release of Gaga's debut studio album, The Fame, she announced that the eight tracks would be included on a standalone...
by Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
was photographed by Slimane in 2009.
External links
- Hedi Slimane Official site
- Ferry's son scales the Hedi heights in catwalk debut Telegraph 2001
- Dior Homme Hedi Slimane video of campaigns, SS02-SS07
- Guardian interview