You’ve probably seen the iconic YSL logo everywhere—from the streets of Paris to a random TikTok haul. It’s a symbol that screams French luxury, high-octane glamour, and that specific kind of "cool" that most brands would kill for. But if you think there’s still a guy named Yves calling the shots in a dusty atelier, or even a small family holding onto the reigns, you’re about a few decades behind the curve.
Honestly, the high-fashion world is kinda like a game of Monopoly, but with way more silk and much higher stakes.
Saint Laurent is owned by Kering, a massive French multinational conglomerate that basically runs a huge chunk of the luxury world. If you’ve heard of Gucci or Balenciaga, you’ve heard of Kering’s other "children." They are the big fish in the pond, second only to their arch-rival LVMH.
The Kering Era: Who is Actually in Charge?
Kering didn't always have that name. Back in the day, it was known as PPR (Pinault-Printemps-Redoute). The transition from a timber-trading company to a fashion powerhouse is one of the wildest pivots in business history.
Today, the man at the top is François-Henri Pinault. He’s the Chairman and CEO of Kering. You might recognize him from red carpets—he’s married to Salma Hayek—but in the boardroom, he’s the guy who transformed Saint Laurent from a struggling legacy house into a multi-billion dollar juggernaut.
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Here is the breakdown of the leadership team as of 2026:
- Parent Company: Kering
- Chairman & CEO of Kering: François-Henri Pinault
- CEO of Saint Laurent: Cédric Charbit (who took the wheel in late 2024/early 2025)
- Creative Director: Anthony Vaccarello
Vaccarello has been there since 2016, which is an eternity in fashion years. He’s the one responsible for those sky-high stilettos and the "everything-is-black" aesthetic that defines the brand right now. While Pinault handles the billions, Vaccarello handles the vibe.
A Messy History: How YSL Changed Hands
It wasn't always a smooth ride under a corporate umbrella. When Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé started the house in 1961, it was a scrappy (well, as scrappy as French couture gets) independent venture.
In 1993, things got corporate. The brand was sold to a pharmaceutical company called Sanofi. Imagine that—the people making your aspirin were also in charge of the world’s most provocative couture. It didn't last.
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By 1999, the "Gucci Group" (which later became Kering) swooped in and bought the brand for about $1 billion. This was a legendary era of fashion drama. Tom Ford was brought in to design the ready-to-wear, and let’s just say Yves Saint Laurent himself wasn't a huge fan. There were public spats, scathing letters, and enough tension to fill a dozen documentaries.
The L'Oréal Twist (The Part Everyone Forgets)
Here’s where it gets confusing. If you walk into a Sephora and buy a "YSL" lipstick or a bottle of Black Opium perfume, your money isn't actually going to Kering.
L'Oréal owns the license for YSL Beauty. Basically, Kering owns the name, the clothes, the handbags, and the shoes. But they "rent" the name out to L'Oréal to make the makeup and fragrance. It’s a common move in luxury, but it’s why the branding on a perfume bottle sometimes feels slightly different than the vibe in a $4,000 leather jacket boutique.
Why the Ownership Matters to You
You might wonder why any of this corporate shuffling matters if you just want a nice bag. Well, ownership dictates everything.
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Under Kering, Saint Laurent has moved away from the "Yves" (Hedi Slimane famously dropped the first name from the ready-to-wear line in 2012) and leaned hard into a rock-and-roll, permanent-collection strategy. They don't chase trends as much as they set a "uniform."
Kering's deep pockets also mean Saint Laurent can afford to take massive risks, like building a literal stadium in front of the Eiffel Tower for a 15-minute runway show.
Actionable Insights for the Savvy Consumer:
- Check the Tag: If you are buying vintage, look for "Rive Gauche" labels. These date back to the era when Yves and Pierre still had total control and were trying to "democratize" fashion.
- The Investment Value: Because Kering manages Saint Laurent as a "core" brand, the resale value of iconic pieces like the Sac de Jour or the Loulou remains high. They aren't going anywhere.
- Corporate Sustainability: If you care about ethics, Kering is actually a leader in this space. They have a publicly available "Environmental Profit & Loss" account, so you can see exactly how much water and CO2 your leather bag cost the planet.
The brand is no longer a small French workshop. It’s a vital organ in a multi-billion dollar machine that thrives on the tension between high art and high finance.