Hedi Slimane is a French fashion designer who was born in Paris. He studied Art History at the École du Louvre, then became a tailor. His experience includes furniture design, fragrance, store design, and photography.
Slimane worked with Jean-Jacques Picart on the centenary exhibition of Louis Vuitton’s “LV” monogramme label.
In addition to his work as a fashion designer, he has been involved in various other projects, including becoming Editor-In-Chief of Libération and designing album covers for artists such as Phoenix. In 2004, he published Stage, a collection of his rock and roll photography. Slimane has published several other books of his photography and has contributed writing and photography to many style and fashion magazines including Vanity Fair. Slimane has many connections to the British indie-rock scene, notably his close friendship with controversial Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty. In 2004 German documentary-makers Christina Trebbi and Gero Von Boehm made a documentary about Slimane, entitled Hedi Slimane, ma vie (“Hedi Slimane, my life”).
After working as Collections Director for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Homme in 1997, and subsequently as Artistic Director, he became the Chief Designer for Christian Dior in 2000. In 2002, the Council of Fashion Designers of America named him International Designer of the Year. He held the position of Creative Director for Dior until 2007. He is currently the Creative Director for Saint Laurent Paris.
Slimane is called a ‘throw-back” by some – he’s known for preferring very young and thin European models for his fashion shows. Isaac Ferry, the son of rocker Bryan Ferry, made his catwalk debut at one of Slimane’s shows when he was 16 years-old.
