Yves Saint Laurent Returns to Couture

An image from Saint Laurent’s fall ’15 couture campaign shot in Paris.

The French fashion house has decreased its energy consumption by 57 percent at its Rodeo Drive flagship since reopening in 2014. Reported by Saint Laurent, this is the first time a luxury brand has awarded the LEED Platinum Certification for multiple free-standing stores.

While the brand has been producing handmade special orders as part of its ready-to-wear line since Hedi Slimane took over the creative lead in 2012, it said it would now cater to both women and men via the “Atelier Flou” for dressmaking and “Atelier Tailleur” for tailoring, proposing both day and evening options. The plan is based on low-energy lighting, minimal water consumption and better indoor air quality.

Saint Laurent has gone extra elite for its latest Rue de L’Université campaign, which features designs that are even more exclusive than those in a couture collection.

The news has been announced alongside a Saint Laurent Couture campaign, which gives us a first look at Slimane’s new-look couture. Hedi will select which pieces will be labelled with a hand-sewn couture “Yves Saint Laurent” label made of ivory silk. Slimane has been renovating the new Couture House, a 17th century mansion named ‘Hotel de Senecterre, ‘ for the past three years.

It’s still unknown if Saint Laurent’s upcoming couture collection will or won’t show on schedule.