Hedi Slimane

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Hedi Slimane
Born July 5, 1968 (1968-07-05) (age 39)
Paris, France
Nationality Tunisian, French
Labels Dior Homme (2000-2007)
Awards 2002:
International Designer of the Year
by the CFDA

Hedi Slimane (born July 5, 1968 in Paris) is a Tunisian-French fashion designer of Tunisian and Italian-Brazilian origins[1]. He studied political sciences (hypokhâgne prépa 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[citation needed], notably on the centenary exhibition of Louis Vuitton's "LV" monogramme label.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years

[edit] Professional life

Pierre Bergé appointed him at Yves Saint Laurent in 1997 as Collections and art Director, and he relaunched YSL Rive Gauche Homme. He decided to leave the house in 1999, and was proposed to create his brand with the GUCCI GROUP. He was also proposed to join PRADA GROUP to design Jil Sander. He chose Christian Dior, and became the creative designer for men’s clothing at Christian Dior, and created the line and world of Dior Homme, for Christian Dior 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. He created the first colognes ever produced at Dior, Eau Noire, Cologne Blanche, and Bois d'Argent, (Eau Noire was made to measure for him), and the first men's institutional and classic fragrance at Dior, Dior homme, and Dior Homme Intense. He also created the first skincare lines for Dior, Dermo system.

In July 2007, Hedi Slimane decided to quit the house of Dior. In order to convince him to stay, LVMH proposed him to finance his own signature line. Negotiations lasted for 6.5 months.[citation needed] Slimane called them off in February. He made a statement on his website to explain his choice. Slimane did not want to lose his creative freedom, sell his name, and lose the management of his own brand. He left for US, joined his friend Gus Van Sant[citation needed], and started a new project, "Young American", which was partly shown at FOAM museum in July 2007. He opened 2 others shows, at Arndt and Partners gallery, in Berlin, SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH (a groupshow, with contribution form the emrging Ny art scene), and a solo show at Ellipse Foundation for contemporary art. Hedi Slimane is currently working on a few upcoming exhibitions: in November, PERFECT STRANGER, in collaboration with MUSAC museum at galery Almine Rech, in Paris, February 2008, in Tokyo, at Koyanagi gallery, and May 2008 at Musac Contemporary art museum in Spain.

He is expected to debut a line of his own which will include womenswear.[2]

Having a background in furniture design, fragrance, store design, and photography, Slimane is noted 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 becoming editor-in-chief of Libération and designing album covers for artists such as Phoenix. In 2004, he published Stage, the first book ever published on the new rock scene, a collection of his Rock 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, or Amy Winehouse[citation needed]. 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").

Slimane is widely known to discover young and thin models for his fashion shows, and have recruited models in the streets of London, New York, and Berlin who fit within his criteria. Isaac Ferry, the son of rocker Bryan Ferry, made his catwalk debut at one of Slimane's shows when he was 16 years old, among many young rock stars. He has started a large amount of careers in the model industry.[citation needed]

Slimane interest for indie rock started a whole movement in fashion. He is responsible for launching the skinny jeans, and new proportions in tailoring. His silhouette and attitude have been adopted widely on a street level. he also started a few british bands, among them Eight legs, and These New Puritans.

Hedi Slimane lives between Paris and Los Angeles.[citation needed]

Slimane was misquoted[citation needed] in many interviews as saying that he survives on a delicately balanced diet and prefers food that he doesn't have to chew much. The mistake came from from a mistranslation: "baby food", means "comfort food" in French.[3] He does not drink, smoke or do drugs[citation needed]. He designs on his own.

[edit] Cultural References

  • Hedi Slimane is mentioned in the song "This Lamb Sells Condos" from the album He Poos Clouds by Final Fantasy.
  • A Boston punk band named Keys to the Streets of Fear released a song in 2005 called “Hedi Slimane”.
  • A french Singer, Etienne Daho, refers to the "Silouhette en Slimane" in the song "Vis à vis" (2003 "Réevolution" Album)
  • Henry Holland refers to Slimane on a T-Shirt slogan "CAUSE ME PAIN HEDI SLIMANE"
  • Designer/Rapper Kanye West has mentioned a sort of reverence for Slimane in the August/September 2007 edition of Complex magazine. He quotes "Hedi Slimane is not even a real person. I'm saying that in the most positive way. Saying that he's not even a human being. Hedi Slimane is truly a god. Bow in the presence of greatness."
  • West also expresses unhappiness about Slimane's unrenewed contract with Dior Homme: "I heard that he wasn't going to design anymore. That just means in two years my jeans are going to be looking ragged because I'm going to be wearing the same shit"

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hedi Times.
  2. ^ Menkes, Suzy (2007-03-29). Dior parts with star designer. International Herald Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
  3. ^ McLean, Craig (2005-11-25). To Dior For. The Observer. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Slimane, Hedi
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION French fashion designer
DATE OF BIRTH July 5, 1968
PLACE OF BIRTH Paris, France
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH