Kering Declines Comment on Report of Hedi Slimane Lawsuit
PARIS — Kering on Thursday declined to comment on a report that Hedi Slimane has launched further legal action against his former employer.
A French commercial court in June ordered the conglomerate to pay $13 million to Slimane in application of a non-compete clause following his departure from Yves Saint Laurent earlier this year.
Quoting a source close to the case, French news agency AFP said on Wednesday the designer was now seeking an additional sum close to two million euros, or $2.2 million at current exchange, corresponding to his variable compensation in his last year at the head of the fashion label.
In addition, it said, Slimane is asking Kering to apply a partnership agreement giving him certain rights as a minority shareholder in Saint Laurent, namely to information. It is not known what percentage of the company’s capital is in Slimane’s hands.
Slimane’s lawyer Hervé Temime declined to comment on the AFP report. Officials at the commercial court in Paris were not immediately available to comment.
Kering said in June it would appeal the $13 million award linked to the non-compete clause. Slimane, who left Saint Laurent in April after a four-year tenure as creative and image director, lodged the procedure in May. It concerns non-competition obligations that are among standard clauses for high-profile executive and creative roles in fashion, and which typically restrict a designer or chief executive officer from working for competitors for a year or more.
“Kering lifted this clause at the end of Hedi Slimane’s contract, thus freeing Hedi Slimane from this potential constraint. Hedi Slimane is requesting that this clause be applied still, along with the effective payment of the financial compensation that goes with it,” the group said.
Slimane’s legal challenge suggests he doesn’t have any immediate plans to sign on with another fashion house. Before joining YSL, he spent several years concentrating on photography and art making in his post-Dior Homme career.
Anthony Vaccarello, who succeeded Slimane at the design helm of Saint Laurent, showed his first collection for the brand during Paris Fashion Week.
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