Hedi Slimane Feuds With Colette Over a T-Shirt

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Hedi Slimane, grand master of the Saint Laurent brand, has iced-out internationally-recognized retailer Colette, which would be the first time that he expanded beyond his critics' ban (that we know of). Sarah Andelman, Colette's creative director, was justifiably pissed and took the story public. Saint Laurent will not comment. Find a breakdown below.

The story: The designer severed a 15-year business relationship with the Paris retailer.

The issue: Colette sold around 300 tees that read "Ain't Laurent Without Yves." (It was one those ubiquitous fashion parody tees. You know the ones.)

The punishment: Saint Laurent canceled the shop's spring 2014 orders for the Saint Laurent collections, which totaled $285,738 at current exchange rates. Andelman was removed from the invitation list at the Saint Laurent show this past Monday and Colette can't sell copies of the indie magazine Document featuring photography shot by Slimane.

Andelman's side: She took the tee off Colette's webshop at the request of YSL, and tried to unload the rest of them at the brick-and-mortar store in Paris. YSL reps called on September 25 to say that they were ending their business relationship because she continued selling "counterfeit products" that "seriously damaged" the brand.

And her argument: "I am really shocked because it's just a T-shirt. There's no doubt that it's not a Saint Laurent product." According to WWD paraphrasing, she made the case that "if luxury brands are concerned about parody T-shirts damaging their brands, they should take legal action against their makers, not their loyal wholesale partners who dabble in a quirky fashion trend."

So, sorry fans of this poorly reviewed collection. You'll have to order it from more accommodating retailers.
· Saint Laurent Trades Grunge for Joan Jett-ish Rock Glam [Racked]
· To the Haters: Hedi Slimane's Saint Laurent Sells Just Fine [Racked]