Shoppers Are Buying More Saint Laurent Than Ever Before

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Hedi Slimane might not be pushing innovation while designing for Saint Laurent, but that hasn't hurt sales in the slightest. Fashionista reports that on an earnings webcast Kering CFO Jean-Marc Duplaix said SL had its strongest sales quarter for retail in the label's history and that sales were up 37% overall and 32% at physical stores.

Slimane has consistently improved the label's revenues since he joined as creative director in 2012 and reports show that sales have doubled in that time. Previously, analysts noted that Slimane's impossibly cool black-and-white ads combined with his easily wearable pieces (think biker jackets and denim) make the label a big seller.

Another success story for Kering is Gucci. Gucci's sales had been declining the past several seasons but it has reversed course under the direction of relatively new head designer Alessandro Michele. The designer's cruise collection made it to stores in mid-September and has helped sales improve by 9%. Michele is also getting wholesale numbers back on course. While wholesale sales for Gucci were still down 6%, this was a much smaller decrease compared to previous quarters.

Lastly, Duplaix mostly skirted around questions about the new Alexander Wang-less Balenciaga, but did note that sales for its leather goods were "solid," according to Fashionista.