Saint Laurent's creative director Hedi Slimane quits the fashion house

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Hedi Slimane, 47, has been with Saint Laurent for four years
His tenure has seen YSL grow from strength to strength and profits soar
Speculation has been mounting around Paris-born designer's departure
His successor has yet to be announced but YSL praised his 'vision'

Published: 03:11 EST, 1 April 2016 | Updated: 09:12 EST, 1 April 2016

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After just over four years heading up one of the most iconic fashion houses in the industry, Yves Saint Laurent's creative director has announced his departure.

Hedi Slimane, 47, broke the news this morning in an official statement via the label's parent company Kering, who praised the designer's 'holistic reform' of YSL.

They thanked him for bringing back the label's 'utmost modernity and fashion authority', while 'keeping alive and respecting the original vision of Mr Saint Laurent'.

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Hedi Slimane, 47, today announced he will be stepping down as creative director of Saint Laurent after four years. The famously publicity-shy designer has been plagued by rumours of a possible exit for months

Slimane steps onto the runway at his penultimate show at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles in March

The Paris-born designer joined YSL in March 2012 following a seven-year stint as creative director of Dior Homme between 2000 and 2007.

In the last two months alone he has been at the helm of two storming shows - one in LA's Hollywood Palladium, and one in Paris' Maison Saint Laurent.

The LA menswear show in February was a sumptuous showcase of velvet, fur, sequins and fringed leather, with famous faces on the front row including Jane Fonda, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber.

He delighted his star-studded audience with a series of flamboyant, stage-ready looks. Slimane described the collection as a return to 'signature style pieces and principles' characterised by an androgynous approach to menswear.

Speaking at the show, Lady Gaga gushed: 'I love Hedi so much and I think he's done a fantastic job here. He's just been a huge inspiration to so many artists all over the world for such a long time and I just always love to come see what he's doing.'

Famous faces: Slimane, left, rubs shoulders with Chanel's Virginie Viard and Karl Lagerfeld in 2003

Storming finale: Two looks from Slimane's final show in LA last month. Speaking at the show, Lady Gaga gushed: 'I love Hedi so much and I think he's done a fantastic job here. He's just been a huge inspiration'

His final show in Paris last month was a more traditional affair featuring ultra-feminine, Eighties-style puffed sleeves and thigh-grazing skirts.

His time at YSL has seen him oversee all aspects of the brand's transformation, from the campaign photography to its official name change to Saint Laurent.

Company profits have skyrocketed since his time there, and according to company results in 2014, he had been responsible for doubling revenues to $787million (£549million).

The famously publicity-shy designer - who rarely gives press interviews - has yet to announce what he will do after breaking ties with Saint Laurent, and has remained silent on social media following the news.

Slimane has enjoyed stints as a fashion photographer in between his tenures and was at one points in talks to launch his own eponymous label

The designer with the late L'Wren Scott at Dior's Menswear Pret A Porter AW2006-2007 show

KERING'S STATEMENT IN FULL

'Since March 2012, under the creative helm of Hedi Slimane, the House has enjoyed a holistic reform that has brought back its utmost modernity and fashion authority, while keeping alive and respecting the original vision of Mr Saint Laurent.

'This repositioning has granted a new life and a new story to one of the most important French Couture Houses, with undisputed success.'

However he has enjoyed successful stints as a photographer in between his tenures and was at one points in talks to launch his own eponymous label.

Kering's chairman and CEO, François-Henri Pinault, said: 'What Yves Saint Laurent has achieved over the past four years represents a unique chapter in the history of the House.

'I am very grateful to Hedi Slimane, and the whole Yves Saint Laurent team, for having set the path that the House has successfully embraced, and which will grant longevity to this legendary Brand.'

Slimane is just the latest in a string of high-profile departures, following Raf Simons' retreat from Dior last year. The statement notes that Slimane's successor will be announced 'in due course'.