Hedi Slimane

Photography Appreciation 

Born on July 5, 1968 in Paris, France, Hedi Slimane is a multi-talented photographer, artist, and fashion designer. He is best known for his minimalist, rock and roll-inspired aesthetic and his ability to rejuvenate and modernize the brands he works with. 

He grew up in fashion, shopping and sewing fabric with his mother. Then at the age of 11, he received his first camera and learned black and white darkroom printing. In 1992, he graduated with an art history degree from the École du Louvre and completed a tailor apprenticeship with French fashion consultant Jean-Jacques Picart. Picart introduced Slimane to Pierre Bergé, who was searching for a men's wear designer for Yves Saint Laurent (YSL).

In 1996, Slimane began his fashion career at YSL and became the artistic director of its menswear line, where he helped to redefine the look of men's fashion and was credited with popularizing the skinny suit. 

Slimane then went on to work as a creative director for Dior Homme from 2000 to 2007 where he modernized the brand's aesthetic and helped to establish it as a major player in the luxury fashion world. While at Dior, he launched a new men's fragrance called "Higher." He also created stage wear for The Libertines, Mick Jagger, Beck, Jack White, and others. 

During his time at Dior Homme, he pursued photography, and published several books of photographs.  In 2007, Slimane did not renew his contract with Dior Homme. He moved to Los Angeles to concentrate on portrait photography. He has had solo exhibitions of his work in galleries around the world. His photographs focus on youth culture and subcultures, and have been praised for their raw, naturalistic style.

Slimane returned to YSL, now Saint Laurent, in 2012 as creative director. He based his creative studio in Los Angeles rather than the its headquarters in Paris. In 2018, he became the creative, artistic, and image director of Céline. Slimane has dropped the French accent for Céline, making it Celine.

Keith Richards, Los Angeles, March 2013

Frances Bean Cobain (c. 2011)

Courtney Love with veil, London, 2009

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.crash.fr/hedi-slimane-on-photography/

www.hedislimane.com/diary

https://www.businessoffashion.com/community/people/hedi-slimane

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Slimane-Hedi

https://www.ft.com/content/807d8a2a-3cc1-11e4-9733-00144feabdc0

http://www.fashiontography.net/2011/08/frances-bean-cobain-by-hedi-slimane.html

https://mymodernmet.com/kurt-cobain-daughter/