The brand has had an inflection, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Edouard Aubin, with less black and white and more color, thus catering to a broader audience, he wrote in a note. and other data for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, Later, at the investment bank Deutsche Morgan Grenfell in London, she helped pitched deals to luxury fashion houses, and in the process met Patrizio Bertelli, chief executive of the Prada Group. According to the fashion house's CEO, Francesca Bellettini, the Vaccarello era at the fashion house will be a . YSL continues to grow that number. Previously, she worked in Compass Partners International, UK from 1998 to 1999, in Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, UK from 1996 to 1998 and in Goldman Sachs . Francesca Bellettini began her career in London as an investment banker, working at Goldman Sachs International, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and Compass Partners International. In a second, I said, Yes! Then I said, You know I dont speak French, right? and he said, I know that. She had always loved fashion, but the job came with a 50 percent pay cut. Bellettini has overseen a radical rebranding, overhauling the company from within Image: Nico. It wasnt her first time in the line of fire, in any case. With the house on track to end 2021 with sales over 2 billion, CEO Francesca Bellettini believes the brand can rise even further. She studied economics and business administration at Bocconi University in Milan, spending five months at the University of Chicago as an exchange student in her senior year, which forced her to quickly improve the limited English she had learned at school. Do whatever you like. She took the job. PARIS Francesca Bellettini doesnt style her hair. (For example, we would never do gaming simply because its something Generation Z is into. In his place, Bellettini appointed Anthony Vaccarello, a young designer who had previously been successful at Versus Versace. Francesca Anderson, the rich wife of an older millionaire, can't cope with the death of her lover, who is the father of her only son, James. What was truly striking, however, was when Bellettini explained her out-look on life: if Plan A fails, Plan B will never be a watered-down version; instead, both paths will take her down something remarkable and exciting. During the later stages of the conversation, when asked about the secrets of her success, she elaborated on how the relationship between the creative and business parts of a fashion brand is the single most important factor. The decision was to invest. CEO and president of Yves Saint Laurent, Francesca Bellettini . From left, Ms. Bellettini; Anthony Vaccarello, creative director for Saint Laurent, and Franois-Henri Pinault, chairman and chief executive of Kering. Sustainability, another pressing topic for fashion brands to consider alongside growth, is a priority, Bellettini says. Her obsession is paying off. Moderated by Emma . Now Dravida, also the firm's chief executive, is conducting research trials to treat a number of debilitatingconditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, muscular dystrophy, and stroke. Non-Executive Director at Ferrari - View - Ferrari org chart. Premium Digital includes access to our premier business column, Lex, as well as 15 curated newsletters covering key business themes with original, in-depth reporting. When I met him, I was incredibly impressed that he was not at all afraid of the challenge. Bellettini recommended her viewers to always be observant of a companys culture before applying for a job. "I most often work in places that are torn by war, natural disasters or epidemic, but I'm incredibly at peace amid the chaos," she said. Indeed, it is this quality, together with a deep understanding of the importance of balance in all aspects of business, that has propelled Saint Laurent to remarkable heights in todays turbulent economic landscape. Bellettini believes having a permanent collection is vital in ensuring brand awareness and recruiting customers. Bellettini stressed the importance of finding those special people along who you can trust. The company broke even two years ago and recently received its firstinvestment from the Indian Angel Network. PARIS Francesca Bellettini is riding high.. Having crossed the $1 billion in sales threshold in 2017, the brand isa star performer in parent companyKerings luxury portfolio. or Moderated by Emma Rosenkranz 23, vice-president of Fashion@Brown, and Dani Siegal 24, social media coordinator, Ms. Bellettini gave an inspiring talk which spoke to her courage, integrity, and drive. As her son is somehow part of her dead lover, she falls in love with him and tries to seduce him, but he has a girlfriend named Julie. Indeed, Bellettini believes having a permanent collection is vital in ensuring brand awareness and recruiting customers, particularly given around 70 percent of customers each year are new. Standard Digital includes access to a wealth of global news, analysis and expert opinion. Diversification has been one key to the houses current success. Browse 110 francesca bellettini stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. This has raised the bar for each and every one of us. Impressively, the executive has maintained the house's upward trajectorydespitethe departure of its star creative director Search instead in Creative? Its no longer about brand loyalty so much as in being at the forefront of peoples minds, said Gail McInnes, fashion industry expert and CEO of Stylist Box. Sometimes if you look at one part, you lose the full picture, she says. I said, I met Mr. Bertelli and he offered me the job of my life, and I can leave banking, she recalled. But is it bad? Twenty-nine years old is a little early to do a job for money. A brand without clarity, at the end of the day, becomes just a commodity, said Bellettini at the Financial Times Business of Luxury conference in 2016. Facebook gives people. In 1999, she joined the Business Planning and Development division of the Prada group, and later became Operations Manager for Helmut Lang. Saint Laurent was the star of the Kering Groups most recent earnings publications. He never frightens you, she said. Leather goods represents the lions share of Saint Laurents sales (71 per cent of the business in 2020), which puts it in the league of brands with the highest percentage. Already a member? Notable for Saint Laurent under Bellettini is its leather business. Bellettini says: Anthony always created a very compelling and complete collection and the show in March 2020, featuring colored tailoring jackets and latex pants, gave visibility to its offer variety. But she did not pull the ads. What did they know? Ms. Bellettini, an executive director at Bottega Veneta, will succeed Paul Deneve, who is leaving to join Apple Inc. after just two years at the fashion label. Fashion has never been so competitive. (if applicable) for The Wall Street Journal. If youd like to retain your premium access and save 20%, you can opt to pay annually at the end of the trial. Moreover, Bellettini called for everyone to be ambitious but never impatient; experiences take time to be made. He was required to sign a confidentiality agreement. In the summer of 2013, Slimane announced his bold decision to rename a fashion house that had been a fixture of the luxury scene for over half a century. FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. Such was Slimanes influence that many industry analysts predicted his departure would lead to a reversal of Saint Laurents recent growth. That mindset is reflected in what Saint Laurent does as much as what it chooses not to do. That, to me, has been what makes her such a wonderful CEO, especially in a creative field like fashion, said McInnes. In 1999, he offered her a job as part of Pradas then-new business development division. 29 November 2018. Bellettini proclaimed herself to be a perfectionist; and although this can be helpful to produce meticulous work, she also recognized how it does not allow for mistakes; and, mistakes are critical on the journey to growth and success. That means you risk having more leftovers. Comments, questions or feedback? It helps that were open, that we tend to smile, that we have this funny accent, she said, smiling. Certainly, Bellettini deserves to be recognised as one of the most influential leaders in fashion today. Sign up to our newsletter for a truly global perspective on the fashion industry. (Bellettini has been opening an average of 20 new stores per year globally.). You need to take a position sometimes, and you also need to give consumers things they dont even know that they want.. During your trial you will have complete digital access to FT.com with everything in both of our Standard Digital and Premium Digital packages. When it became clear Mr. Slimane was leaving, Mr. Vaccarello was approached for a possible job with a big fashion brand but not told which one. Please see our privacy policy for more information. Eileen Fisher is trying to raise the bar for sustainable fashion. Plan B was to study Mechanical Engineering at Bologna University and work for Ferrari; she had a bright laugh when describing how she aspired to be on the side-lines of the track changing the racing wheels of the cars. Simmenauer adds that the brands handbags in particular are timeless and well priced. We understand what each other wants, she said. At the time Pinault, chairman of parent company Kering, wasopen about his wish that the house reach $1 billion dollars in sales and Bellettini played an integral role in achieving thatgoal. She has what she calls de-stressful activities three mornings a week: running as much as six miles along the Seine or kickboxing with a personal trainer. By Roza Kovak. Two Days Mattered Most. She was there to review a collection for the upcoming season. Saint Laurent is never too skewed vis--vis anything vis--vis a product category, vis--vis a channel because we really believe in balance. Its one thing to have a strong brand and brand messaging, but that is lost within itself if it isnt carried throughout every level of the business, McInnes explained. Customer Service. She was a villain, then an icon. The fundamentals are even stronger, Bellettini says of the luxury houses current business, speaking in an exclusive Vogue Business interview at her marble-clad office in Paris. Showing Editorial results for francesca le. Saint Laurent is the second largest Kering house (representing 13 per cent of the group sales) behind Gucci. university Any changes made can be done at any time and will become effective at the end of the trial period, allowing you to retain full access for 4 weeks, even if you downgrade or cancel. Her father, whom she adored, was an accountant at a lumber company; her mother, a school administrator. Under Bellettinis leadership and Vaccarellos creative guidance, Saint Laurent has continued its unprecedented rise. She turned to her father for guidance. Have a good Tuesday! It was a very ironic, very playful way to present stilettos and boots, she said. Due to the extraordinary growth of the company under her leadership, she has been named by the Financial Times as one of the 25 most influential women of 2022. In 2008, she joined Bottega Veneta and became Worldwide Merchandising and Communications Director in 2010. Anyone can read what you share. Its part of the DNA of the brand, Bellettini told Business of Fashion (BoF) in an April 2016 interview. Getty. Francesca Bellettini with creative director Anthony Vaccarello and Franois-Henri Pinault, chairman and chief executive of Kering "That is something that you learn in banking," she adds.. Francesca Bellettini is an Italian businessperson who has been the head of 8 different companies and currently is Chairman at Yves Saint Laurent of Monaco, Chairman of Yves Saint Laurent Parfums SAS, Chairman & President of Yves Saint Laurent SAS, Chairman at Yves Saint Laurent Logistica SRL, Chairman for SL Luxury Retail SRL, Chairman at Yves Saint Laurent Spain SA, Chairman of Yves Saint . (Personal luxury goods sales dropped 22 per cent at the time, according to a Bain Altagamma study.) She doesnt wear hose even in the dead of winter. She worked at Prada and Helmut Lang prior to. Reproduce canciones como "Distratto (I Wonder About You) [Acoustic Live Solo]", "Be My Husband (Acoustic Live Solo)" y mucho ms. For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the Settings & Account section. The biggest move to bring clarity back was changing the brand name. FOR those predicting another seismic shift in brand identity at Saint Laurent - following the departure of Hedi Slimane last month and the appointment of Anthony Vaccarello - you will be in for a surprise. She joined Kering in 2003 as Strategic Planning Director and Associate Worldwide Merchandising Director of Gucci. Im obsessed with two things: local customers and comp growth, says Bellettini. Indeed, such a drastic identity change is usually a big no for established brands, but the audacious move came as part of a shake-up intended to give the brand some much-needed clarity. He is a good cook; she is not, so he sometimes invites her over for pasta. Some people dont believe it, but Anthony was the only one I met for the job.. Such was Slimanes influence that many industry analysts predicted his departure would lead to a reversal of Saint Laurents recent growth. When she saw an article of clothing she really liked, she could not hold herself from saying I really liked that, without thinking about what her comments impact could be. We knew that this was a super-healthy girl who had been working with us forever and we didnt see anything bad, Ms. Bellettini said. For more information read our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. 2023 The Business of Fashion. Her husband, a businessman who has been in her life for 20 years, lives in Milan. Bellettini decided that experience in finance would bolster her chances of pursuing her dream of running a company -- and so, she dove into a very new universe of Goldmach Sachs International. International Womens Day happened to coincide with the campaign. At a time when fashion is all about body positivity, Saint Laurent put thin models on the catwalk of its recent show. OXFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom These days, Saint Laurent chief executive Francesca Bellettini spends more time fielding questions about her former colleague, current Celine creative director Hedi Slimane, than she would perhaps like. The scientific advance could aid people with recent hearing loss. After Prada, she jumped to Helmut Lang, to Gucci and then to Bottega Veneta, where she was communication and merchandising director, living comfortably in Lugano, near Milan. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. When he bought himself a honey-colored bulldog puppy at Christmas, he bought one in black for her. Smaller categories such as silk, jewellery and eyewear are also booming, contributing to growth. She wished for the brand to reach 1 billion dollars in sales -- and well, Bellettini crossed that goal by reaching 2 billion dollars in sales in 2017. Sign In. Not everybody understood, because we are not very talkative; the more you explain, the less sexy a concept becomes. The change to Saint Laurent also reflected a decisive shift towards modernity, helping the brand reach young people who do not share the same connection to the original name as older generations. Bellettini joined YSL during a crucial time in its development. Investing veterans Deborah Jackson and Andrea Turner Moffitt connectfemale entrepreneurs with investors in a creative way with their firm, Plum Alley Investments. We focused even more on what we could control, staying focused on the things we could do better, she explains. To receive the Vogue Business newsletter, sign up here. offers FT membership to read for free. Even though some opportunities can appear to be boring or insignificant on the surface level, there is always some sort of adventure to be found in the work. After an internal study of YSL, Ms. Bellettini concluded that the company either had to invest substantially and spark growth or begin dismantling operations and shrink to half its size. What was missing from Saint Laurent in 2012 was not the business or the foundation, but the fashion authority and the clarity of the brand. She later became the Operations Manager for Helmut Lang where she found out that she was just as much attracted to the create aspect of the fashion industry as the business aspect. PARIS The Vogue Paris Fashion Festival gathered industry voices from heritage brands to startups; traditional retail to digital; casting agents to supermodels. Bellettinis first major decision as CEO was to give Slimane more autonomy in deciding the labels creative direction a move that would firmly establish Saint Laurent as a refreshed brand, while also marking Bellettinis preference for allowing people the freedom to do what they do best. Also, focus: In Paris, Ms. Bellettini lives in an apartment close to the 17th-century htel particulier on the Left Bank that serves as the companys creative core. When you are at 2 billion, to think of potential at 3 billion is too easy, she says. ", Kering CFO Jean-Marc Duplaix said during the earnings call that Saint Laurent had much room to grow further to a higher degree of penetration in certain markets: Globally speaking, the growth is very well balanced as it has always been the case at Saint Laurent between like-for-like growth and space expansion. China is still an important region. In the past we would use it to do flooring of the warehouses. Flexibility has been another. The name Yves Saint Laurent is iconic within the fashion realm, and the client base is loyal, but having to stay relevant and to attract the next generation of customers is why the rebranding was so drastic and became so controversial. Why Barnes & Noble Is Copying Local Bookstores It Once Threatened, What Floridas Dying Oranges Tell Us About How Commodity Markets Work, Watch: Heavy Snowfall Shuts Down Parts of California, Watch: Alex Murdaugh Found Guilty in Murders of His Wife and Son. Although she may not be a fluent French speaker yet, she was awarded the French Knight of the Legion of Honour, the highest possible distinction for a civilian in the country, serves on the executive committee of France's Fdration de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, and in 2019 was elected president of the Chambre Syndicale de la Mode Fminine, the country's governing body for womenswear. For a full comparison of Standard and Premium Digital, click here. Good morning, WMPW readers! Since 2012, Saint Laurent Paris, formerly known as Yves Saint Laurent, has boasted double-digit year-on-year growth. In his new novel, Tracy Flick Cant Win, author Tom Perrotta asks: Who is Tracy Flick now? This documentary-style series follows investigative journalists as they uncover the truth. At present, 15 percent of Saint Laurents global customer base is in Europe, 20 percent is in China, 15 percent is in Japan, 20 percent is in the rest of Asia, and 17 percent is in the US, with the remainder spread throughout the rest of the world. At the forefront of this strategy is balance. In an exclusive interview with, Ganni, Patagonia and Reformation join pilot to decarbonise fashion, US retailers prepare for new normal in 2023 after rocky year, Chanel names Whitney Peak as new face of Coco Mademoiselle, Victoria Beckham and Francesca Bellettini talk creativity and sustainability in Paris, The Long View by Vogue Business: Bracing for a summer without Americans, Enter your email to receive editorial updates, special offers and breaking news alerts from, Gucci stumbles as Asia-Pacific growth slows. First of all fashion, in Bellettinis words, can transform you into a dreamer.