YSL Severs Ties with Colette Over a T

The fashion house Yves Saint Laurent has severed its ties with one of its most successful partners, Paris retailer Colette, over a T-shirt.

Colette has carried Saint Laurent collections since 1998, and has dedicated numerous window displays to the brand – including one during the couture shows in January.

Colette owner and creative director Sarah Andelman said she was not invited to the showing of Hedi Slimane’s spring collection earlier this week and that an appointment to buy the collection had been canceled.

Slimane is the designer at YSL after replacing Stefano Pilati last year.

The issue involves a T-shirt bearing the imprint “Ain’t Laurent Without Yves.” (Saint Laurent, the iconic name on the label, died in 2008.) Slimane asked Andelman to stop carrying the popular item, which she said she did but continued selling the remaining stock in her rue St.-Honoré store.

Last month, she received a letter from Saint Laurent ceo Francesca Bellettini informing her that the company would stop doing business with Colette.

Women’s Wear Daily reports that Yves Saint Laurent is taking legal action against the several makers of the T-shirts, some of which also say “What About Yves.”