SUSTAINABILITY
CIRCULARITY

SAINT LAURENT EMBRACES THE TRANSITION TO A TRULY CIRCULAR ECONOMY, WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IT REQUIRES A REIMAGINING OF HOW RESOURCES ARE PRODUCED, USED, AND REUSED.

THE TRANSFORMATION BEGINS WITH LEATHERGOODS. DEDICATED PROGRAMS HAVE BROUGHT THE MAJORITY OF LEATHER CUTTING INTO SAINT LAURENT ATELIERS, WHICH ARE EQUIPPED WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TO MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY AND MINIMIZE WASTE. THIS CENTRALIZATION ALSO ALLOWS OFFCUTS TO BE USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF SMALL LEATHER GOODS: A PROCESS STARTED FOR LE MONOGRAMME THAT HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO OTHER RANGES.

INNOVATION FROM THE GROUND UP. AS PART OF AN INITIATIVE TO USE SURPLUS MATERIALS AND OFFCUTS IN PLACE OF VIRGIN MATERIALS, SAINT LAURENT IS GIVING A SECOND LIFE TO REMNANTS FROM THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR. IN 2022, 40 TONS OF LEATHER OFFCUTS AND 6 TONS OF FABRIC WERE RECOVERED. AN EXPANDED USE OF THE UPCYCLED LEATHER, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE TRACEABILITY, HAS BEEN FEATURED STARTING WITH THE WOMEN’S FALL 21 COLLECTION AS PART OF HANDBAGS WITHIN THE SUNSET LINE.

REUSE AND RECYCLING. THE HOUSE DONATES SURPLUS READY-TO-WEAR FABRICS TO FASHION SCHOOLS AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. TEXTILE REMNANTS AND OVERAGE ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO THE FRENCH SOCIAL ENTERPRISE LE RELAIS FOR RECYCLING INTO NEW PRODUCTS, INCLUDING THE INSULATION PANELS USED AT THE SAINT LAURENT HEADQUARTERS ON RUE DE BELLECHASSE AND AT SELECTED STORES.

MORE SUSTAINABLE EVENTS. RENTED AND REUSABLE ELEMENTS ARE PRIORITIZED FOR ALL HOUSE EVENTS AND FASHION SHOWS. IN ALL OTHER INSTANCES, MATERIALS ARE RECYCLED. ELEMENTS USED FOR EVENTS MAY ALSO BE GIVEN A SECOND LIFE IN ARTISTIC PROJECTS THROUGH SAINT LAURENT’S PARTNERSHIP WITH LA RESERVE DES ARTS, A PARIS-BASED NONPROFIT THAT SUPPORTS ARTISTS, ART STUDENTS, CRAFTSMEN, AND OTHER CULTURE WORKERS THROUGH CIRCULAR PRACTICES.