Yves Saint Laurent

Introducing Le Smoking in 1966—the first women’s tuxedo suit—Yves Saint Laurent didn’t just design clothes; it rewired women’s fashion for the modern era. Founded after Yves Saint Laurent’s departure from Dior in 1961, the brand now generates €3.3 billion in annual revenue, a figure 20% higher than the typical rival in the Kering stable. That revenue base makes it the financial powerhouse among entries like #9 Balenciaga, though its cultural impact is even more outsized. Rebranded as Saint Laurent since 2012, the house continues to command a 12% share of Kering’s luxury sales, proving that a bold 1960s act of rebellion still fuels a billion-dollar business today.