Apple reportedly adds Catherine Monier, former Yves Saint Laurent EU president, to special projects team

By Rene Ritchie
last updated

Apple has reportedly hired Catherine Monier, formerly president of Yves Saint Laurent Europe, to work in special projects with former Yves Saint Laurent CEO Paul Deneve, already at Apple, who apparently coordinated the hire. For those keeping track at home, that's even more fashion and retail firepower for Apple, leading up to a rumored iWatch launch this fall. From 9to5Mac:

Sources say that Deneve's team at Apple has been working on new strategies for Apple's official retail stores in order to make the stores more capable of selling and marketing fashion and wearable goods. The timing of Monier's placement on this team is also no coincidence: Apple is gearing up to launch a fashion and fitness-oriented wearable band this fall, and Apple will need all the expertise in selling fashion goods that it can get its hands on prior to the launch.

There's also been speculation that Apple is moving to position themselves beyond a consumer electronics brand and as a fashion and lifestyle brand. If and how this evolves remains to be seen. In the meantime, what do you think — could you see Apple as the center of your smart fashion universe?

Rene Ritchie
Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.

2 Comments
  • Collective shrug.
  • Apple and technology would love it seems to move away from technological and UI improvement, and more into the vapid seasonal work of fashion, beats a fashion brand, Nike guy a fashion brand, yves st Laurent a fashion brand ? Is Tim fashion brand whore ? Is this his influence ? Why doesn't he get a coca-cola exec in while he's at it ? The way apple is moving seems vapi. Function dictates to form, and they have not resolved function yet. Sent from the iMore App