After helming Celine's artistic and creative vision since 2018, Hedi Slimane has officially exited the label, with Michael Rider being announced as the new Creative Director. With the his role set to begin in early 2025, the designer will be in-charge of the creative direction of all Celine collections, which encompass womenswear, menswear, leather goods, accessories, and couture.
Michael Rider Named Celine's Creative Director
In a statement, Severine Merle, CEO of Celine said, "I am delighted to welcome Michael back to Celine, a maison that he knows intimately. Michael’s vision, creative talent, together with his genuine nature and strong connection to Celine’s heritage make him a natural choice to continue to build a long-lasting success for the maison."
Rider himself has released a statement saying, "Celine is a maison with values very close to my heart and a beautiful heritage to build on."
Of course, this isn't even Rider's first rodeo at Celine. The designer worked at the luxury powerhouse during Phoebe Philo’s era as design director. After a decade at Celine, Rider served as the creative lead at Polo Ralph Lauren from 2018 until his departure in May 2023.
He takes over from Slimane, who had been in charge of Celine's creative vision since 2018. Slimane made significant changes to the brand's identity, including the removal of the accent in "Céline" and the introduction of a new logo. His debut collection in Spring/Summer 2019 received mixed reviews, with some critics arguing it drastically altered the essence of the brand, while others praised his later collections.
Under Slimane’s leadership, Celine's sales grew substantially, reaching an estimated €2.6 billion in 2023, solidifying its position as LVMH's third-largest fashion brand, just behind Louis Vuitton and Dior. He also expanded the brand's other offerings, launching fragrances in 2019, with a makeup line expected to follow soon.