LVMH-owned Celine has announced the appointment of Michael Rider as its new artistic director, marking a major shift for the French luxury house. Rider will succeed Hedi Slimane, who is stepping down after a transformative seven-year tenure. Rider, who will assume full creative responsibility for all Celine collections, including womenswear, menswear, leather goods, and couture, is set to begin his role in early 2025.
Rider brings a wealth of experience to the position, having most recently served as creative director at Polo Ralph Lauren. He is no stranger to Celine, having spent a decade under the leadership of Phoebe Philo during a pivotal period for the brand. Rider expressed his enthusiasm for returning to Celine, describing it as a house with values close to his heart.
This change in leadership comes as Celine continues to enjoy the success shaped by Slimane’s impactful tenure. Over the past seven years, Slimane made significant strides in expanding Celine’s offering, introducing menswear for the first time in the brand’s 79-year history and expanding into high-end perfume and beauty.
Under Slimane’s direction, Celine experienced significant growth, with annual sales more than doubling to an estimated 2.5 billion euros.
