Michael Rider Named New Creative Director at Celine, Replacing Hedi Slimane
Celine, the luxury fashion house owned by LVMH, has appointed Michael Rider as its new creative director, effective early 2025. Rider will oversee the creative vision for all Celine collections, from womenswear and menswear to leather goods, accessories, and couture.
Severine Merle, CEO of Celine, welcomed Rider's return to the brand, noting his deep connection to Celine’s heritage and his creative talent as key reasons for his appointment. “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,” she said.
Rider expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Celine is a maison with values very close to my heart and a beautiful heritage to build on.”
The news follows the departure of Hedi Slimane, who had served as Celine's artistic, creative, and image director since 2018. Slimane made significant changes to the brand, including redesigning the logo and introducing menswear collections. His tenure saw Celine’s revenue skyrocket, reaching €2.6 billion in 2023. However, Slimane’s debut collection for Spring/Summer 2019 was met with initial criticism for its departure from Celine’s established identity. Despite this, his later collections garnered wide praise.
Rider, previously the creative director at Polo Ralph Lauren, is no stranger to Celine. He spent a decade at the brand during Phoebe Philo’s tenure and has earned a reputation for modernizing Polo’s aesthetic during a preppy fashion resurgence.
With Rider at the helm, Celine looks to build on its recent success and continue evolving its chic, youthful image.
