LVMH Taps Michael Rider to Replace Hedi Slimane at Celine — Update

By Cristina Gallardo and Andrea Figueras

LVMH said fashion designer and former Polo Ralph Lauren creative head Michael Rider will take over from Hedi Slimane as creative director for the group's Celine brand.

Founded in 1945 by Celine Vipiana, the brand is part of the French luxury conglomerate's core fashion and leather-goods division, which also houses the Louis Vuitton and Dior brands. It has 178 stores worldwide and sells a number of luxury products, ranging from clothes to fragrances to accessories.

The appointment, which will take effect from early 2025, marks Rider's return to Celine, where he worked for a decade. LVMH said Wednesday that he will have full creative responsibility for all Celine collections, including womenswear, menswear, leather goods, accessories and couture.

His fashion career began at Balenciaga, with Nicolas Ghesquiere, and he spent 10 years with Phoebe Philo as design director at Celine. Most recently, he worked as creative director of Polo Ralph Lauren.

In the early 2000s, as creative director of Dior Homme, Slimane popularized an indie-rock style featuring skinny jeans and androgynous suits. He took that signature aesthetic to Yves Saint Laurent, the brand owned by LVMH's rival Kering, in 2012, before joining French couture house Celine in January 2018.

Celine experienced exceptional growth under Slimane, who in his almost seven years as its creative director drove the addition of menswear to the brand and expanded it into perfume and beauty, LVMH said Wednesday.

In its latest financial report, LVMH said Celine benefited from growing demand for its accessories, including the successful the leather goods Triomphe line, designed by Slimane.

The news comes around a month after LVMH hired British fashion designer Sarah Burton, who was most recently creative director at Alexander McQueen, as Givenchy's new creative head.

Write to Andrea Figueras at andrea.figueras@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 02, 2024 10:41 ET (14:41 GMT)

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