There's been a (very quick) changing of the fashionable guards at Celine, with Michael Rider named creative director just hours after Hedi Slimane exited the role. For those in the know, the news is not all that surprising — rumours have been steadily swirling for months that Rider, who previously headed up Polo Ralph Lauren, would take on the coveted role. So what do we know about the new designer in charge? All the important details, below.
Where else has Michael Rider worked?
Rider's appointment at Celine is somewhat serendipitous. He joined the label in 2012, under Phoebe Philo, and worked as a design director for a decade. Rider expressed his excitement at returning to the House in a statement, saying, “Celine is a maison with values very close to my heart and a beautiful heritage to build on. I am honoured to come back and shape the future of the maison together with the Celine team.” Celine CEO Severine Merle shared similar enthusiasm, saying "I am delighted to o 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.”
Before working at Celine, Rider began his career at Balenciaga as a senior designer and later, in 2018, took on the role of creative director at Polo Ralph Lauren, which he held until May, 2024.
Where will Hedi Slimane go next?
Rider's predecessor, Hedi Slimane led the House for seven years. During his tenure, Slimane made many radical changes, including famously removing the accent from Céline, and introducing a menswear line.
“Under [Slimane's] creative and artistic direction, Celine has experienced exceptional growth and established itself as an iconic French couture house,” Celine said in a press release. “The extraordinary journey taken together over the last seven years has made Celine a house with a formidable foundation for the future.”
As for where Slimane will go next, that remains to be seen. Could he be next in line to lead Chanel? We'll be watching closely to find out.
