Thunderclap in the Modosphere. The Fashion transfer window that began a few months ago continues to arouse excitement among fashionistas today. This Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Hedi Slimane, star creator of Celine, announced his departure. His successor? Michael Rider.
Second surprise of the week for Celine. After making an unexpected appearance at Paris Fashion Week, revealing an exclusive fashion show even though it was not at all planned on the calendar, the French label has today repeated the experience with this latest key announcement. A few hours ago, Hedi Slimane declared that he was leaving the artistic direction, leaving his place to another prolific creator: Michael Rider.
According to LVMH, the latter will not take up his duties until January 2025: a few months of respite that we would welcome when we know the hard work that awaits him at the head of the label. The entire Celine collections will in fact be entrusted to him: women’s fashion, men’s fashion, leather goods, shoes, accessories.
A question is then on the lips of everyone in the Fashion sphere: will he live up to the work left by his predecessor? It must be said that taking over the reins of this emblematic house of “Parisian style” is no small feat. Succeeding the genius of Hedi Slimane either… How to make a place for yourself without trampling on your heritage? How to succeed in shining without overshadowing your past work? Balance can be difficult to find.
A true fashion prodigy, the French stylist is indeed at the origin of many codes of the Celine label. Some Modosphere experts even believe that it was he who gave a real identity to the label, allowing it to be identifiable and recognizable among thousands. The pussy-bow collars, the culotte skirts, the “Triomphe” bag: he imagined many of the iconic pieces from the Celine wardrobe. He has seen everything, done everything: haute couture no longer has the slightest secret for him. His genius allowed him to take the helm of many major houses – Saint Laurent or Dior Homme, to name just a few names.
Michael Rider, for his part, is a little more discreet: if it is true that he was creative director at Polo Ralph Lauren from 2018 to 2024, only true fashion enthusiasts and/or industry professionals know his name. However, the American has an advantage that he will certainly be able to use wisely: he already knows the house well. He was design director at Celine during the Phoebe Philo mandate, and worked there, in the shadows, for almost 10 years.
Now that all this is revealed, last Sunday’s surprise parade takes on a completely different aspect. It sounds like a final “goodbye” and marks the start of a whole new story for the star creator. It remains to be seen whether his future will be written at Chanel…