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Michael Rider has been named artistic director of Celine, mere hours after the official exit of star designer Hedi Slimane.
Rider, a top design deputy during Phoebe Philo’s tenure at Celine, left his role as womenswear creative director at Polo Ralph Lauren earlier this year. He will now oversee all collections at LVMH-owned Celine, effective early 2025.
“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,” Celine chief executive Severine Merle said.
Rider is a known entity in Paris fashion having cut his teeth under Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga before going on to play a key role in Phoebe Philo’s minimalist, intellectual, upmarket repositioning of Celine.
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He exited Celine soon after Philo’s 2017 departure and headed for Ralph Lauren, which was embarking on a mission to redefine itself as a bastion of American luxury.
After years of over-extending its brand through markdowns, diffusion lines and producing for outlets, Ralph Lauren set about reinforcing the quality of its designs, manufacturing and store experience while tightening distribution.
A stronger, more luxurious brand identity emerged on the runway and in stores, with Rider’s designs playing a key role.
Stay tuned to BoF for updates on this developing story.
Disclosure: LVMH is part of a group of investors who, together, hold a minority interest in The Business of Fashion. All investors have signed shareholders’ documentation guaranteeing BoF’s complete editorial independence.
