Who is Michael Rider? All about Celine's new artistic director replacing Hedi Slimane

Hedi Slimane, the creative, artistic, and image director of Celine, has exited the fashion house and will be replaced by Michael Rider. The news was confirmed on October 2, 2024, and Slimane is yet to share an official statement related to his resignation. Hedi has been a part of the company since 2018, serving as the creative, artistic, and image director.

Michael Rider has also pursued a career in the fashion world, where he has been a creative director of Polo Ralph Lauren in the past. He was once employed at Celine as a design director and even worked for Balenciaga.

Celine's parent company, LVMH, shared a statement related to Slimane's contributions over the years, saying that the company witnessed "exceptional growth," helping it to become an "iconic French couture house." The company also mentioned:

"The holistic vision of Hedi Slimane, his exigence and rigour have made it possible to redefine the codes of Celine whilst reaffirming its feminine and Parisian roots. He has also remarkably enriched new territories for the Maison, such as the men's silhouette, couture and haute parfumerie."

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Michael Rider has also worked as a fashion designer over the years: Career and other details explained

As mentioned, Rider was also a part of Celine in the past. He worked under Phoebe Philo as a design director for the company and exited after the latter's departure in 2017. Michael then joined Polo Ralph Lauren the following year.

Michael Rider's career dates back to 2004 when he joined Balenciaga, where he worked with Nicola Ghesquière for around four years. Coming to his educational background, Michael obtained his degree from the Rhode Island-based Brown University.

Rider left Polo Ralph Lauren in May 2024, and his involvement with the company contributed to the popularity of different collections. This included a mixture of suede overcoats and leather handbags with madras sundresses and brass-button blazers.

Furthermore, the chief executive of Celine, Severine Merle, also expressed her excitement about Michael Rider's return. She said that his old association with the company would help achieve greater success. On the other hand, Rider addressed his happiness of joining Celine and stated:

"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."

An Instagram post shared by Vogue Business on October 3, 2024, revealed that Michael Rider would join Celine in early 2025. Further updates on his appointment are currently pending.

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Reports of Hedi Slimane's exit first came out in April this year

The news of Slimane resigning from Celine was initially revealed in April 2024. According to WWD Magazine, Hedi spoke to LVMH regarding his decision to step down from the company after serving for six years. However, the reason behind the same was not disclosed at the time.

Although the exit has been recently made official, Slimane has not addressed anything about his next step. While a few reports have claimed that he is supposed to join Chanel, another fashion house, the company is yet to confirm the details from their side. The news comes after Virginie Viard's resignation as Chanel's creative director.

Hedi first joined Celine in February 2018, and apart from being a part of the company for six years, he has also designed outfits for celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, and Madonna.