Michael Rider has been named the new artistic director of LVMH-owned Celine, mere hours after the official announcement of Hedi Slimane’s departure. Rider, who was one of Phoebe Philo’s top design deputies during her tenure at Celine, will take over the supervision of all collections starting early 2025.
Rider, who left his role as womenswear creative director at Polo Ralph Lauren earlier this year, is a familiar name in Paris fashion. He cut his teeth under Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga before playing a key role in Phoebe Philo’s minimalist and intellectual repositioning of Celine. After Philo’s 2017 exit, Rider transitioned to Ralph Lauren, helping redefine the brand’s identity as a bastion of American luxury.
“Michael’s vision, creative talent, along with his genuine nature and strong connection to Celine’s heritage, make him a natural choice to continue building long-lasting success for the maison,” said Celine CEO Severine Merle.
For years, Ralph Lauren overextended itself through markdowns, diffusion lines, and outlet production. Under Rider’s leadership, the brand focused on reinforcing the quality of its designs, manufacturing, and in-store experience, while tightening its distribution. A stronger, more luxurious brand identity emerged both on the runway and in stores, with Rider playing a pivotal role in this success.