The New Creative Director Will Present His First Collection Off-Calendar in Paris
Michael Rider, the newly appointed artistic director of Celine, is set to unveil his first collection for the brand on July 6 at 2:30 p.m. CET in Paris. This event is strategically scheduled between the Paris Men’s Fashion Week, which ends on June 29, and Paris Couture Week, starting July 7. The upcoming show marks a significant shift for Celine as it returns to a live runway format after years of presenting collections through highly stylized films under the direction of Hedi Slimane, its former artistic, creative, and image director.
The details regarding whether Rider’s debut will feature menswear, womenswear, or a combination of both remain undisclosed. His arrival at Celine was confirmed last October by the brand’s parent company, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, following the departure of Slimane after a notable seven-year stint. Rider, a Brown University alumnus and former senior designer at Balenciaga, returns to Celine with a rich history at the brand, having served as its design director of ready-to-wear from 2008 to 2018 under Phoebe Philo. Before rejoining Celine, Rider was the creative director at Polo Ralph Lauren.
Rider’s leadership at Celine is anticipated to introduce a fresh creative direction, distinct from the imprint left by Slimane. This transition at Celine is comes amid a broader wave of leadership changes across major fashion houses, including Chanel, Givenchy, Gucci, and more, each of which has recently welcomed new creative directors.
As the fashion industry observes these significant changes, the industry is keen to see how Rider will steer Celine’s future, particularly how he will draw on the influence of Philo and Slimane while incorporating his own vision.