Just after Phoebe Philo exited Céline, former designer of Saint Laurent and Dior Homme, Hedi Slimane is joining the French brand and making a major re-emergence in the fashion industry since his departure from Saint Laurent.
News of the latest recruitment came early during the Paris men’s fashion shows and made waves across social media. Slimane is recognized as an esteemed designer in the fashionsphere, having transformed Saint Laurent into a modern, youthful brand that’s known for what it is today – blurring the lines of gender and sporting a rock-tinged allure that’s been so beloved since he took helm.
Effective February 1, Slimane will serve as Artistic, Creative and Image director of Céline. His takeover means new reinforcements to the iconic LVMH-owned label, extending Céline’s lines to menswear, couture and even fragrances. “He is one of the most talented designers of our time,” LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault said in a statement. “I have been a great admirer of his work since we collaborated on Dior Homme, which he launched to global critical acclaim in the 2000s. His arrival at Céline reinforces the great ambitions that LVMH has for this Maison.”
In addition, Slimane will be opening a studio in Los Angeles. The designer has always had a fondness for the West Coast, even putting LA on the style map since he relocated to the sunny SoCal city after terminating his contract with Dior in 2007.
While Céline has always had the image of classic color-based minimalism, Slimane may just transform the fashion house into something completely different and we truly can’t wait to see what’s up his sleeve.
Quote source: GQ
Photos from WWD
