Hedi Slimane Departs From Celine

Slimane Leaves Parisian Fashion House After Doubling Sales During Seven-Year Tenure

Hedi Slimane is officially leaving his position at Celine, parent company LVMH confirmed. After seven years at the helm, Slimane’s departure follows months of complex contract negotiations with LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault.

During his tenure, Slimane played a pivotal role in transforming Celine, adding menswear to the brand’s portfolio for the first time in its 79-year history and expanding its offering into high-end perfume and beauty. His efforts helped reconnect Celine with its identity as a key player in Parisian bourgeois fashion, particularly through its leather goods. Under his leadership, annual sales more than doubled to €2.5 billion, according to analyst estimates, although LVMH does not disclose performance by individual brands.

“Celine has experienced exceptional growth and established itself as an iconic French couture house,” LVMH stated. “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.”

Despite the brand’s success, sources say Slimane had been in contentious negotiations with Arnault for months before his eventual departure. Arnault has long admired Slimane’s unique touch in styling, branding, merchandising, and store concepts. However, the partnership appears to have reached its limits as the luxury market faces a significant slowdown.

Slimane, known for his distinctive skinny silhouette and precise creative direction, commands a substantial salary and near-total control over Celine’s product development and communications budgets. According to sources, design teams frequently transported completed collections to Slimane’s South of France residence, where he selected his favorite pieces and discarded the rest. Additionally, large sums were reportedly spent on Slimane’s collection videos, which were often released online without advance notice, limiting press coverage.

While Slimane’s vision boosted Celine’s sales, his high costs may have become harder for LVMH to justify as the luxury market tightens. The next step for LVMH is to identify a successor who can maintain the momentum Slimane brought to the brand.

Several names are being floated as potential replacements. Alaïa’s creative director, Pieter Mulier, who has close ties to the Arnault family from his time working with Raf Simons at Dior, is seen as a leading candidate. Additionally, Michael Rider, a former design deputy during Phoebe Philo’s tenure at Celine and recently of Ralph Lauren, is also considered a strong contender, according to market reports.

“The holistic vision of Hedi Slimane, his exigence and rigor have made it possible to redefine the codes of Celine whilst reaffirming its feminine and Parisian roots,” it continued. “He has also remarkably enriched new territories for the maison such as the men’s silhouette, couture and haute parfumerie. The extraordinary journey taken together over the last seven years has made Celine a house with a formidable foundation for the future.”

Celine declined further comment, including on its succession plan.