Hedi Slimane Departs Celine After Seven-Year Tenure

In a significant move within the fashion industry, Hedi Slimane has announced his departure from Celine, a brand under the luxury conglomerate LVMH, after a seven-year tenure. Slimane, who has been the artistic, creative, and image director at Celine since February 2018, has left a lasting impact on the brand's direction and identity.

During his time at Celine, Slimane oversaw a remarkable expansion of the brand, positioning it as a legendary French couture house. Under his creative leadership, Celine experienced significant growth, with sales projected to reach around 2 billion in 2023, making it one of LVMH's largest fashion labels after Louis Vuitton and Dior.

Career Highlights and Controversies

Hedi Slimane's career in fashion is marked by several notable positions. Before joining Celine, he served as the artistic director for Dior Homme, where he popularized the skinny silhouette, a trend that even influenced Karl Lagerfeld to adopt a diet. He later moved to Yves Saint Laurent, where he removed 'Yves' from the brand name and rebranded it as Saint Laurent. Slimane exited Yves Saint Laurent in 2016.

At Celine, Slimane made several bold moves, including eliminating the accent from the 'e' in Cline and unveiling a new logo. His debut collection for Spring/Summer 2019, which included menswear, received a mixed response, with some critics feeling he had drastically altered the brand's identity. However, his subsequent collections, such as the Autumn/Winter 2019 collection featuring a bourgeois French girl aesthetic, were more positively received.

Future Directions

While Celine has not yet announced a successor to Hedi Slimane, the brand is expected to continue its trajectory of growth and innovation. Slimane's departure also sparks speculation about his next move, with some rumors suggesting he might be heading to Chanel, although this has not been confirmed.

The transition at Celine comes at a time when the fashion industry is undergoing significant changes and shifts in creative leadership. As the industry continues to evolve, brands like Celine must adapt to new trends and consumer preferences while maintaining their core identity and values. For more information on the history of Celine and its evolution, you can refer to the Celine Wikipedia page.

As the fashion world awaits the next chapter for both Hedi Slimane and Celine, it is clear that Slimane's legacy at the brand will be remembered for its bold creative direction and significant commercial success.

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