Hedi Slimane
Designer and photographer; artistic director of Celine until 2024
Hedi Slimane is a French designer and photographer who shaped menswear in the 2000s with the slim silhouette at Dior Homme. He later led Saint Laurent from 2012 to 2016 and Celine from 2018 until October 2024, and is known for exercising control over every aspect of a brand's image.
| Defining roles | Dior Homme, Saint Laurent, Celine |
|---|---|
| Celine tenure | February 2018 to October 2024 |
| Saint Laurent tenure | 2012 to 2016 |
| Nationality | French |
| Born | 1968 |
| Known for | Skinny silhouette, total image control |
Who is Hedi Slimane?
Hedi Slimane is a French fashion designer and photographer, born in Paris in 1968 and educated at the École du Louvre. He has led three major houses, Dior Homme, Saint Laurent and Celine, each time combining design with full control of photography, store design and communication. He left Celine in October 2024, and no new fashion appointment had been announced at the time of writing.
Career
Slimane joined Yves Saint Laurent in 1996 to work on menswear and later became its artistic director. From 2000 to 2007 he was creative director of Dior Homme, where his narrow tailoring and rock influenced styling redefined men's silhouettes. In 2002 he became the first menswear designer to win the CFDA International Designer Award.
After Dior he focused on photography in Berlin and Los Angeles. In 2012 he returned to Yves Saint Laurent as creative director, renaming the ready to wear line Saint Laurent and moving the design studio to Los Angeles; he left in 2016. In January 2018 LVMH named him artistic, creative and image director of Celine, starting in February 2018 and succeeding Phoebe Philo.
- 2000 to 2007: creative director of Dior Homme
- 2012 to 2016: creative director of Saint Laurent
- 2018 to 2024: artistic, creative and image director of Celine
Influence on the fashion business
At Celine, Slimane extended the house into menswear, couture and haute parfumerie, introduced a new logo without the accent and launched Celine Beauty, announced in 2024. He also oversaw the design of the house's stores. He left in October 2024 and was succeeded by Michael Rider, previously design director at Celine under Phoebe Philo and creative director of Polo Ralph Lauren.
His model of total creative control, from product to photography and retail architecture, has influenced how luxury groups think about a creative director's remit, which increasingly covers the full brand experience rather than collections alone.
Why it matters
Slimane is one of the few designers whose arrival has repeatedly repositioned an entire house, often polarising critics while delivering commercial results. His work shows how a tightly controlled image, consistent across stores, campaigns and products, can be as important as the clothes themselves. For the wider industry, his career is a reference point in debates about brand heritage versus a designer's personal vision.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Hedi Slimane?
Hedi Slimane is a French designer and photographer who led Dior Homme, Saint Laurent and Celine. He was artistic, creative and image director of Celine from 2018 until October 2024.
Is Hedi Slimane still at Celine?
No. Hedi Slimane stepped down from Celine in October 2024 and was succeeded by Michael Rider. No new fashion house appointment for Slimane had been announced at the time of writing.