Michael Rider
Creative director of Celine
Michael Rider is an American designer who was named creative director of Celine in October 2024, succeeding Hedi Slimane. He returned to the LVMH house after a decade as design director there under Phoebe Philo and six years as creative director of Polo Ralph Lauren.
| Role | Creative director, Celine |
|---|---|
| Appointed | October 2024 |
| Predecessor | Hedi Slimane |
| Previously | Creative director, Polo Ralph Lauren, 2018 to 2024 |
| Education | Brown University, 2002 |
Who is Michael Rider?
Michael Rider is an American fashion designer, born in Washington DC, who is the creative director of Celine. His appointment was announced on 2 October 2024, the same day that Hedi Slimane's departure from the LVMH owned house was confirmed.
Career
Rider graduated from Brown University in 2002. He began his fashion career as a senior designer at Balenciaga under Nicolas Ghesquière from 2004 to 2008.
In 2008 he joined Celine as design director for ready to wear, working alongside Phoebe Philo for around a decade during a period widely seen as one of the house's most influential. In 2018 he moved to Polo Ralph Lauren as creative director, where he was credited with refreshing the brand's preppy aesthetic, and he left in May 2024.
His return to Celine as creative director made him the successor to Hedi Slimane, who had led the house for seven years, removed the accent from its name and expanded it into menswear. By 2023 Celine was reported to generate annual sales of about 2.6 billion euros, making it one of LVMH's largest fashion houses.
Influence on the fashion business
Rider's career connects several significant chapters in recent fashion history:
- The Ghesquière era at Balenciaga
- The Philo era at Celine, which shaped a generation of minimalist womenswear
- A creative refresh of a major American heritage brand at Polo Ralph Lauren
- The transition at Celine from Slimane's tenure to a new creative direction
During his years at Polo Ralph Lauren, Rider worked within one of America's largest fashion companies, an experience that complements his background in the European luxury studios of Balenciaga and Celine. His appointment was widely expected to move Celine back towards the understated elegance associated with the Philo era. At Celine he now leads a house whose identity was shaped in turn by Phoebe Philo and Hedi Slimane, two of the most influential designers of the past two decades.
Why it matters
Celine is one of the most commercially significant houses in the LVMH portfolio. Rider's appointment reflects a broader industry trend of hiring experienced studio leaders with deep knowledge of a house rather than celebrity designers, and his work is closely watched as a test of how Celine balances its recent success with its earlier identity.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the creative director of Celine?
Michael Rider has been creative director of Celine since his appointment was announced in October 2024. He succeeded Hedi Slimane, who led the house for seven years.
Who is Michael Rider?
Michael Rider is an American designer who worked at Balenciaga under Nicolas Ghesquière, spent a decade as design director at Celine under Phoebe Philo and was creative director of Polo Ralph Lauren from 2018 to 2024.