Hedi Slimane exits Celine: Chinese netizens react

Hedi Slimane has departed Celine after a seven-year tenure, it was announced today (October 2). Michael Rider, former creative director of Polo Ralph Lauren and a 10-year design director under Phoebe Philo’s Celine, will take over the role. Since being appointed in 2018 as the successor to long-serving designer Phoebe Philo, Slimane introduced a slew of new categories for the house — most notably, Celine’s first-ever menswear line in its 79-year history, as well as perfumes and beauty. Analysts estimate that Slimane’s strategies drove Celine’s annual sales to 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion), exceeding Bernard Arnault’s initial target of doubling or tripling the house’s 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) revenue in five years. Despite achieving these ambitious goals, the two parties have decided to part ways. “Celine has experienced exceptional growth and established itself as an iconic French couture house. The holistic vision of Hedi Slimane, his rigor and discipline, has made it possible to redefine the codes of Celine while reaffirming its feminine and Parisian roots,” LVMH said in the release. Rumors of Slimane’s departure began circulating in April, with many speculating that he was on his way to Chanel. When the news broke in China, Weibo lit up with comments wondering if Slimane would be filling Chanel’s vacant creative director role, following Virginie Viard’s exit in June. Commercial Success Battles Chinese Consumer Sentiment Despite Celine’s global commercial success, Slimane’s creative direction proved divisive among Chinese netizens. In 2021, the house’s double C leather goods, monogrammed handbags, and Calvin Klein-inspired bra tops — modeled by global brand ambassador Lisa — were all the rage among Gen Z. However, many netizens on Weibo were critical. His debut show at Celine sparked the hashtag “Celine designer is stifling” (#Celine设计师令人窒息#), with users expressing their disappointment at what they saw as a departure from the brand’s essence. After news of his departure, one Weibo user, Shijiewohuan (@世界我还_), asked, “After ruining Celine, where are you going now?” while Laoshaojieyijidangao (@老少皆宜鸡蛋糕) remarked, “It’s good that he left … The Celine he was designing was just like an American high school outfit.” Whether at Celine or Saint Laurent, Slimane’s penchant for skinny silhouettes and emphasis on individualism have often overshadowed brand codes — a double-edged sword for the designer’s reputation. His devotees view this as a hallmark of his visionary style, but detractors argue it erodes brand heritage. Weibo user @Liar-1z commented, “The best path forward for designers like Hedi Slimane and Alessandro Michele, who are talented but prioritize individualism over the brand’s longevity, is to create their own label. Otherwise, joining any brand will only lead to more conflict than success.”

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Hedi Slimane exits Celine: Chinese netizens react