Hedi Slimane has been named the new creative director of Celine.Credit:Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho
Under former creative head Phoebe Philo,who will present her final ready-to-wear collection in Paris next month,Celine regenerated from an ailing brand into a 21st-century powerhouse.
While Celine's owner,LVMH,does not provide sales breakdowns for individual brands,HSBC Holdings Plc estimates the label had revenue of 695 million euros ($1.065 billion) in 2016.
A model wears a creation by Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent in 2013. Fans of Celine are wondering what his plans are for the label.Credit:JACQUES BRINON
Slimane set the agenda for the men's fashion industry when he brought back skinny suits and jeans more than a decade ago at Christian Dior Homme,which he left in 2007. He was named creative director of Kering SA-owned Yves Saint Laurent in 2012 before leaving that post in 2016.
"He is one of the most talented designers of our time,"LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault said of Slimane in the statement."His arrival at Celine reinforces the great ambitions that LVMH has for this maison."
However,some Celine fans expressed concern about how Slimane's strong design aesthetic would impact on Celine,which under Philo perfected wearable clothes for the modern,professional woman.
Famed fashion commentatorDiet Prada said Slimane's appointment was eliciting"mixed feelings".