The End of an Era: Hedi Slimane Leaves Celine – Here’s What Happened

It’s official: Hedi Slimane is exiting Celine after seven years, owner LVMH confirmed in a statement. During his tenure, the star designer known for his trademark skinny silhouette has transformed Celine, adding menswear for the first time in the brand’s 79-year history, as well as expanding into high perfume and beauty. In womenswear, Slimane reconnected Celine to its historic identity as a purveyor of leather goods that incarnate Parisian bourgeois style, helping to more than double annual sales to €2.5 billion, according to analyst estimates. (LVMH does not report performance by brand). ”Celine has experienced exceptional growth and established itself as an iconic French couture house,” LVMH said in a statement. “The holistic vision of Hedi Slimane, his exigence and rigour have made it possible to redefine the codes of Celine whilst reaffirming its feminine and Parisian roots.” Despite Celine’s success, sources told BoF in April that Slimane was locked in thorny contract negotiations with LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault could exit the label. Despite Celine’s success, sources say Slimane had been locked in a thorny contract negotiations with LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault for months before ultimately exiting the label. While Arnault has long recognised the power of Slimane’s ultra-coherent, relatable touch for styling, branding, merchandising and stores, the partnership appears to have reached its limits amid a sharp luxury market slowdown. While Slimane is wide