Hedi Slimane Bids Farewell to Celine Amid Luxury Fashion Turbulence

Hedi Slimane has exited his role at Celine, marking the latest high-profile departure in the luxury fashion industry. Under his leadership since 2018, Celine saw exceptional growth. His future plans remain unknown, fueling speculation amid broader shifts in designer roles and sales challenges within the industry.

Famed fashion designer Hedi Slimane has left LVMH's Celine brand, the company confirmed on Wednesday, adding another chapter to the recent trend of designer departures as the luxury fashion industry faces declining sales.

Slimane, who joined Celine in 2018, quickly distinguished the brand with his unique aesthetic. "Under his creative and artistic direction, Celine has experienced exceptional growth and established itself as an iconic French couture house," said the French luxury giant in a statement.

Details surrounding Slimane's next move are scarce, but his exit stirs up further speculation amidst a series of high-profile changes in the industry. Top roles, including the creative director position at Chanel, remain vacant. LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault had set ambitious goals for Slimane, targeting to increase Celine's annual revenue to between 2 billion and 3 billion euros within five years.

Although specific brand revenues have not been disclosed, luxury goods sales have experienced a sharp decline this year, especially in China due to the property market slump and job insecurity. The departure comes as LVMH makes other strategic moves, such as investing in Moncler and offloading Off-White, the streetwear label founded by the late Virgil Abloh.

(With inputs from agencies.)