Future perspectives of Celine
It has been a thrilling period for the fashion industry since Céline announced the changes in its headquarters earlier this year. After a
decade of Phoebe Philo’s unshakeable reign at the French fashion powerhouse, Hedi Slimane was chosen to take over the brand last January,
leaving behind a half year filled with speculations and predictions on which direction
he’s going to take at Céline. With his first show less than a month away, Slimane
shared the very first results of his six-month renovation in silence.
It included a take-back of brand’s original logo from 1960s, with the accent on ‘E’ eliminated and lengthened font, followed by a
strong statement attempt to let go of the past by erasing all of the previous posts on brand’s Instagram account. In addition, all campaign
posts released by the label had #CelinebyHediSlimane
tag typed along. These changes received contrasting reactions, especially
by the the former creative director’s fans, known as the Philophiles, that were fast to
liken Philo’s departure to an end of brand’s greatness, while others where excited to see
a new approach to the label after ten years.
By all indications, the announcement meant to reassure us - now it is Hedi’s world. No
matter the feedback, it is expected that Slimane’s previous success in Dior Homme and
Saint Laurent will follow him to Céline, even if his visual identity greatly differs from that
of his predecessor.
Slimane, with positive history at hand, is thought to be an equal force to Phoebe Philo,
who turned Céline into fashion’s authority after joining in 2008, with her efforts tripling
the brand’s profits over the years. Miraculous is not the right term to measure the
influence that Philo has had at Céline, as she turned the brand into a powerhouse for leather accessories, must-have handbags that were often sold out before
they even hit the stores and utterly creative ready-to-wear pieces...