Celine
French luxury fashion house known for refined leather goods, modern ready-to-wear, minimalist design and influential creative leadership.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Celine is a French luxury fashion house founded in Paris in 1945 by Céline Vipiana and her husband, Richard Vipiana. The business began as a made-to-measure children's shoe boutique before evolving into a broader fashion and leather-goods house. During the 1960s, Celine shifted its focus toward ready-to-wear for affluent Parisian women and developed a reputation for practical but polished clothing, leather handbags, loafers, gloves and accessories. Its early identity was associated with a red elephant emblem designed by Raymond Peynet, while later visual codes included the intertwined C Sulky motif and Arc de Triomphe-inspired references. The house expanded internationally during the 1970s, opening boutiques and retail operations in locations including Monte Carlo, Geneva, Hong Kong, Lausanne, Toronto and Beverly Hills. Leather goods became central to the brand's commercial identity, supported by a boutique in Florence and a broader emphasis on craftsmanship. Celine also entered adjacent categories, including fragrance, eyewear and corrective frames, through licensing arrangements. Its visibility increased substantially after Bernard Arnault acquired part of the company in 1987 with the approval of the Vipiana family. LVMH subsequently integrated Celine into the group in 1996, and the house gained additional international reach through investments in stores and global distribution. Celine's creative direction has changed several times since the retirement of its founder in 1988. Peggy Huynh Kinh, Michael Kors, Roberto Menichetti and Ivana Omazic each led the design function during successive periods. Phoebe Philo, appointed in 2008, established one of the most influential modern interpretations of the brand. Her work emphasized restrained luxury, strong tailoring, sculptural silhouettes, functional accessories and an understated approach to branding. The period produced major commercial and cultural recognition for Celine and helped define the early-2010s minimalist fashion movement. Hedi Slimane became artistic, creative and image director in 2018. He broadened the offer into men's fashion, couture and fragrances, relocated the principal creative studio to Los Angeles while retaining production and atelier capabilities in Paris, and introduced an updated wordmark. His collections and campaigns placed greater emphasis on youth culture, music, nightlife and a slim, rock-influenced silhouette. Slimane left the house in October 2024. Michael Rider, who had previously worked at Celine during the Philo era, was announced as creative director in October 2024 and began the role in 2025, with responsibility for the full range of Celine collections. Celine is currently part of LVMH's fashion and leather-goods portfolio. It sells ready-to-wear, handbags, small leather goods, shoes, eyewear, jewelry, accessories, fragrances and selected lifestyle products through directly operated boutiques, its online channel and a selective wholesale network. The brand's positioning combines Parisian fashion heritage with premium craftsmanship, controlled distribution and a strong emphasis on leather goods. Its headquarters occupy the Hôtel Colbert de Torcy at 16 rue Vivienne in Paris, a site classified as a French Historic Monument.
History
Celine was established in Paris in 1945 by Céline and Richard Vipiana as a made-to-measure children's footwear business. Its first boutique operated on rue Malte, and the early brand was identified by a red elephant emblem created by illustrator Raymond Peynet. In 1960, the company changed direction, concentrating on ready-to-wear for affluent Parisian women. It developed complementary leather products, including handbags, loafers and gloves, and became associated with carefully made leather goods and practical Parisian clothing. The 1960s brought important product and identity developments. Celine introduced the Vent fou fragrance in 1964 and promoted the American Sulky accessories collection. Trench coats and handbags became particularly important to the house, while a leather-goods boutique in Florence supported its craftsmanship image. In 1973, the company introduced an intertwined C Sulky canvas and an emblematic design linked visually to the Arc de Triomphe. The same period saw international expansion through boutiques in Monte Carlo, Geneva, Hong Kong, Lausanne, Toronto and Beverly Hills. Richard Vipiana also established the Céline-Pasteur Prize in connection with support for the American Hospital of Paris. The Vipiana era ended as Céline Vipiana retired from design in 1988. Bernard Arnault acquired a minority stake in 1987 with the family's approval, and LVMH integrated the house into its group in 1996. The acquisition provided greater financial, retail and international resources, including a flagship at 36 avenue Montaigne in Paris. A sequence of creative directors guided the brand through the 1990s and 2000s, including Peggy Huynh Kinh, Michael Kors, Roberto Menichetti and Ivana Omazic. Phoebe Philo became creative director in 2008 and presented her first Celine ready-to-wear collection for spring/summer 2010. Her tenure made the house a defining reference for contemporary minimalist luxury. She combined precise tailoring with sculptural forms, muted palettes, practical accessories and a restrained visual language. Her work received major industry recognition, including Designer of the Year from the British Fashion Council in 2010 and International Designer of the Year from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2011. Philo announced her departure in 2017 and completed the fall 2018 collection. Hedi Slimane succeeded Philo in 2018. His remit covered the brand's creative direction and image, and he extended Celine into men's fashion, couture and fragrances. His creative operation was based in Los Angeles, with a prototype studio and atelier in Paris. He introduced a revised wordmark and a series of flagship retail concepts in cities including Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beverly Hills, Madrid, Milan and London. His Celine emphasized youth culture, music and a narrow, rock-influenced silhouette, representing a marked change from the Philo period. Slimane left in October 2024. Michael Rider was announced as the next creative director in October 2024 and began in 2025. Rider had previously worked at Celine during Philo's tenure, as well as at Balenciaga and Ralph Lauren. He oversees the house's collections, including leather goods and couture. Celine remains an LVMH-owned luxury house with a global boutique network, an official e-commerce operation and selective distribution through major luxury retailers. Its offer spans ready-to-wear, leather goods, footwear, accessories, eyewear, jewelry and fragrance.
- 2025
Michael Rider begins as creative director
[1]Rider takes responsibility for Celine's collections, including leather goods and couture.
- 2024
Michael Rider is named successor
[1]Celine announces Rider as creative director following Slimane's departure.
- 2018
Hedi Slimane takes creative control
[1]Slimane becomes artistic, creative and image director, expanding the offer and updating the visual identity.
- 2008
Phoebe Philo becomes creative director
[1]Philo is appointed creative director and begins the period that would make Celine a major reference for minimalist luxury.
- 1996
Integration into LVMH
[1]Celine becomes part of the LVMH group, accelerating its international development.
- 1987
Bernard Arnault acquires a stake
[1]Bernard Arnault purchases part of Celine's capital with the approval of the Vipiana family.
- 1973
C Sulky identity and international expansion
[1]The house introduces the intertwined C Sulky canvas and expands its boutique presence internationally.
- 1964
Vent fou fragrance and American Sulky accessories
[1]Celine launches the Vent fou fragrance and the American Sulky accessories collection.
- 1960
Shift to ready-to-wear
[1]The company repositions toward ready-to-wear fashion for affluent Parisian women and expands its leather-goods offer.
- 1945
Celine is founded in Paris
[1]Céline and Richard Vipiana establish a made-to-measure children's shoe business and open the first boutique on rue Malte.
Products and positioning
High-end French luxury fashion with an emphasis on leather craftsmanship, modern Parisian design, selective distribution and understated or, depending on the creative period, deliberately expressive branding.
Apparel · 1960
Ready-to-wear
Celine's ready-to-wear includes women's and men's clothing, tailoring, outerwear, knitwear, dresses and seasonal runway collections. The design language has varied by creative director, moving from the founder's practical Parisian wardrobe to Philo's modern minimalism and Slimane's youth- and music-influenced silhouettes. The line remains a principal expression of the house's current creative direction.
Handbags and accessories · 1960
Leather goods
Leather goods are central to Celine's commercial and heritage identity. The category includes handbags, totes, shoulder bags, small leather goods and designs using house signatures such as the C Sulky and Triomphe motifs. The Classic Box, Luggage Tote and Trapeze are among the best-known offerings associated with the modern house.
Footwear · 1945
Shoes
Celine's footwear business connects the brand's origins in made-to-measure children's shoes with its later luxury positioning. The range includes loafers, boots, sandals, sneakers and fashion footwear designed to coordinate with the ready-to-wear and leather-goods collections.
Beauty · 1964
Fragrances
Celine has offered fragrances since the launch of Vent fou in 1964. Fragrance development was licensed to Interparfums from 2000 to 2011 and later brought in-house. The category was further developed under Hedi Slimane's creative direction.
Eyewear · 2000
Eyewear
The eyewear range includes sunglasses and corrective frames. Celine used licensing arrangements for this category, including a worldwide agreement with De Rigo beginning in 2000 and a five-year agreement with Safilo beginning in 2011.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Danielle Marsh and TWS ambassador appointments
Global · Asia-Pacific
Danielle Marsh and the group TWS were identified as Celine ambassadors in 2024.
Outcome. Broadened Celine's youth-oriented international communications.
- 2024Liu Shishi brand ambassador appointment
China · Asia-Pacific
Actress Liu Shishi became associated with Celine as a brand ambassador in December 2024.
Outcome. Added a prominent Chinese-market ambassador to the brand's communications.
- 2023V brand ambassador partnership
Global · Asia-Pacific
Singer V joined Celine's ambassador roster.
Outcome. Strengthened the brand's connection with global music and youth culture.
- 2022Park Bo-gum brand ambassador appointment
Global · Asia-Pacific
Park Bo-gum became Celine's first actor described in the reference material as a global ambassador.
Outcome. Expanded the house's celebrity ambassador network in Asian and international markets.
- 2020Lisa brand ambassador partnership
Global · Asia-Pacific
Singer Lisa served as a Celine brand ambassador from 2020 to 2024.
Outcome. Connected the house with a major global music and fashion audience.
- 2001Celine advertising work with Michael Thompson
International
Michael Thompson was among the notable photographers associated with Celine advertising during this period.
Outcome. Extended the brand's fashion-image program.
- 1998Celine advertising work with Patrick Demarchelier
International
Celine worked with photographer Patrick Demarchelier on advertising campaigns during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Outcome. Supported the house's international fashion advertising presence.
Brand decisions
2025
Michael Rider begins creative directorshipStrategyBackground
Celine required a new creative leader after Hedi Slimane's departure in 2024.
Action taken
Michael Rider assumed responsibility for the full collection range, including leather goods and couture.
Aftermath
The long-term creative and commercial consequences of Rider's appointment remain developing.
2018
Expansion under Hedi SlimaneStrategyBackground
Following Philo's departure, Celine selected Hedi Slimane to lead its creative direction and image.
Action taken
Slimane expanded the house into men's fashion, couture and fragrances, revised the logo and developed new flagship-store concepts.
Aftermath
The brand adopted a more youth-culture- and music-oriented identity while retaining its luxury fashion and leather-goods activities.
2008
Appointment of Phoebe PhiloStrategyBackground
LVMH sought a creative leader able to define a contemporary vision for the house.
Action taken
Phoebe Philo was appointed creative director and presented her first Celine ready-to-wear collection for spring/summer 2010.
Aftermath
Her tenure made Celine a major reference for modern minimalist luxury and received significant industry recognition.
1996
Integration into LVMHM&ABackground
Following Bernard Arnault's acquisition of a stake in 1987, LVMH brought Celine into its luxury-goods group.
Action taken
LVMH integrated the fashion house and supported its international retail development.
Aftermath
Celine gained access to the resources and global platform of one of the world's largest luxury groups.
1960
Repositioning toward ready-to-wearStrategyBackground
The original children's made-to-measure footwear business was broadened into a fashion house serving affluent Parisian women.
Action taken
Celine developed ready-to-wear alongside artisanal leather goods, handbags, shoes and accessories.
Aftermath
The move established the product and customer foundation for the modern Celine brand.
Recent events
Reported
Celine appoints Lisa as global ambassador[3]
Celine announced that it had appointed Lisa as its global ambassador.
Reported
Celine launches Haute Parfumerie fragrance collection[4]
Celine launched its inaugural Haute Parfumerie collection, comprising 11 fragrances; nine were available from November 4, 2019.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Celine opens dedicated Haute Parfumerie boutique in Paris[4]
Celine opened a dedicated Haute Parfumerie boutique on Paris’s historic Rue Saint-Honoré.
Sources5 sources
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