CELINE

CELINE is a renowned French fashion house founded in 1945 by designer Céline Vipiana, now owned by LVMH Group. Since February 2018, Hedi Slimane has served as Artistic, Creative, and Image Director, expanding the brand to include menswear collections alongside womenswear.

Brand History

Born in 1945 in Paris, France, CELINE was established by Céline Vipiana and her husband Robert. They initially operated a children’s shoe boutique at 52 Rue Malte, later expanding to four locations by 1948.

In the 1960s, CELINE diversified into handbags, leather goods, perfumes, and scarves. The brand opened its first leather workshop in Florence, Italy in 1966 and launched its inaugural ready-to-wear line the following year.

CELINE Headquarters

The original CELINE logo featured a red elephant designed by French cartoonist Raymond Peynet. In 1966, Robert Vipiana replaced it with a sulky carriage motif, later combining it with the letter “C” to create the iconic “C Sulky” canvas and the brand’s first canvas bag.

In 1973, inspired by the chains around Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, Céline Vipiana designed the double-C insignia, cementing CELINE’s identity as a quintessential Parisian brand. Though no longer official logos, both the carriage and chain motifs remain signature CELINE designs.

During the 1970s-80s, CELINE expanded globally with boutiques in Monte Carlo, Geneva, Hong Kong, and Beverly Hills. Meanwhile, LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault acquired the brand in 1996 for 2.7 billion francs (≈$540 million).

After Céline Vipiana’s passing in 1997, Michael Kors became the brand’s first ready-to-wear designer, later promoted to Creative Director. His accessory-focused designs included the Boogie (2002) and Poulbot (2003) collections.

Following Kors’ 2004 departure, Roberto Menichetti and Ivana Omazic briefly led design. In 2008, Phoebe Philo (former Chloé director) became Creative Director, introducing minimalist icons like the Classic Box, Luggage (“Smile Bag”), Cabas, and Trapeze collections.

In 2014, CELINE relocated its headquarters to 16 Rue Vivienne, a 17th-century historic monument that once housed the Paris Stock Exchange.

In 2018, Hedi Slimane (ex-YSL) became Creative Director, introducing menswear and fragrances. Today, CELINE operates ~140 stores worldwide with 1,800+ employees.

CELINE SS2018 Fashion Show

Timeline

• 1945 – Céline Vipiana founds CELINE
• 1966 – First leather workshop in Florence; debut handbag line
• 1967 – First ready-to-wear collection
• 1971 – “C Sulky” canvas launched
• 1996 – LVMH acquires CELINE for 2.7B francs
• 1997 – Céline Vipiana passes; Michael Kors appointed
• 1999 – Kors becomes Creative Director
• 2002 – Boogie collection debuts
• 2003 – Poulbot collection introduced
• 2004 – Roberto Menichetti takes creative helm
• 2006 – Ivana Omazic becomes Creative Director
• 2008 – Phoebe Philo appointed Creative Director
• 2010 – Classic Box, Luggage, and Cabas collections launch
• 2011 – Trapeze collection debuts
• 2013 – Trio collection introduced
• 2014 – HQ moves to 16 Rue Vivienne; Belt collection
• 2015 – Twisted Cabas collection
• 2017 – Clasp and Frame collections
• 2018 – Hedi Slimane becomes Creative Director

Signature Collections

Trio

Belt

Frame

Clasp

Cabas

Trapeze

Luggage

Classic