Michael Rider Preps for Celine Debut: ‘It’s a real privilege’
For a designer whose roots are in fashion, a change of scenery can be a true test. Michael Rider, Celine’s new creative director, spent the last five years designing for Balenciaga.
"It's a real privilege to be able to join Celine and have the opportunity to do our first show," Rider told WWD in a preview ahead of his debut show, to be held July 6 at 2:30 pm CET in Paris.
Rider’s appointment in June sent ripples through the industry, and for good reason. Celine sits among the most exciting fashion houses in the industry right now, having experienced a surge in popularity under former creative director Phoebe Philo. "I think Celine is a brand that's very much on the minds of people in fashion, like it or not," he laughed. That kind of scrutiny would daunt any designer, but for Rider, who began his career as a buyer for multi-brand retailer Harvey Nichols, it's familiar territory.
"When you're buying, you're looking at so many different brands every season—that gives you a huge understanding of the range of what's out there and what's possible," he explained, adding that his time as a buyer has influenced his approach to designing collections. "Working on the larger picture first and then drilling down into the details—that's a very similar process to buying," he shared.
Judging from the industry's response to his appointment, the fashion community will certainly come together for his debut show, and Rider seems equal parts excited and humbled by the curiosity Rider’s appointment generated.
"I never thought people would be interested in what I did," he laughed. His artistic background may have been on hiatus, but Rider never truly left the fashionable day of the week. "Saturday has always been my shopping day," he quipped.
