CELINE

CELINE VIPIANA WAS NOT EVEN THIRTY YEARS OLD WHEN SHE LABELLED HER
EPONYMOUS BRAND WITH HER GIVEN NAME. THE YEAR WAS 1945, AND THE SECOND WORLD
WAR HAD JUST DRAWN TO A CLOSE.

THE BUSINESS BEGAN AS A MADE-TO-MEASURE SHOE SERVICE FOR CHILDREN.
BEFORE LONG, HER BOUTIQUES HAD SPREAD ACROSS PARIS. SOON SHE WAS PERSUADED BY
PRESTIGIOUS CLIENTS TO CREATE ‘HAUTE COUTURE’ SHOES FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND,
ENCOURAGED BY THIS SUCCESS, EXTENDED THE SERVICE TO THE WOMEN THEMSELVES. IN
THE 1960S, SHE CREATED THE FIRST LINE OF LEATHER GOODS AND ACCESSORIES,
BEFORE A NATURAL PROGRESSION TO DESIGN THE ‘SPORTSWEAR’ COLLECTION IN 1968. IT
IS AT THIS TIME THAT CELINE CAME TO STAND FOR THE IDEA OF PARISIAN CHIC, WITH
SAVOIR-FAIRE AND THE FINEST QUALITY MATERIALS AS PILLARS OF THE HOUSE.

TODAY, THAT SAME SPIRIT IS REINFORCED BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR HEDI
SLIMANE THROUGH THE ATELIERS AT 16 RUE VIVIENNE. COMBINED WITH READY-TO-WEAR
AND ACCESSORIES, HIS ‘HAUTE COUTURE’ DESIGNS SHOWCASE THE METICULOUS
POSSIBILITIES OF FRENCH CRAFT WITHIN THE CELINE WARDROBE. TO CELEBRATE THIS
HERITAGE, THE ‘TRIOMPHE’ MONOGRAM RETURNS – A SYMBOL OF THE HOUSE OF
CELINE SINCE 1971.