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