Dive Brief:
- Michael Rider, the creative director of Polo Ralph Lauren, will be stepping down from his role, the company said in an email to Fashion Dive. No timeline was provided.
- Rider has been with the brand since 2018. He was previously design director for ready-to-wear at LVMH-owned Céline, where he worked under Phoebe Philo for nearly a decade. Rider also spent four years working with Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga.
- Karen Brown, an 18-year company veteran, will become senior brand creative director for Women’s Polo, according to the company. A new hire for other Polo divisions was not discussed. Brown, who has been in several design positions at Ralph Lauren, “has been instrumental in the re-positioning of Women’s Polo alongside Michael,” said the company.
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Dive Insight:
Rider has spent his career so far working underneath marquee designer names, but rumors began to swirl in April that he may be moving to a more prestigious position with his former employer. WWD reported that current Céline creative director Hedi Slimane is planning to leave the brand, and Rider could be tapped to take over.
Meanwhile, the Ralph Lauren Corporation sought a replacement from within its own ranks.
“We are fortunate to have a deep bench of exceptional creative talent throughout our Company who have worked closely with Ralph for many years,” the company said in its email.
Karen Brown, who has been overseeing the Women’s Polo collection as senior brand creative director, has handled the design and image of the brand, according to the company, which noted that Brown has worked “in partnership with marketing and digital teams” to handle “all Women’s Polo creative assets and messaging to ensure the Ralph Lauren philosophy is translated into 360° campaigns and experiences.”
Brown began at the company in 2006 and “has held progressive design roles throughout the Company including as a concept designer for Ralph Lauren Home and various design leadership roles within Women’s Polo,” per her bio. She will report directly to Ralph Lauren in her new role.
The Ralph Lauren Corporation, which owns multiple labels including Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Polo Ralph Lauren and Chaps, does not break down revenue by brand, but reported a 6% earnings uptick to $1.9 billion for Q3. Amid an uneven sales period for the luxury industry, positive growth over the past few months puts the company ahead of competitors such as Aeffe, Kering, Burberry and Ferragamo, all of which have seen recent declines.
The company will report its fourth quarter and full fiscal 2024 earnings next week.
