Is Hedi Slimane plotting a return to the fashion scene? Just two months after leaving Céline, the LVMH luxury house he helmed since January 2018, the French designer has once again captured attention. On December 18, an Instagram account bearing the handle @hedislimanehomme briefly appeared, only to vanish a few hours later. Renowned for his enigmatic approach, is the elusive designer deliberately fueling speculation, or was this an unintentional tease?

The incident did not escape the attention of British magazine i-D, which reported the account’s brief activity on social media. According to i-D, the account featured three posts: a reel showcasing the menswear collection Slimane created for Yves Saint Laurent in 1999, during his tenure as head of men’s ready-to-wear, and two videos highlighting the Spring/Summer 2006 collection for Dior Homme. Slimane, who led Dior Homme from 2000 to 2007, revolutionised menswear during this period with his iconic slim, tailored silhouettes.

i-D noted that all the images on the account were drawn from Hedi Slimane’s archives and speculated on the possibility of the designer launching his own menswear line.

“Although Slimane has often denied rumours of starting his own brand after leaving Dior Homme and Saint Laurent, could the dreams of every self-proclaimed rock star finally be coming true?” the magazine mused.

Since leaving Céline, where he spent nearly seven years successfully redefining the brand, Slimane has been the subject of rumors linking him to Chanel. However, the luxury house recently appointed Matthieu Blazy as its new creative director. With an illustrious career spanning some of the most prestigious fashion houses, the prospect of Slimane launching his own label now feels more plausible than ever.

Born in Paris in 1968 to a Tunisian accountant father and an Italian seamstress mother, Slimane studied art history at the École du Louvre. He began his fashion career at Yves Saint Laurent in 1997 and later returned in 2012, following a transformative stint at Dior Homme. During his time at Dior, Slimane revolutionised menswear with his sleek, androgynous, and rock-infused aesthetic, which became his signature. Between these roles, he devoted himself to his other passion—photography—before reclaiming his place as one of fashion’s most influential figures.