Duran Lantink wins the Karl Lagerfeld Prize 2024
On September 10, 2024, the Karl Lagerfeld Prize was awarded to Dutch designer Duran Lantink, a talent that is increasingly attracting attention in the fashion world.
The award, presented by British actor Robert Pattinson at the LVMH 2024 prize ceremony, adds to Lantink’s already impressive track record, having won the ANDAM special prize in 2023. “Winning this award is really great, because I’ll be able to move forward with my brand,” he said in an interview for Numéro, adding that he plans to focus on accessories soon, with projects for bags, shoes, eyewear and jewelry.
A provocative style
Duran Lantink first made its mark in 2018 with Janelle Monáe‘s Pynk video, in which the singer wore bold vagina-shaped pants designed by Lantink. This iconic garment toured the world, representing a vision of fashion that is both playful and militant. “I don’t want to be too camp, but I like to play and flirt with this style. My aim is simply to create exciting things that reflect my values,” he confided. According to him, “joy is a form of acceptance, intrinsically linked to queerness”, a message inspired by his own journey.
An upcycling practice inspired by his childhood
Born into an open, creative environment, Lantink grew up reinventing clothes found at home, influenced by a free-spirited mother and surrounded by queer personalities. He cites Walter Van Beirendonck and Jean-Paul Gaultier among his influences, but his style remains unique, combining sobriety and radicalism. In 2019, he launched his own label and made a name for himself withupcycling, a concept he formalized in 2023 with his first show at Paris Fashion Week.
Silhouettes that question standards
Lantink plays with body shapes and proportions, recalling the audacity of Comme des Garçons’ Spring/Summer 1997 show. His creations, often composed of padding marking shoulders, hips and breasts, explore the body through tulle openings and shortened lengths. He favors austere colors that accentuate the power and purity of his pieces. These aesthetic choices have won over artists like Billie Eilish and Beyoncé, and his work is now acclaimed by the industry.
A vision for the future
The Karl Lagerfeld prize has enabled Lantink to give his brand a new dimension. He plans to develop accessory lines, an area that has always attracted him but which he has been unable to explore until now. His ambition is to “continue creating pieces that embody the free and provocative spirit” that defines his career. With his dazzling career and assertive vision, Duran Lantink is establishing himself as one of the most promising designers of his generation. His next collections are eagerly awaited, and the fashion industry is ready to follow his evolution.
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