Mugler welcomes Miguel Castro Freitas as Artistic Director
Mugler announces the arrival of Miguel Castro Freitas as Creative Director. A long-awaited turning point, after seven years of outstanding leadership.
A designer with a solid track record
Miguel Castro Freitas is no stranger to the fashion scene. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, he trained with some of the greatest. John Galliano at Dior, Stefano Pilati at Yves Saint Laurent, Alber Elbaz at Lanvin… At each stage, he honed his eye, developing a strong sensibility for constructed silhouettes and noble materials. His time at Dries Van Noten and Sportmax enabled him to navigate between the experimental and the pragmatic. He masters the avant-garde without neglecting the wearable. A rare balance, which today appeals to Mugler.
A seamless transition
This appointment comes at a time of strategic renewal. Casey Cadwallader, who has stepped down as artistic director, had succeeded in reconciling Mugler with a new generation. Sculpted bodies, graphic cut-outs, viral performances… His style made its mark. The arrival of Miguel Castro Freitas does not seek to erase this dynamic, but to extend it in a different way. More couture, more fluid perhaps, but still faithful to the house’s DNA. The Portuguese designer has declared that he wants to “extend the visionary breath” of Thierry Mugler with his own narrative sensibility.
A house with a strong heritage, a challenge accepted
Taking over the reins of Mugleralso means coming to terms with a rich history. The house’s aesthetic has always flirted with the spectacular, eroticism and feminine power. Miguel Castro Freitas knows the terrain. He has often explored questions of gender, structure and fluidity in his previous collaborations. His arrival could herald a more introspective period, in which iconic volumes are revisited with finesse. Less immediate effect, more depth? That’s what his initial intentions suggest.
A long-awaited first collection
His first collection for the house is scheduled for September 2025, during the Spring-Summer 2026 presentation. Until then, anticipation is running high. Professionals want to know: will he keep the bodycon codes? Will it open up new territories? The public is watching. Fashion weeks have never been so closely watched, and Mugler remains a house with a strong cultural and digital impact. Freitas will have to convince on the catwalk, but also on the networks.
With Miguel Castro Freitas, Mugler opts for high standards, fashion culture and a long-term vision. The company is turning over a new leaf without abandoning its core values. At a time when fashion is looking for more embodied directions, this appointment seems to lay the foundations for a new chapter, less flamboyant but more rooted. It remains to be seen what the autumn of 2025 will bring. One thing is certain: Mugler remains in the spotlight.
