The renowned fashion house has appointed Duran Lantink as its new permanent Creative Director, marking the end of a prolific but uncertain collaborative era and the introduction of a new and exciting reinterpretation of Jean Paul Gaultier’s legacy by one of the most praised and talked-about designers of the past seasons.
Since 2020, the maison has operated under a rotating system of guest designers for each haute couture collection, following Jean Paul Gaultier’s departure from his homonymous brand and the closure of its prêt-à-porter line. This approach allowed the house to continue its legacy through the distinctive visions of guest creatives, including Chitose Abe in 2021, Glenn Martens in 2022, Simone Rocha in 2024 or Ludovic de Saint Sernin just a couple of months ago, becoming the last designer of this period of collaborations.
This has now changed after the house just appointed Duran Lantink as his new — and permanent —creative director. The designer will make his debut with a ready-to-wear collection, which will be presented on September 25th during Paris Women's Fashion Week, and with a haute couture collection in January 2026. “I see in him the energy, audacity, and playful spirit through fashion that I had at the beginning of my own journey: the new enfant terrible of fashion. Welcome, Duran,” stated Jean Paul Gaultier in the official press release from the fashion house group, Puig.
Lantink, a Dutch designer known for his avant-garde, provocative approach and strong commitment to sustainability, expressed on his behalf that he considers Jean Paul Gaultier “a genius and part of a generation that kicked down the doors so people like us can walk through them freely and be who we are without an apology” and that “to now step into the role of Creative Director is a true honour.”
Gaining recognition for his irreverent style and innovative use of second-hand clothing, deadstock, and recycled garments from luxury labels, Duran Lantink has emerged as one of the most respected designers of his generation. His bold silhouettes and eco-conscious approach not only garnered viral attention but also earned him a spot as a finalist for the LVMH Prize in 2019 and most recently as the winner of the prestigious International Woolmark Prize in April 2025, awarded for regenerative design, traditional craftsmanship, and contemporary innovation.
Exaggerated volumes and the fusion of couture with streetwear have become Lantink’s signature — an approach that many have likened to Gaultier’s own boundary-pushing vision. Now, as this distinctive perspective moves into the celebrated maison, a new and thrilling era of reinvention awaits Jean Paul Gaultier.