In a move that’s poised to shape the future of Parisian fashion, Mugler has named Portuguese designer Miguel Castro Freitas as its new Creative Director, effective April 1, 2025. The appointment follows the departure of Casey Cadwallader, who helmed the house for seven transformative years, reenergizing it with a futuristic, inclusive sensibility that resonated across fashion and pop culture. With Freitas stepping in, Mugler begins a new chapter—one that promises elegance, emotion, and an evolution of the house’s boundary-pushing DNA.
Miguel Castro Freitas brings to Mugler a pedigree that spans two decades and some of fashion’s most storied maisons. Born in the historic town of Santarém near Lisbon, he graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2004, joining a vanguard of Portuguese talents like Marques’Almeida and Constança Entrudo who have carved international paths. His career began at Dior under John Galliano, absorbing theatricality and drama, before contributing to the refined minimalism of Yves Saint Laurent under Stefano Pilati. He then joined Alber Elbaz’s Lanvin, where whimsy and femininity defined the house’s golden era, before returning to Dior under Raf Simons, where he led tailoring—an essential foundation for the modern, architectural silhouettes that would become a signature. At Dries Van Noten, he oversaw women’s wear, exploring lush prints, cultural narratives, and layered textures.
Most recently, Freitas held the role of Creative Director at Sportmax, part of the Max Mara group, where he helmed the brand from Spring/Summer 2021 to Spring/Summer 2024. There, his vision crystallized: asymmetry, futuristic textiles, sculptural leather, and a sensual tension that was both cerebral and striking. In his Spring/Summer 2021 debut, inspired by the poetry of Walt Whitman, he introduced holographic trousers, sheer knits, and sharp, skin-skimming tailoring—a dance between structure and fluidity that echoed Mugler’s own theatrical roots.
That affinity may not be coincidental. Like Mugler’s legendary founder Manfred Thierry Mugler, Freitas was once a dancer. This shared discipline—a deep understanding of the body in motion—is likely to inform his work at Mugler, where silhouettes often feel like choreography in fabric. Freitas himself alluded to this connection in his first statement as Creative Director: “It is an honor to join the spectacular house of Mugler. As one of the 20th century’s great couturiers, Mr. Mugler reimagined the power and limits of fashion. Alongside the teams, I am thrilled to bring my own vision, story and emotion to this monumental heritage.”
His first collection, for Spring-Summer 2026, will debut at Paris Fashion Week this fall. Industry watchers are eager to see how Freitas merges his refined design language with Mugler’s bold, avant-garde spirit. If his past work is any indication, the result may be a more poetic evolution of the house: one that tempers sharp silhouettes with sensual restraint, and blends architectural tailoring with futuristic flourishes.
The transition comes at a pivotal time for Mugler. Under Cadwallader’s reign, the house saw exponential growth, fueled by celebrity-fueled moments—Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Beyoncé—and the resurgence of archive hits like the Spiral Curve bag. L’Oréal, the brand’s parent company, is now steering Mugler back toward a seasonal format, with an eye on craft and legacy. Freitas, whose portfolio spans the artisanal and the experimental, seems poised to navigate that balance with finesse.
With an eye for movement, a mastery of silhouette, and a deep reverence for heritage, Miguel Castro Freitas is more than a quiet powerhouse—he’s the designer who may redefine Mugler for a new era. His debut in Paris this fall will be one of the most anticipated shows of the season, and the fashion world is watching.