Fashion house Mugler has officially appointed Miguel Castro Freitas as its new creative director. He will assume the role starting April 1, following the departure of Casey Cadwallader, who served in the position for seven years. The announcement comes after Mugler opted out of the Autumn Winter 2025 Paris Fashion Week schedule, sparking speculation about internal changes. Freitas, a Portuguese designer with two decades of experience, will debut his first collection for Spring Summer 2026 during Paris Fashion Week this fall.
Freitas is a Central Saint Martins graduate, having completed the womenswear program in 2004. Shortly after graduating, he joined Dior under the leadership of John Galliano. His career has since included design roles at Yves Saint Laurent during Stefano Pilati’s tenure, Lanvin alongside Alber Elbaz, and Givenchy. Most recently, he served as creative director at Sportmax from Spring Summer 2021 through Spring Summer 2024. Before that, he was head of tailoring at Christian Dior under Raf Simons and later led womenswear at Dries Van Noten.
His appointment follows a series of behind-the-scenes roles in major fashion houses rather than a public-facing presence. Miguel Castro Freitas has remained outside the typical fashion spotlight, with little social media presence and few interviews. Still, his technical expertise in tailoring and drape has been recognized by insiders, and his connection to performance – he trained as a dancer in his youth – draws a subtle parallel to Mugler founder Manfred Thierry Mugler, who also had a background in dance and theater.
In his official statement, Freitas expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity: “It is an honour 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.”
Casey Cadwallader, an American designer who joined Mugler from Acne Studios, reshaped the house with a distinct mix of digital innovation and physical spectacle. During the pandemic, Mugler shifted toward cinematic fashion films, often produced with Torso Solutions. These projects, along with show-stopping celebrity moments involving Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, and Kim Kardashian, introduced the label to a wider audience.
Though widely praised for his impact, Cadwallader’s departure comes amid changing priorities for parent company L’Oréal. The French conglomerate acquired Mugler from Clarins in 2019, primarily focused on the brand’s successful fragrance lines like Angel and Alien. Despite Cadwallader’s high-profile campaigns, L’Oréal has remained cautious about expanding its fashion investments, especially as consumer interest shifted toward quieter styles and the broader luxury market began to slow. Last year, Adrian Corsin replaced Pascal Conté-Jodra as managing director of the fashion division, signaling a new chapter for the house.
