Jean Paul Gaultier has officially named Duran Lantink as the new creative director of the iconic fashion house. This announcement, made today via the brand’s Instagram, positions Lantink as only the second person to ever hold the creative helm of the Gaultier label. Effective immediately, Lantink will oversee both ready-to-wear and haute couture collections. Notably, this move also marks the revival of Gaultier’s ready-to-wear line, which had been dormant since 2015. His debut collection is set to premiere during Paris Fashion Week in September for the Spring 2026 season.
In a statement shared on his Instagram, Lantink expressed deep respect and excitement: “I consider Jean Paul Gaultier as a genius and part of a generation that kicked down doors, so people like us can walk through them freely and be who we are without apology. Stepping into the role of Creative Director is a true honor.”
Lantink’s appointment comes at a high point in his career. In March 2025, the Dutch designer won the prestigious Woolmark Prize, following the critical success of his Fall 2025 collection. Though operations at his personal label have paused for now, Lantink’s inventive approach to fashion—often blending unconventional proportions, shapes, and explorations of gender—has earned him widespread acclaim. Fans and critics alike are hopeful this hiatus is only temporary.
This leadership transition is especially significant as Jean Paul Gaultier himself has been the sole creative director of his label since founding it in 1982. After his departure in 2020, the brand adopted a rotating model for its haute couture collections, inviting a curated list of esteemed guest designers to reinterpret its aesthetic. Past collaborators have included Chitose Abe, Julien Dossena, Olivier Rousteing, Glenn Martens, Haider Ackermann, Simone Rocha, Nicolas Di Felice, and Ludovic de Saint Sernin.
Following the announcement, the fashion community showed overwhelming support for Lantink’s new role. Messages of congratulations and encouragement have poured in from major industry figures including Marc Jacobs, Harris Reed, Roopal Patel, Paul Andrew, Kristen Bateman, Harry Lambert, Jordan Roth, Fara Homidi, Nicolas Di Felice, Lyas, and Jasmina TV, among many others.
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