The L’Oréal-owned fragrance and fashion label Mugler announces the appointment of Miguel Castro Freitas as the new Creative Director, effective April 1.
Mugler Appoints Miguel Castro Freitas As The New Creative Director
Parent company L’Oréal, which acquired French fashion brand Mugler from Clarins in 2019, confirmed the departure of Creative Director Casey Cadwallader and named Miguel Castro Freitas as the successor. He will show his first collection during the spring-summer 2026 edition of Paris Fashion Week.
“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,” says Miguel Castro Freitas.
“Miguel lives and breathes the Mugler spirit,” Lahana-Aidenbaum, global brand president of Mugler Fashion and Fragrances, said in a statement. “His deep understanding of Mugler’s DNA and his vast creativity and talent made him a natural choice.”
“Mugler is like no other, and it was exciting to lean into all that it could mean in today’s culture. I am forever grateful to my team, collaborators and friends, whose support and talents made this vision come to life,” said Cadwallader.
In a separate statement, Lahana-Aidenbaum appreciated Cadwallader: “Over the last seven years, his unique vision has helped introduce Mugler to a new generation, all the while celebrating core themes of empowerment, inclusivity and identity.” Prior to Cadwallader, Mugler was helmed by David Koma, Nicola Formichetti and Rosemary Rodriguez.
Miguel Castro Freitas
The Portuguese national, who graduated from the womenswear program at Central Saint Martins in 2004, has experience working with luxury fashion brands. Miguel Castro Freitas began his career working under John Galliano at Dior right after graduation. Subsequently, he moved on to senior design roles at Yves Saint Laurent under Stefano Pilati and Lanvin alongside Alber Elbaz. He has also been head of tailoring at Christian Dior, head of womenswear at Dries Van Noten and creative director of Sportmarx from 2021 to 2024. PS A dancer in his youth, his creative experiences echo that of the luxury brand’s founder Manfred Thierry Mugler, who died in 2022 at the age of 73.
Mugler: L’Oréal-owned fragrance and fashion label
Mugler: L’Oréal-owned fragrance and fashion label. Image: mugler.com
The house of Mugler was created by Manfred Thierry Mugler in 1974. A visionary and multi-disciplinary artist across fashion, tailoring, fragrance-making, sketching, photography, film and stage direction. He designed looks for Michael Jackson, Madonna, Duran Duran, David Bowie and Diana Ross; most notably Demi Moore’s dress from the 1993 movie Indecent Proposal. In 1992, he directed and designed the outfits for George Michael’s “Too Funky” music video.
The late designer left the luxury brand with avant-garde archives, recognisable silhouettes. and trend-blazing fragrances. Mugler’s creative vision reflects its unique view of the world, one that subverts codes and turns convention on its head. Acting as an experimental laboratory, the luxury brand cultivates an avant-garde approach that destabilises, inspires and accomplishes, with the surprise of the disproportionate. For Mugler, the real world just isn’t enough. Life is a show.
“With Mugler, the real world just isn’t enough. Mugler is a brand with no boundaries, that refuses compromise and consensus. A fashion and fragrances brand from today, built on a bold and unconventional legacy, that helps us reinvent ourselves constantly,” says Danièle Lahana-Aidenbaum, Global Brand President Mugler Fashion and Fragrances. “We celebrate individuality and diversity, creating a vibrant community that people want to be part of. With Mugler you can become the supercharged version of yourself. We are passionate and we believe that joy, energy, and audacity will change the world.”
Mugler’s fall 1995 haute couture collection, marking the 20th anniversary of his brand, was staged at the Cirque d’hiver venue in Paris; and has been referred to as the “Woodstock of Fashion”, for having over three hundred looks, an elaborate set, high-profile supermodels and a performance from James Brown. Under Creative Director Casey Cadwallader, Mugler fashion stood out with its ionic silhouettes that were positioned between neo-couture and sportswear.
Jasmeen Dugal is Associate Editor at FashionABC, contributing her insights on fashion, technology, and sustainability. She brings with herself more than two decades of editorial experience, working for national newspapers and luxury magazines in India.
Jasmeen Dugal has worked with exchange4media as a senior writer contributing articles on the country’s advertising and marketing movements, and then with Condenast India as Net Editor where she helmed Vogue India’s official website in terms of design, layout and daily content. Besides this, she is also an entrepreneur running her own luxury portal, Explosivefashion, which highlights the latest in luxury fashion and hospitality.
