Mugler has officially appointed Miguel Castro Freitas as the brand’s new creative director. Succeeding Casey Cadwallader after his seven-year tenure at Mugler, Freitas is expected to begin April 1.
Previously, Freitas held senior design positions at Sportmax, Dries Van Noten and Christian Dior Couture in recent years. A dancer in his youth, his creative experiences echo that of the brand’s founder Manfred Thierry Mugler, who died in 2022 at the age of 73. Freitas said in a statement regarding his new position as the creative lead of the brand, “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.” The Portuguese designer graduated from the womenswear program at Central Saint Martins in 2004 and worked under Julie Verhoeven, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy and Lanvin early on in his career.
During Cadwallader’s seven years at Mugler, he gained a reputation for his bold runways and high-energy collections. Famously working with celebrities like Megan Thee Stallion, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga and more, he brought back the theatrics to Mugler, celebrating house codes in the contemporary fashion environment. Earlier this week, Mugler confirmed Cadwallader would be stepping down at the end of March. It is unknown what Cadwallader’s next steps would be. Adrian Corsin, managing director of Mugler Fashion said of Cadwallader’s legacy at Mugler, “Casey has given the utmost dedication and passion to reigniting Mugler. His shows, casting and creations captured the energy of the moment and honored the house’s storied legacy.” Cadwallader said, “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.” Prior to Cadwallader, Mugler was helmed by David Koma, Nicola Formichetti and Rosemary Rodriguez. Corsin added of Freitas’ new role, calling him an “incredible talent in tailoring and ‘flou,’ combined with a vision that is all his own. His love and knowledge of Mugler’s couture codes and heritage will be a limitless source of storytelling to propel the house into the future.”
Freita will show his first collection for Mugler during Paris Fashion Week this fall for the Spring/Summer 2026 season.
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