In this week’s top fashion news creative directors are confirmed, retro models are cut back, while antique models rise, and vanguard minds of the industry are honored in their absence.
First and foremost, Loewe has confirmed its new creative directors with the appointment of Proenza Schouler’s founding duo, and Mugler appoints Miguel Castro Freitas as its new creative director. In print media, Off-White creative director Ib Kamara departs from his role at Dazed, ending a highly acclaimed run at the culture and fashion publication. Elsewhere, it has been shared that at Pitti Uomo this summer, Homme Plissé Issey Miyake will be the guest of honor presenting an SS26 collection, and in a rather unconventional tech-fashion tie-up, a custom ERL jacket was gifted to the NVIDIA CEO. Lastly, while Nike scales back production of its beloved Nike Dunks, Levi’s is pulling antique garments from its archive for a special reissue.
Below, Hypebeast has rounded up the top fashion stories of the week so you can stay up to date on trends in the industry.
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez Named New Creative Directors at LOEWE
On Monday, the rumors that Proenza Schouler founders Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez would take the helm from Jonathan Anderson at Loewe. In January, the duo announced their departure from their label with Hernandez saying “The time feels right to make the personal decision to step down from our day-to-day leadership role at the company and hand over the creative reins to someone new,” and McCollough saying “While change is never easy, this decision — one we’ve carefully considered — feels like the right step at the right time, at this stage in our lives.”
The two, who will begin their roles on April 8, said the following on their appointment to Loewe: “We look forward to working alongside its extraordinary teams and artisans, whose talent — under the exceptional creative direction of Jonathan Anderson — has shaped Loewe into the cultural force it is today. We extend our sincere gratitude to Bernard Arnault, Delphine Arnault, Sidney Toledano, and to Pascale Lepoivre for entrusting us with this remarkable house’s next chapter.”
Mugler Names Miguel Castro Freitas as New Creative Director
On Tuesday, Mugler announced that Miguel Castro Freitas will replace Casey Cadwallader, following his seven years as the brand’s creative director. The Portuguese designer studied womenswear at Central Saint Martins in 2004 and later worked under Julie Verhoeven, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy and Lanvin early on in his career. Later, Freitas held senior design positions at Sportmax, Dries Van Noten and Christian Dior Couture. Freitas will show his first collection for Mugler during Paris Fashion Week this fall for the Spring/Summer 2026 season.
On his appointment, Freitas said “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.”
Ib Kamara To Step Down as ‘Dazed’ Editor-in-Chief
Influential stylist and current Off-White creative director Ib Kamara has revealed that he is stepping down from his role as editor-in-chief at Dazed magazine. With his final issue arriving this coming June, Kamara said, “I’ll be forever honoured by the opportunity to have been among the creative leaders of this iconic platform – now becoming part of the infamous alumni who collectively continue to shape the culture,” in an official statement from Dazed.
After joining Dazed in 2021 he brought star power to the magazine’s covers with the likes of Rihanna, Harry Styles, A$AP Rocky, and more, while championing social issues, including women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and Indigenous rights, as well as protests regarding police brutality, hijab bans, and environmental laws.
Nike Dunk Sales Expected To Drop 70% Over Next Two Years
Though Nike Dunks make up as much as 18% of the brand’s sales, Nike CEO Elliott Hill has shared that the company will pull back on production to make room for new models to thrive. In 2024, Dunks totaled $5.85 billion USD, but by the next fiscal year, Piper Sander reports that sales will drop significantly, estimating $1.75 billion USD. Many have pointed to the Dunk’s over saturation in the marketplace in recent years, however, the style has not necessarily dropped in popularity. What began as a must-have “it” shoe, was transformed by the expedient frequency of color and collaboration drops iterating on the model. Currently, the sneaker resale platform GOAT lists 4,700 distinct Nike Dunk models on its site.
CEO of NVIDIA Receives Custom ERL Leather Jacket From Neo Gamma Humanoid Robot
In a classic ERL-style shoot, an ERL leather jacket was gifted to CEO of NVIDIA, Jensen Huang by Neo Gamma by 1X Technologies — an AI robotics company producing humanoids that are capable of human-like movements and behaviors. 1X’s CEO Bernt Børnich said in a statement that by the end of 2025, the company hopes to begin early tests of its humanoid robot, Neo Gamma in “a few hundred to a few thousand” homes. Eli Russell Linnetz’s label supplied the custom leather jacket that featured a studded NVIDIA logo on the right chest as well as the ERL branding on the front waist strap. The NVIDIA logo is also studded onto the back of the jacket, which Huang can be seen posing with after meeting Neo Gamma.
Homme Plissé Issey Miyake Will Be Pitti Uomo 108’s Guest of Honor
As the guest of honor at the forthcoming June edition of Pitti Uomo, Homme Plissé Issey Miyake will present an Italy-inspired SS26 collection on June 18. Taking place from June 17 to 20, Pitti Uomo is the world’s most prestigious biannual men’s fashion fair hosts a guest of honor regularly. Last year, MM6 Maison Margiela took the runway, while previous years invited Marine Serre, S.S. Daley, ERL’s Eli Russell Linnetz, Grace Wales Bonner, Magliano, JW Anderson, and Craig Green.
“We are pleased to announce that Homme Plissé Issey Miyake is soon to embark on a new creative adventure. Marking the first occasion of this adventure is our participation in Pitti Immagine Uomo in June 2025,” the brand said in a statement. “We feel grateful for this opportunity to be featured at one of the most celebrated menswear events in the world. On this occasion, we will present our spring/summer 2026 collection to a local and international audience in Florence, created based on our research and field studies carried out during our travels across Italy.”
Issey Miyake shared that its Pitti Uomo show will be the beginning of a new show format in which “the brand will travel around the world to present its clothing in places and at events where it has never been before, meeting local communities and connecting with a global creative scene.”
Levi’s To Revive 1920s Japanese Selvedge Denim Model
In a limited 800 piece run, Levi’s will reissue the Levi’s Lot 201 Jean and Lot 213 Jacket (also known as “No. 2”), styles inspired by original designs from 1890s. Originally designed as affordable wear for laborers, the reissue will be completely made in Japan, utilizing Japanese Shrink-To-Fit selvedge denim and period-correct details. Design elements include cinch buckles, branded donut buttons, exposed copper rivets, and a distinct blue line hark, and the iconic cloth “Two Horse” patch, returning the clothing to an antique era. The line will be globally available for purchase on March 27th on Levi.com as well as at Levi’s stores and select global retailers.
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