Mugler Appoints Miguel Castro Freitas As Creative Director

Mugler revealed a new creative director Tuesday morning. Miguel Castro Freitas will succeed Casey Cadwallader, and he will begin the new role April 1.

This news comes after the brand was missing from the Paris Fashion Week calendar, not showing its Fall/Winter 2025 collection, which led to speculation about organizational shifts at the French fashion brand. Alas, there is yet another creative director change, thanks to Mugler. Before his new leading role at label, Castro Freitas also held senior design posts at Sportmax, Dries Van Noten, and Christian Dior Couture. 

"It is an honor to join the spectacular house of Mugler. As one of the twentieth 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 said in a press release.

Cadwallader led Mugler for seven years, replete with a bold and dramatic transformation of the brand, thanks to his high-octane runways, work with pop icons like Cardi B and Zendaya, and its collaborations with more affordable brands like H&M.

“Over the last seven years, [Cadwallader's] unique vision has helped introduce Mugler to a new generation, all the while celebrating core themes of empowerment, inclusivity, and identity,” Global Brand President of Mugler Fashion & Fragrances Danièle Lahana-Aidenbaum said in a press release.

Castro Freitas will make his debut in September for the Spring/Summer 2026 collection at Paris Fashion Week; all eyes will be on his reveal. It'll be a big season for designer debuts this fall, Matthieu Blazy will show his first Chanel collection; Demna likely will too for Gucci, as will Dario Vitale for Versace.