Puig’s iconic house welcomes its first new creative director since the founder, with plans to show a new collection this September.
Jean Paul Gaultier has chosen Duran Lantink as creative director, a move that places the Dutch designer at the helm of the heritage label. He is the first to follow the founder, who gained international acclaim in the 1980s by mixing theatrical verve with inclusive design.
Lantink’s appointment opens a fresh chapter for the house, which paused its ready-to-wear line in 2014. Over the past ten years, its emphasis lay on haute couture collections that preserved Gaultier’s signature craftsmanship and bolstered a strong fragrance business. The label introduced rotating couture collaborations with visionaries like Glenn Martens and Simone Rocha, giving them opportunities to work with Gaultier’s artisanal techniques.
The new creative director plans to bring back a consistent schedule for both ready-to-wear and haute couture, starting with a presentation at Paris Fashion Week in September. This will be the first runway for the label beyond exclusive couture in over a decade, followed by Lantink’s couture debut in January 2026. Founder Gaultier spoke warmly of the choice, comparing Lantink’s energetic approach to his own early days and calling him fashion’s next free spirit.
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Antoine Gagey, managing director of Jean Paul Gaultier, observes that Lantink doesn’t replicate the founder’s exact codes but shares a willingness to transform volume and reframe the body. He believes the brand’s revived momentum will attract a younger audience, spotlighting its history of open-minded values. After years of archive-focused releases and capsule collections, the company has restored a network of around 100 stockists, expanding its influence in fashion retail.
Lantink, 38, studied at Amsterdam’s Gerrit Rietveld Academie and Sandberg Instituut. He earned recognition for playful statements like the “vagina” trousers worn by Janelle Monáe in 2018, followed by a 2021 runway captured by drone cameras during lockdown. His rise has been confirmed by multiple accolades, including the 2025 International Woolmark Prize and last year’s Karl Lagerfeld Prize from LVMH.
Demand from youthful fans has prompted Gagey to see this leadership move as a way to strengthen the house’s legacy so its classic artistry remains intact, combined with contemporary ideas. Lantink’s ethos, rooted in upcycling and striking shapes, may guide the brand into a new era that stays true to Gaultier’s foundations while offering fresh viewpoints to a broader market.
