Duran Lantink appointed as new permannet creative director of Jean Paul Gaultier

Another major fashion shake-up has arrived. Dutch designer Duran Lantink has officially been appointed the permanent creative director of Jean Paul Gaultier, making history as the first sole successor to the legendary designer himself.

Originally rumored to be JPG’s next guest couture collaborator following Ludovic de Saint Sernin’s spring/summer 2025 show inspired by a shipwreck, Lantink’s appointment signals a major shift.

Instead of continuing the brand’s three-year rotation of guest designers, Gaultier is handing over the reins for good.

Both designers announced the news on Instagram, offering fans a glimpse into the emotional weight of the moment. Jean Paul Gaultier himself praised Lantink’s vision:

“I see in him the energy, the audacity, and playful spirit through fashion that I had at the beginning of my own journey: the new enfant terrible of fashion. Welcome, Duran.”

Lantink shared a personal throwback: a photo of his 11-year-old self in The Hague wearing his very first JPG beanie.

“I was totally obsessed,” he wrote. “Had no clue I’d end up leading the house today!”

Long admired in fashion circles for his experimental tailoring and deconstructed, sustainability-forward designs, Lantink has recently gained broader industry recognition.

His fall/winter 2025 show made waves online, most notably for the viral moment a breastplate bounced down the runway, sparking a mix of laughter and debate during the notoriously serious fashion month.

Earlier this month, his career got another boost when he was awarded the International Woolmark Prize, presented by none other than Donatella Versace.

The prize comes with a $300,000 AUD (approx. $195,000) grant and signaled Lantink’s arrival on the global fashion stage.

His appointment couldn’t have come at a better time for the Gaultier brand, which has seen a resurgence among Gen Z over the last few years.

During the pandemic, vintage Jean Paul Gaultier pieces exploded in popularity resale prices tripled, and the archive gained a cult following on social media. 

However, aside from capsule collections with designers like Glenn Martens and Shayne Oliver, the house had mostly been recycling its past.

Now, with Lantink's bold and surrealist aesthetic, the maison is looking ahead.

His tenure will bring not only a new couture vision but also the return of Jean Paul Gaultier’s ready-to-wear—which has been on pause since 2015.

According to an official brand announcement, Lantink will debut his first prêt-à-porter collection in September 2025 for Spring/Summer 2026, followed by his first couture show in January 2026.

Fashion insiders and fans alike are already buzzing.

With Lantink’s radical style, offbeat humor, and deep-rooted love for the Gaultier legacy, this new chapter may prove to be the house’s most exciting era yet.