By Andrea Figueras
L'Oreal's fashion and fragrance brand Mugler said it appointed Miguel Castro Freitas as its new creative director, amid a reshuffle of creative leadership at several luxury brands.
The label, which is part of the French cosmetics company's Luxe division, was created in 1974 by Thierry Mugler and is known for both its designs and perfumes such as Angel and Alien.
Castro will join Mugler on April 1 and will present his debut runway collection for spring/summer 2026 during Paris Fashion Week in the fall. He had previously worked at a number of high-end brands including Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin and Dries Van Noten.
The Portuguese designer will replace Casey Cadwallader, who is stepping down at the end of March after seven years of tenure.
Mugler joins a string of brands that have recently replaced their creative chiefs, at a time when the luxury industry is trying to regain consumer appeal amid a global downturn in demand for high-end fashion and accessories. Luxury sales have slumped particularly in China, which once propelled the sector's growth, as demand for these products has cooled amid the country's sluggish economy.
Earlier this week, LVMH's Loewe appointed Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez as its new creative directors. Other labels such as Gucci, Versace, Celine and Chanel have also replaced their creative heads.
L'Oreal didn't disclose 2024 figures for the Mugler brand, but its Luxe business posted a 2.7% increase in sales on a like-for-like basis compared with the prior year. As with luxuries, demand for beauty products has cooled, especially in the key Chinese market.
In February, L'Oreal's Chief Executive Nicolas Hieronimus said at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference that he intended to reduce the group's exposure to the Chinese beauty market, while stepping up efforts to boost sales in emerging markets.
Write to Andrea Figueras at andrea.figueras@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 25, 2025 08:47 ET (12:47 GMT)
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