Jean Paul Gaultier Names Lantink: The Next ‘Enfant Terrible’
If you’ve been following fashion headlines (or refreshing your social feeds every five minutes), you might’ve guessed that the creative director carousel isn’t about to slow down any time soon. This time, it’s Jean Paul Gaultier @jeanpaulgaultier making waves by naming Duran Lantink @duranlantinkyo as the house’s new permanent creative director. The appointment comes right after Gaultier’s much-talked-about “collaborative era,” during which a rotating list of guest designers reimagined the brand’s distinctive aesthetic. Now, with Lantink at the helm, we’re about to see something fresh—and maybe a little rebellious—shake up the iconic French label.
Below, let’s dive into a short history of Jean Paul Gaultier, see what makes Lantink such a fascinating pick, and explore why this move might just be the brand’s next big moment.
A Look Back: Jean Paul Gaultier’s Bold Legacy
Many people think of Jean Paul Gaultier is synonymous with scandal, humor, and a fun approach to haute couture. Beginning in the 1980s, Gaultier’s runway presentations were famous for:
- Pop Culture Influence: Few designers have tapped into mainstream music, film, and celebrity quite like Gaultier. If you recall Madonna’s iconic cone bra or the wardrobes in “The Fifth Element,” then you’ve seen firsthand Gaultier’s knack for fusing art and pop.
- Gender Fluidity: Way before inclusive runways were the industry norm, Gaultier was blending masculine and feminine silhouettes, challenging stereotypes, and creating space for a new conversation around gender in fashion.
- Couture Meets Fun: Gaultier’s signature? A mix of rigorous couture techniques (exquisite hand-tailoring, intricate beading) with a sense of humor that often had showgoers grinning from ear to ear. It’s not every day you see a toreador jacket paired with a giant catwalk fanfare, but with Gaultier, it seemed perfectly normal.
Although the man himself stepped back from design in 2020—after a big farewell couture show—his label continued to experiment. The brand’s “collaborative era” involved rotating guest designers like Chitose Abe (of Sacai) and Olivier Rousteing (of Balmain) taking the stage to reinterpret Gaultier classics. This series generated hype and kept the brand in the headlines, but fans were left guessing: who would become the next “official” creative mind behind Jean Paul Gaultier?
Enter Duran Lantink: The New “Enfant Terrible”
Duran Lantink is a Dutch designer who’s been bubbling up on the fashion radar for some time now. If you’re not familiar with him, you’re probably still aware of his subversive style—imagine puffy, body-altering shapes, glitched-out prints, and an approach to runway presentations that feels part art installation, part fashion show. It’s an aesthetic that doesn’t blend quietly into the background.
Key milestones in Lantink’s career:
- Body-Distorting Silhouettes: He’s known for playing with volume in unexpected places, sometimes creating garments that challenge typical proportions or reshape the human form.
- Distorted Prints: Lantink’s designs often feature prints that look digitally manipulated—like reality bent into a kaleidoscope. This technique draws the eye and disrupts what we consider conventional “fashion prints.”
- Sustainability & Upcycling: Early on, Lantink made waves for cutting and splicing old garments into new forms, offering an edgy, eco-friendly spin on the notion of “high fashion.”
- Celebrity Buzz: From avant-garde artists to style influencers, plenty of bold personalities have shown interest in wearing Lantink’s designs. He’s that perfect sweet spot of edgy-yet-wearable, fun-yet-serious design thinking.
With a rebellious, anything-goes attitude reminiscent of early Gaultier, Lantink seems like a natural heir to the label’s tradition of breaking rules—just as Gaultier himself did in the ’80s. In fact, Jean Paul Gaultier singled out Lantink’s “energy, audacity, and playful spirit” as reminiscent of his own early days. The brand’s founder even dubbed Lantink “the new enfant terrible of fashion.” Quite the compliment, especially considering how that moniker once applied to Gaultier himself.
The Official Announcement & What’s Next
On Tuesday, the Puig-owned house confirmed that Duran Lantink will be Jean Paul Gaultier’s first permanent creative director since its namesake founder stepped back. This is no small move for a brand that’s thrived on collaborations lately. Here’s the timeline:
- September 2025: Lantink’s first ready-to-wear collection for Jean Paul Gaultier will debut during Paris Fashion Week. This marks the house’s return to RTW shows—big news considering it hasn’t consistently done so in over a decade.
- January 2026: The Dutch designer will present his first haute couture collection under the brand. Gaultier’s couture heritage runs deep, so you can imagine how this unveiling might redefine future runways.
In a world where we’ve seen Alessandro Michele exit Gucci, Jonathan Anderson leave Loewe, and countless other creative heads shuffle around, it might feel like the musical chairs never end. But at least it keeps the industry buzzing, right? And if there’s one name that can freshen up Gaultier’s trunk of iconic corsets, striped marinières, and other hallmark pieces, it’s someone like Lantink, who knows how to spin tradition in a fresh, rebellious way.
Wrapping Up: A Bold Step for Gaultier and Lantink
In an era where designers seem to switch houses faster than we can say “couture,” a new appointment can feel like just another bullet point in an ongoing list of industry changes. But sometimes, a match arrives that feels undeniably right—like it might push a legendary brand to fresh heights. Duran Lantink at Jean Paul Gaultier might be just that combo. Gaultier’s original irreverence, combined with Lantink’s modern, boundary-pushing sense of form, could yield runways that spark endless conversation.
If you’ve been itching for a new jolt of excitement in French fashion, this is definitely it. So let’s watch and see how it all unfolds: first with that September 2025 RTW lineup, then with the grand couture reveal in January 2026. One thing’s for sure—fashion’s “enfant terrible” torch just found its next carrier, and we can’t wait for the show.
Lantink at Gaultier? It’s avant-garde meets a legendary code book.
