American designer Casey Cadwallader as its new artistic director of women’s ready-to-wear, succeeding David Koma, who is leaving the house after four years at the helm. The 38-year-old studied architecture at Cornell University and has 17 years of experience, including positions as design director of rtw and accessories at Narciso Rodriguez and director of design at J.Mendel. He has also held positions at Loewe and Tse.
“The Clarins Group is very happy to welcome Casey Cadwallader to Mugler,” said Sandrine Groslier, chief executive officer of Clarins Fragrance Group and Mugler fragrances and fashion.
“His determination and unique sensitivity to Mugler’s artistic and experimental heritage will enable us to pursue the renewal of the house in the long term. We are confident that his personal vision and talent will position Mugler among the most sought-after avant-garde fashion brands of today,” she added.
The Mugler appointment marks a fresh change of tack for the brand, famed for founder Thierry “Manfred” Mugler’s sharp tailoring and hourglass silhouettes, in addition to best-selling fragrances such as Angel and Alien.
Virginie Courtin-Clarins, managing director of Mugler Fashion, credited Koma with successfully expressing a new vision of the house through his body-conscious silhouettes, which have won him fans including Beyoncé, Rihanna and Hailey Baldwin.
“I am truly grateful for having had the pleasure of working with David and I thank him for this powerful vision of the modern Mugler woman, which has drawn a new expression of the brand,” she said.