Photo: Bruno Staub/Courtesy of Proenza Schouler
The 2025 fashion creative director chess board made its first move: On Wednesday, Proenza Schouler’s founding designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez announced they are leaving the brand, effective Jan. 31.
“We founded Proenza Schouler in our early 20s and have had an extraordinary journey, one that we could have only dreamed of back then […] The time feels right to make the personal decision to step down from our day-to-day leadership role at the company and hand over the creative reins to someone new,” Hernandez said in a press statement. “We have always valued risk-taking and a sense of adventure and feel ready to open ourselves up for whatever comes next.”
McCollough added, “While change is never easy, this decision — one we’ve carefully considered — feels like the right step at the right time, at this stage in our lives. We will miss working each and every day with the extraordinary teams that we have built at Proenza Schouler, who are like family to us.”
They will remain company shareholders and are working with chief executive officer Shira Suveyke Snyder to find a creative successor. Per the press release, “the brand will continue operations without interruption,” though it’s notably missing from the New York Fashion Week Fall 2025 preliminary calendar.
“The search for a new Creative Director is underway, and we are focused on identifying a visionary leader who will build upon the brand’s enduring legacy. Proenza Schouler remains steadfast in its commitment to innovation and excellence, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead,” Snyder said.
Since Proenza Schouler’s inception in 2002, the industry quickly deemed it a favorite. Over the past 23 years, it’s won five CFDA Awards, received the first-ever CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund prize in 2004, secured high praise from top critics and has been worn by the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kristen Stewart, Sofia Richie, Ayo Edebiri and Chloë Sevigny (who has also walked the brand’s runway). It’s commercially successful, too, reportedly generating an estimated $60 million in yearly sales.
The design duo has yet to share their future plans, but this news comes amid rumors they’re successors to Jonathan Anderson’s Loewe (who is speculated to be headed to Dior). Multiple sources allegedly disclosed that McCollough and Hernandez signed a contract for the LVMH-owned House.
Source: Fashionista.com