Duran Lantink, a Dutch designer celebrated for his playful experimentation and innovative collections, discusses his unique journey in fashion. He reflects on staging his first runway show at just 14 and the transformative power of repurposed materials. Lantink shares exhilarating stories, including a wild night at a jazz festival after-party that shaped his artistic identity. As the new creative director at Jean-Paul Gaultier, he emphasizes embracing individuality and freedom in fashion, while highlighting the significance of upcycling and the creative community in overcoming industry challenges.
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Teenaged First Fashion Show
Duran Lantink's first fashion show was at 14 using repurposed Diesel jeans and his grandmother's tablecloth.
The collection was commercially picked up by a local multi-brand store, marking a pivotal career moment.
insights INSIGHT
Repurposing As Creative Method
Duran is inspired by transforming forgotten garments from thrift shops into new identities.
This repurposing method excited him, enabling shapeshifting clothes by altering existing pieces.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Confidence From Early Coming Out
Coming out as gay at 12 or 13 helped Duran disregard others' negative opinions.
He learned that others' negativity reflects their problems, not his worth.
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From a very young age, Dutch designer Duran Lantink has been fascinated by the transformative power of fashion.
His journey began in his early teens, culminating in his first runway show at just 14 years old. That collection, made from repurposed Diesel jeans and his grandmother’s tablecloth, was picked up by a local multi-brand store. And the rest is history.
Today, Duran is known in the industry for his playful experimentation, innovative collections and provocative runway presentations.
"I'm all figuring it out now. For me, I am just doing it step by step,” he shared. “Later on I really fell in love with this sort of non-conformative thing and I feel that the House of Gautier is very much about freedom and about culture and about bringing artists in and all these things and I hope the freedom and the possibility to really bring that in and really bring back that vibe from the late 80s or the beginning of the 90s and that really excites me."
In Paris, for his first ever English-language podcast, BoF founder and CEO Imran Amed sat down with Lantink to talk to him about his personal fashion journey, understand the source of his creativity and how he’s thinking about stepping into the role of creative director at an iconic fashion brand.
Key Insights:
Duran Lantink’s passion for fashion manifested early, culminating in his first runway show at just 14. Using repurposed Diesel jeans and his grandmother’s tablecloth, Lantink created a collection unexpectedly picked up by a local multi-brand store. "I think till now that has been my most commercially successful experience," Lantink jokes. But the moment was pivotal, crystallising his future path: "It probably was one of those moments where I really knew what I wanted to do in life."
Lantink's creative ethos has always revolved around repurposing and transforming existing garments. This distinctive approach initially met resistance in traditional fashion schools. "I've always been obsessed with cutting up clothes, mixing clothes," he says. At times, educators dismissed him, suggesting he might be better suited as "a stylist or artist," but Lantink remained unwavering: "I didn't really care. I just wanted to do what works for me."
Lantink's visibility skyrocketed after designing Janelle Monáe’s viral "vagina pants," but his industry breakthrough came during the pandemic with a drone-based fashion show. "I was finally able to reach a bigger audience because nobody could go anywhere anyway." The inventive showcase attracted support from influential industry figures, propelling his reputation internationally.
Taking on the creative directorship at Jean Paul Gaultier signifies a new chapter for Lantink. The opportunity resonated deeply with his creative philosophy and personal history. "It went back to where I came from, this obsession with nightlife and people dressing up," he says. Embracing the legacy of freedom associated with Gaultier, Lantink expresses excitement for the creative potential: "The House of Gaultier is very much about freedom and culture. That really excites me."
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