Mulier Taps Meisel for Final Alaïa Campaign

- Pieter Mulier's five-year tenure, which began in 2021, is credited with a significant creative and commercial revival for the Richemont-owned house; industry sources estimate the brand more than doubled in size under his leadership. - His direction was marked by commercially successful cult accessories, including the crystal mesh ballet flats and the "Le Teckel" shoulder bag, which drove growth and brand relevance. - Before Alaïa, Mulier was the longtime right-hand to Raf Simons, serving as Design Director during Simons' tenure at Dior—a period chronicled in the documentary *Dior and I*—and as Creative Director at Calvin Klein. - Mulier was the first creative director to helm the house since the 2017 death of its founder, Azzedine Alaïa, a designer legendary for his sculptural approach to the female form and for working outside the rigid fashion calendar. - The selection of Steven Meisel is a significant creative statement; the photographer is an industry icon who shot every cover of *Vogue Italia* for 25 years and is credited with defining the 1990s supermodel era. - Mulier's exit is part of a broader industry shuffle, with widespread speculation that he is set to become the next creative director of Versace. - Following Mulier's final collection for Fall 2026 in March, the house's design studio will take over creative direction in the interim, with no successor officially named. - Meisel's recent work includes high-profile campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana starring Miley Cyrus and Fendi's 100th-anniversary campaign, continuing his decades-long influence on fashion imagery.