On November 13, it was announced that designer Peter Do would be stepping down as Creative Director of Helmut Lang. His final collection for the brand is set to be the Pre-Fall 2025 season.
In an official statement, the brand declared, “Helmut Lang announces that Peter Do will be stepping down from his position as creative director at the end of this month.” It added, “Peter Do joined Helmut Lang in 2023, bringing a fresh perspective and revitalizing the brand for a new generation. He reinforced the brand’s reputation for pushing boundaries while honoring its minimalist roots.”
Kazumi Yanai, Chairman of Helmut Lang, commented, “I want to express my deepest gratitude to Peter for his exceptional creative leadership and vision and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.”
In response, Do expressed his gratitude: “I want to express my gratitude to my Helmut Lang team, who have been integral in supporting my vision. It’s been an incredible journey to be tasked to carry on the legacy of Helmut Lang. I would like to give special thanks to Kazumi for this opportunity of a lifetime and an experience that I will never forget.”
Do joined Helmut Lang in May 2023 under Fast Retailing’s ownership, taking on the role of Creative Director to oversee both the women’s and men’s collections while simultaneously leading his own luxury brand, Peter Do. During his tenure, he skillfully blended the brand’s history with contemporary trends, reinterpreting Helmut Lang’s signature style to breathe new life into it.
Peter Do’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection, debuted at New York Fashion Week, was characterized by wearable formalwear that embodied quintessential New York style. His balanced approach, blending innovation with classic elements, drew significant attention. In the seasons that followed, particularly with the Resort 2025 collection, Do continued to evolve the brand’s iconic style by introducing a mix of casual, everyday elements with minimalism. This approach helped make Helmut Lang’s image more accessible and relatable to a wider audience.
Recently, the fashion industry has seen a series of creative directors stepping down from major brands. On the same morning that news broke of Do’s departure from Helmut Lang, designer Phillip Lim announced he would be stepping down as Creative Director of his own brand, 3.1 Phillip Lim.