Proenza Schouler founders Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez are stepping down from their role as creative directors, effective Jan. 31.
âOur twenty-year anniversary was a moment of deep reflection for us. 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 newâ said Hernandez in a statement by the brand. âWe have always valued risk-taking and a sense of adventure and feel ready to open ourselves up for whatever comes next.â
A successor has yet to be named and operations will continue without interruption, according to the statement. However, the brand is not on the CFDAâs official preliminary New York Fashion Week schedule for Autumn/Winter 2025. In October, Proenza Schouler appointed former Shopbop brand president Shira Suveyke Snyder chief executive, which Hernandez called a critical step in laying the groundwork for the designersâ departure.
Itâs been a long road for McCollough and Hernandez. After Proenza Schouler quickly became one of American fashionâs most promising labels in the early 2000s â and Hernandez and McCollough two of its leading designers â facing slowing sales and mounting costs, the brand sold a stake to private equity Castanea Partners. In recent years, Proenza Schouler has made progress in getting back on track: the designers bought back the brand in 2018 and have been looking to chart profitable growth.
Speculation that McCollough and Hernandez could be heading for LVMH-owned Loewe, thereby replacing Jonathan Anderson who is rumored to be headed to Dior has been swirling, including on social media. LVMH has not confirmed nor denied reports.
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