From Mugler to Diesel: Nicola Formichetti

After two years of being the man with creative control of avant-garde fashion house Mugler, Nicola Formichetti has made the decision to leave the haute couture brand in order to bring his artistic vision to the more commercialised, urban label Diesel. Formichetti gained many admirers while working for Mugler and was credited for making some significant and radical changes to the house, making his transition to Diesel an eagerly anticipated and truly exciting prospect.

It is no surprise that Diesel have ceased the opportunity to have their own injection of Formichetti creativity after witnessing how he was able to catapult Mugler forward with innovative and futuristic ideas, while still holding on to the foundations of the fashion house.

When people hear “Thierry Mugler”, many will think of the timeless fragrances that have evolved from the brand. But while working for Mugler, Formichetti undoubtedly brought the couture aspect of the label to the forefront. He reminded everyone of how ground-breaking and influential Mugler could be in high fashion, and what better way to promote a new collection than to have Lady Gaga feature on it – possibly the most famous fashion-conscious woman in the world.

The catwalk displayed some of the most artistically daring pieces that Mugler had seen in years, embracing an exclusive “fashion, fetish, fantasy” style that was surprisingly wearable. Formichetti also brought about a huge change to the Parisian fashion house by launching its first ever line of handbags which captured the DNA of the label through strong structure and geometric shapes, giving the brand further recognition by allowing women worldwide to add a touch of Mugler to their wardrobe.

Joël Palix, director-general of Mugler and president of Clarins Fragrance Group, commented on Formichetti as an artistic director for Mugler, saying: “His talent for communication and understanding of modern imagery and design has been instrumental in attracting a new audience, which has been undeniably crucial for the future strategy of the house.”

Bearing all of Formichetti’s previous work in mind – his youth, experience and innovative vision – joining Diesel and working alongside the founder of the label Renzo Rosso can only bring a breath of fresh air to the brand. The conjoining of the two is highly anticipated and one unlikely to disappoint.

Alison Boswell