Duran Lantink’s Debut Collection for Jean Paul Gaultier: A Bold Revival of 1980s Club Line
Amsterdam-based designer Duran Lantink has made his mark on the fashion world with his highly anticipated debut collection for Jean Paul Gaultier’s Ready-to-Wear Spring/Summer 2026. Titled “Junior,” the collection pays homage to Gaultier’s cult 1988-1994 line, channeling a raw, club-soaked energy and a vision of fashion as pure freedom.
With a deep understanding of Gaultier’s legacy, Lantink twists and reinvents archival concepts through his signature “Duranification” process. Classic Gaultier codes, such as the Marinière stripe and tattoo-on-mesh, are given a disruptive twist with exaggerated volumes and optical illusions.
The collection, inspired by Amsterdam’s legendary RoXY club and the works of poet John Giorno, embraces “dysmorphic play” with exaggerated volumes and anatomical trompe l’oeil prints. Set within a bold Gaultier color palette of burgundy, mustard, and sky blue, the collection is a celebration of anarchy and hedonism that defined an era of carefree style.
The debut show, held in the basement of the Musée du Quai Branly, is a powerful resurrection of Gaultier’s ready-to-wear and a bold extension of Lantink’s disruptive aesthetic. With the late Jean Paul Gaultier himself giving Lantink his stamp of approval, the collection is a fearless combination of Lantink’s original ideals and Gaultier’s daring themes over the years.
As captured by StyleNotCom, the post-show moment between Gaultier and Lantink is a testament to the success of the collection. With nothing safe about the collection in the best way possible, “Junior” is a powerful new heartbeat for the iconic fashion house.
