After 22 Years, the Brand’s Founding Designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez Step Down as Loewe Rumors Swirl
Proenza Schouler co-founders Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez have announced their resignation as creative directors of the fashion brand they launched in 2002. Their departure will take effect on January 31. Together with Proenza Schouler’s CEO, Shira Suveyke Snyder, they are actively seeking a new creative leader for the brand, known for its distinctive aesthetic often described as “anti-minimal modernism.”
McCollough and Hernandez confirmed that they will retain their shares in the company and continue to serve on the Proenza Schouler board. They assured that the brand’s operations would proceed smoothly, despite its absence from the upcoming Official New York Fashion Week schedule for Fall 2025, running from February 6 to 11.
Reflecting on the transition, Hernandez said, “Our 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 new. We have always valued risk-taking and a sense of adventure and feel ready to open ourselves up for whatever comes next.”
McCollough added, “While change is never easy, this decision – one we’ve carefully considered – feels like the right step at the right time, at this stage in our lives. We will miss working each and every day with the extraordinary teams that we have built at Proenza Schouler, who are like family to us.”
Amid rumors, both designers have declined to comment on speculation that they may soon lead Spanish luxury house Loewe, part of the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton group. LVMH and Loewe have also refrained from commenting on these rumors. Discussions between McCollough, Hernandez, and LVMH about joining one of its prestigious fashion houses have been ongoing for years. Recently, insiders have heard under-the-radar reports of the pair heading to Loewe, which dropped off the calendar for men’s fashion week in Paris later this month and changed gears toward a coed showing during Paris Fashion Week in March.
The design duo has been a significant presence in New York’s fashion scene, maintaining their brand’s unique appeal since their graduation from Parsons, where their senior thesis collection was bought by Barneys New York.
In 2007, the Valentino Fashion Group acquired a stake in Proenza Schouler. Four years later, a group led by John Howard and Andrew Rosen took over most of Valentino’s stake. In 2018, Mudrick Capital Management helped the designers buy back their company.
Reflecting on their tenure, the designers expressed nostalgia for their journey in the fashion industry. Suveyke Snyder, appointed CEO last October to drive growth through various channels and categories, praised the founders for their innovative vision, which has significantly shaped the brand.
Proenza Schouler is sold in over 300 locations globally, including prestigious retailers and through their online platform, and it continues to push the boundaries of innovation and excellence in luxury fashion.