THE HOUSE OF MUGLER UNVEILS THEIR FIRST HANDBAG CAMPAIGN UNDER MIGUEL CASTRO FREITAS

For his debut leather handbag collection for Mugler, Creative Director Miguel Castro Freitas introduces the Aurora and Lua lines, drawing on the House’s legacy of celebrating the body through architectural design. Reflecting the balance of structure and fluidity seen throughout his ready-to-wear collections, the handbags combine sculptural forms with refined craftsmanship, embodying the strength and sensuality that define the Mugler woman.

At the heart of the collection is the Aurora bag, named after Castro Freitas’ mother and inspired by the Latin word for “dawn,” symbolising a new beginning for Mugler’s leather goods. The design reinterprets a rare handbag from Manfred Thierry Mugler’s Spring/Summer 2002 “Franges et clous” collection, famously photographed by Helmut Newton. Reimagined with a contemporary perspective, Aurora features a moulded construction, raw-edged interior and Castro Freitas’ signature metallic monolith detail. Crafted in Italy, it is available in black, taupe and a roccia python-effect finish, reflecting Mugler’s longstanding commitment to avoiding fur and exotic skins.

The Lua, named after the Portuguese word for “moon,” takes inspiration from the crescent shape, pairing a structured exterior with a supple leather interior and gold-tone monolith hardware. Also made in Italy from hand-folded calf leather, Lua is offered in black and roccia python-effect finishes in both shoulder and larger city bag styles.

Castro Freitas describes handbags as intimate objects that become extensions of the body and accumulate personal memories over time. With Aurora and Lua, he sought to honour Mugler’s heritage while introducing a sculptural yet sensual approach to leather goods. The collection launches alongside a campaign photographed by Chris Lensz, featuring a female bodybuilder to challenge traditional ideas of femininity. Referencing classical portraiture and 19th-century sculpture studies, the imagery celebrates physical strength as a form of elegance while reinforcing Mugler’s enduring architectural identity. Together, the campaign and collection mark the beginning of a new chapter for Mugler leather goods under Castro Freitas’ creative direction.