The rumor mill has it that the duo are headed over to Loewe.
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez are down to their last two weeks as creative directors of Proenza Schouler, the brand they founded over 22 years ago. The duo announced their impending exit from the New York-based label last week and is effective Jan. 31.
A report on Women’s Wear Daily says the designers are expected to succeed Jonathan Anderson at the creative helm of Spanish luxury house Loewe, which in turn will clear the way for Anderson to eventually take up a creative role at Dior. The article added that McCollough and Hernandez would remain company shareholders and serve on the Proenza Schouler board. Market sources estimate the company’s annual sales at $60 million.
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As McCollough and Hernandez’s time at the company—which is named after their mother’s maiden surnames—are winding down, they are reported to be working in tandem with CEO Shira Suveyke Snyder to find a new creative lead for the brand.
“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,” Hernandez said in a statement. “We have always valued risk-taking and a sense of adventure and feel ready to open ourselves up for whatever comes next.”
McCollough shared that they will miss working “each and every day with the extraordinary teams” they have built at Proenza Schouler, who have become like family to them. “We could never have experienced the highs we have had over the years without their hard work and dedication to our vision, nor could we have sustained the more difficult moments without their unwavering support and faith in what we do.”
“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,” McCollough added.
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A pillar of the New York fashion scene
It was in 2002 when McCollough and Hernandez founded Proenza Schouler in New York. Their friendship go all the way back to college while studying at Parsons School of Design. They collaborated on their senior thesis which became their first collection as Proenza Schouler. Barneys New York famously purchased their entire graduation collection in 2002, marking the beginning of the rise of what-would be one of the biggest American fashion labels.
Since its founding, McCollough and Hernandez have worked hard to build Proenza Schouler’s reputation as one of the most lauded names in the cutthroat fashion industry. Their trailblazing vision and bold creativity turned the brand it into a pillar of New York Fashion Week, while helping the Big Apple secure its spot among the world’s greatest fashion capitals, together with Paris, Milan, and London.
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Proenza Schouler is known for making luxury fashion that’s cool yet elegant, chic yet timeless. Its website described the brand as being “interested in designing a complete, contemporary wardrobe for the intelligent, adult, urban woman of today.” It is also known for its innovative leather goods, handbags, scarves, and jewelry.
Harper’s Bazaar UK credits Proenza Schouler for inventing the archetype of the “darling” designer back in the early 2000s, a time when New York fashion was experiencing a post-Nineties minimalist renaissance. They took the uptown elegance of the likes of Donna Karan and Calvin Klein, and added their distinct downtown touch.
Their collections are defined by McCollough and Hernandez’s use of fine luxury materials, infused with a sense of effortlessness and ease. Since its inception, Proenza Schouler has played a pivotal role in reinvigorating American fashion. Awarded with the inaugural CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund award in 2004, the then-emerging brand was quickly established as a leading talent in the industry. Proenza Schouler has won five CFDA awards, including the 2003 Swarovski award for Ready-to-Wear, the 2009 Accessory Designer of the Year award, and the Womenswear Designer of the Year award in 2007, 2011, and 2013.
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A “tougher, cooler” fashion style
Among Proenza Schouler’s most celebrated muses are Chloë Sevigny, the Olsen twins, Pamela Anderson, and Bella Hadid. Hernandez famously said in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar US that Proenza Schouler likes “people who are a little more, like, fuck you, and tougher, cooler.”
Proenza Schouler has also collaborated with leading brands, including L’Oréal, Birkenstock, and Mercedes-Benz. In 2019, the brand’s casual line Proenza Schouler White Label was launched. Proenza Schouler has a flagship boutique located at 121 Greene Street in New York, and is sold in over 350 stores worldwide.
McCollough and Hernandez assured that Proenza Schouler would “continue operations without interruption,” though it is not on the Official New York Fashion Week Schedule for the fall 2025 runway season, scheduled for Feb. 6 through Feb. 11.
