Duran Lantink FW25: A “Duranimal” Adventure at Paris Fashion Week
If you think fashion week needs a jolt of mischief, Duran Lantink @duranlantinkyo has you covered. The Dutch designer showed his “Duranimal” collection for Fall/Winter 2025 at Paris Fashion Week @parisfashionweek, leaving audiences smiling—and maybe a little shocked. Between prosthetic body parts, vibrant animal prints, and a cappella choristers performing in office cubicles, this was a runway experience you won’t forget anytime soon.
Meet the Brand and the Designer
Duran Lantink is a fashion label based in Amsterdam and Paris well-known for its crazy experimentation and commitment to sustainability. Lantink is never afraid of using deadstock fabrics, splice up old clothing, and shock us with shapes that push boundaries—often described as funny, edgy, and a little tongue-in cheek. After all, this is the designer who can take leftover snakeskin and transform it into a striking jacket fit for a front-row appearance.
Lantink’s popularity continues to grow as a result of awards such as the ANDAM Special Prize and the Karl Lagerfeld Prize, both of which are run by LVMH. Some of his designs can be found in museums like as the MET Costume Institute and the V&A in London, securing his standing as a design darling who combines sustainability and rule-breaking innovation.
Runway Show & Collection: “Duranimal”
Animal Prints & Playful Prosthetics
For Fall/Winter 2025, Lantink presented 53 looks under the name “Duranimal.” True to its title, the show was chock-full of zebra-print pony hair, reworked snakeskin, repurposed cowskin from LVMH deadstock, and velvet leopard. If that wasn’t enough, a few models sported full-on body paint in zebra and leopard patterns—yes, you read that right. According to WWD, it was a hilarious treat to see freedom on display in the form of “realistic size DD prosthetic boobs” jiggling down the runway for a made-for-social-media finale. Love it or hate it, you’ve got to admire the audacity.
Sharp Silhouettes & Knitted Drama
While Lantink’s earlier collections leaned into bubble forms, this season took a different route with more tapered shapes and a focus on “shape as style.” We still got a dose of drama with two striking dresses linked together by interlocking merino wool knits—handcrafted by a group of women in the Netherlands. He’s a Woolmark Prize finalist this year, so the hand-knit showpieces definitely add an extra layer of excitement.
Office Vibes & Opera Singers
The show was held in Bureau Betak’s soon-to-be new offices, complete with actual working cubicles. In an unexpected twist, the models strutted among Parisian choristers who sang an avant-garde cappella piece, continuing well after the show’s finale, leaving guests wondering if they’d stumbled into a surreal theatre performance. As Lantink told collaborators, it was all about bridging “odd combinations”—an approach that definitely paid off.
Americana Twists
Amid all the exotic prints, Lantink snuck in a bit of American flair: varsity jackets, denim “bareback” jeans, and headwear that combined Wild West references with a futuristic spin. It felt like a cowboy cameo in the middle of a high-fashion menagerie, and, strangely enough, it fit right in.
A Commercial Path Forward
While you might picture Lantink as purely avant-garde, and his collection hints at a more commercial side. Duffle coats, cargo pants, and branded varsity jackets showed a wearable angle that doesn’t sacrifice creativity. That balancing act of high-concept spectacle with accessible design could cement Lantink’s mainstream appeal—and possibly land him that rumored gig as a guest designer at Jean Paul Gaultier @jeanpaulgaultier.
My Personal Take
If you’re tired of the same old runway routine, Duran Lantink’s “Duranimal” is your antidote. This show felt like a chaotic, creative safari, full of illusions, color clashes, and comedic moments that left you both entertained and intrigued. It’s not every day you see boob prosthetics jiggling around a Paris runway, but hey, that’s Lantink: delightfully unfiltered, ironically free, and absolutely worth watching. Who knew a runway could make you giggle and think all at once?
