# Casey Cadwallader

Casey Cadwallader (born 1979) is an American fashion designer and the current creative director of Mugler, a position he has held since 2018. Known for bold, curvilinear designs and an innovative approach to craftsmanship from studying architecture, Cadwallader has revitalized the legacy French fashion house with soft sensuality and quiet theatricality.

## Early life and education

Cadwallader grew up in rural New Hampshire. His early creative inspirations revolved around cars, which he frequently sketched alongside logos and re-branded them, as well as jewelry design. Cars were like, "clothes with curves for people that go fast." This fascination with form and function expanded as he pursued an architecture degree at Cornell University.
While studying at Cornell, he developed an interest in the interplay of clothing, furniture, and architecture. He was influenced by designers such as Hussein Chalayan, Alexander McQueen and Charles James. Cadwallader, along with a cohort of architecture students, took additional classes at Cornell's fashion program. This led him to one of his first internships which was at Marc Jacobs.

## Work

Early in his career, Cadwallader worked for Gluckman Mayner to design new Versace stores.
The designer's professional journey has included roles at prestigious fashion houses such as worked for design studios such as Narciso Rodriguez, Loewe, and Acne Studios. In 2018, he was appointed creative director of Mugler, where he quickly gained acclaim for his sleek, unapologetically sexy designs and commitment to inclusivity. His work celebrates diverse body types and global identities, often featuring trans models and artists from the contemporary cultural underground.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cadwallader gained widespread recognition for his innovative approach to presenting collections, specifically transitioning from live runway shows to film. Collaborating with DIS magazine and Torso directors David Toro and Solomon Chase, he created a series of films starring prominent supermodels such as Bella Hadid, Shalom Harlow, Amber Valletta, Lourdes Leon, and actresses, artist, and musicians such as Megan Thee Stallion, Chloë Sevigny, and Dominique Jackson. These projects cemented his reputation for merging high fashion with avant-garde artistry. Closing the fashion and film campaign was a performance by Maria Kochetkova, who danced for the San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theatre to pay tribute to the late Thierry Mugler.
Cadwallader's Mugler is characterized by its avant-garde tailoring, spiral-cut denim, and futuristic bodysuits that combine demi-couture techniques with high-tech materials. His designs frequently emphasize curvilinear forms that flatter the body, inspired by both classical couture and contemporary technology.
Key pieces from his collections include bodysuits with integrated corsetry, garments crafted from vinyl-like jersey, and meticulously constructed denim without traditional side seams.

## Influence and legacy

Cadwallader's designs have become staples in the wardrobes of global superstars, including Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, Yseult, Juliette Binoche, Zendaya, and Beyoncé. His signature graphic jumpsuits and bold silhouettes have garnered both critical and commercial success. Beyond mainstream appeal, Cadwallader has remained deeply connected to underground culture, incorporating collaborators like Ashland Mines (FKA DJ Total Freedom) and casting groundbreaking models on his runway like Raya Martigny and Memphy.
His designs often blur the boundaries between fashion and sculpture, exemplified by signature pieces like spiral-cut pants and structured bodysuits. Notable looks include Bella Hadid's corseted blazer ensemble from the Spring/Summer 2020 collection and Eva Herzigová's mock-neck catsuit from Fall/Winter 2022.