Proenza Schouler has appointed Rachel Scott, the founder and designer of Diotima, as its new creative director, the New York house announced on Tuesday, a decision that is sure to be well-received.

Scott’s inaugural presentation as creative director for Proenza Schouler will debut in February 2026 with the Fall/Winter 2026 collection, marking a new chapter for the brand.

Scott actually joined Proenza Schouler as a consultant earlier this year, working closely with the design studio to shape the brand’s creative evolution. The Spring/Summer 2026 collection, developed through this collaborative partnership, “serves as an opening statement and an intimate preview of her perspective, one that will continue to unfold in the seasons ahead,” the Manhattan marque added.

Long recognized as a brand synonymous with craft and New American luxury, Proenza Schouler will enter a new chapter with Scott at the helm. Rachel brings a global design perspective, vast technical knowledge, and a distinctive new voice that aligns seamlessly with Proenza Schouler’s brand DNA, the brand underlined.

“As one of the most celebrated design talents of today, Rachel brings a fresh and female perspective to a brand built on the spirit of the modern American woman. Her profound understanding of Proenza Schouler’s brand codes, paired with her exceptional ability to marry craft with innovation, made her the natural choice to lead the brand forward,” said Proenza Schouler CEO Shira Suveyke Snyder in a release.

Scott succeeds the Proenza Schouler founding partners Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough, who quit the house after two decades this year to move to Paris and become the joint creative directors of Loewe, taking over from Jonathan Anderson after he left to become the creative director of sister LVMH brand Dior.

“It is with great excitement that I join Proenza Schouler, a brand at the heart of American fashion, and one I have long admired. I hold deep respect for the beauty and world Jack and Lazaro so brilliantly crafted, and I look forward to bringing my perspective in dialogue with their legacy. I am grateful to Shira for her trust, and I am honored to step into this role to envision the next chapter of Proenza Schouler,” Scott enthused.

Scott, a 41-year-old designer, was born in Jamaica and is often said to approach fashion via language – blending in elements of French existentialism and post-structuralism. In a 16-year career, she has worked in Milan, with a stint at Costume National, and in New York, where she founded Diotima in 2021. She has since gone on to win considerable critical acclaim and a certain cult status for her adventurous collections.

“When we left Proenza Schouler last January, we knew the story would go on, but not yet who would write the next chapter. Rachel is someone whose work we have always admired. Her trajectory over the last few years has been impressive to watch. As founders and board members of the company, we are proud to welcome her to this very special brand and excited to see how she will embrace and evolve the legacy and spirit of what we started,” said Hernandez and McCollough in the press release.