Mugler Introduces Its First Handbag Campaign Under Miguel Castro Freitas
by Adriano Batista
Mugler has unveiled its first handbag campaign under the creative direction of Miguel Castro Freitas, introducing the Aurora and Lua collections. The debut leather offering spotlights the house’s heritage of architectural precision, with each silhouette balancing structure and fluidity in a way that echoes the ready-to-wear collections.
At the centre is the Aurora, named after Castro Freitas’ mother and derived from the Latin word for dawn, a fitting nod to renewal. The bag reinterprets a rare design from Manfred Thierry Mugler’s Spring/Summer 2002 “Franges et clous” collection, famously photographed by Helmut Newton. It has been reshaped with a moulded construction and a raw-edged interior, finished with Castro Freitas’ signature monolith metallic detail. Crafted in Italy, the Aurora comes in black, taupe, and roccia python-effect, reinforcing the house’s commitment to avoiding furs and exotic skins since the time of Manfred.
The Lua line takes its name from the Portuguese word for moon, Castro Freitas’ native language. Inspired by the crescent shape, its curved silhouette balances strength with sensuality through a structured exterior and supple interior, finished with a gold-tone monolith. Crafted from hand-folded supple calf leather, the Lua is available in black and roccia python-effect in both a classic shoulder version and a larger city bag.
“For me, handbags are our most intimate objects,” said Castro Freitas. “They become an extension of one’s body and carry memory with time. With Aurora and Lua, I wanted to create pieces that honour Mugler’s heritage while introducing my expression for leather goods that is both sculptural and deeply sensual.”
The campaign, shot by Chris Lensz, features a female bodybuilder as its protagonist, referencing classic portraiture and late 19th-century sculpture studies. The imagery highlights sculpted strength as an expression of elegance, with the bags in dialogue with a body that challenges conventional ideas of femininity.
Check it out below:
The Aurora and Lua collections are available now at select retailers and mugler.com.
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