Câllas names Derek Lam new creative director

Italian brand Câllas announced on Friday the appointment of Derek Lam to the role of creative director. Lam will present an initial capsule collection for Fall 2024, which will be unveiled during New York Fashion Week in February.

Born in San Francisco, 56-year-old Lam graduated from the Parsons School of Design in 1990, and took a job as an assistant for Michael Kors in the 90s. After working with Michael Kors for four years, Lam moved to Hong Kong, before returning to New York soon after, where he was appointed vice president of Design with the Kors line. In 2003, Lam launched his namesake label, making his debut at the New York Fashion Week that same year for the Spring/Summer 2004 collections.

Shortly after his label launch, Lam took on the role of creative director at Tod’s in 2005, serving in the top design spot at the Italian luxury label until 2010.

​In 2019, he closed his collection business to focus on his contemporary label 10 Crosby, which was acquired by Public Clothing Company in 2020.

Lam went on to close the business in 2023, meaning this new design role at accessible luxury brand Câllas marks a return to fashion for the designer.

“I’m excited to join Câllas, a brand that aligns with my vision of design with intention and purpose,” said Lam.

“With Câllas, I want to create clothing for discerning women who appreciate fashion with lasting quality and produced responsibly. My immediate objective is to establish a clear and recognizable brand identity, focusing on distinctive silhouettes across all categories with the Câllas’ ethos of responsibly made luxury fashion”.

Launched in 2020 by business partners Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann, (Lam’s husband), and Marco Panzeri, (chief executive officer of Italian manufacturer Cieffe), Câllas creates luxury clothing for women steeped in the high quality and modern styling known to Italy. A vertical company, with an emphasis on the direct-to-consumer business model, Câllas also retails via luxury firms Neiman Marcus, Elyse Walker, Ikram, and The Conservatory.

“Câllas is dedicated to creating responsibly made luxury,” explained  Schlottmann, “Our products are made with a conscious and ethical approach, utilizing locally sourced materials and crafts. Our focus is on craftsmanship, ensuring high quality and longevity. Our motto is: what is beautiful today, remains beautiful tomorrow”.