There’s good news in the world of New York fashion—Rachel Scott, the founder and designer of the CFDA Award-winning label Diotima, has been announced as the new creative director of Proenza Schouler. Scott is the first designer to take over the brand since the departure of Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez. The pair, who built the label while still seniors at Parsons School of Design almost 20 years ago, were scooped by Loewe to replace Jonathan Anderson in a wild daisy chain of creative director replacements over the past year.

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Proenza Schouler CEO Shira Suveyke Snyder described Scott as “one of the most celebrated” designers of today, adding in a statement, “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.”

The Jamaican-born designer is set to take over all categories at the brand, including ready-to-wear, accessories, and the in-house White Label. The news comes on the precipice of the spring 2026 runway season, which kicks off in New York next week. While Scott will wait to make her official solo debut during the fall 2026 season, the designer joined the house as a consultant briefly after McCollough and Hernandez’s departure, working closely with the design studio to craft the upcoming collection and giving a sneak peek of what we can expect come February of next year. The transition allows both for Scott to find her footing in a new role and for the public to get incremental tastes of her impact at the brand—an increasing trend with recent creative director soft launches, like Dario Vitale’s Versace and Jonathan Anderson’s womenswear for Dior on the Venice Film Festival Red Carpet.

“It is with great excitement that I join Proenza Schouler, a brand at the heart of American fashion, and one I have long admired,” said Scott in a statement. “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.”

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Scott launched Diotima in 2021 and quickly gained accolades across the industry, winning the CFDA’s emerging designer of the year and womenswear designer of the year honours in 2023 and 2024, respectively. This year, she also took home the Fashion Trust U.S. ready-to-wear award. Her signature crocheted materials, relaxed silhouettes, and vibrant pattern play have made her a bright spot on the New York fashion scene.

Her appointment also brings a refreshing new name into the mix of industry heavy hitters at top luxury brands, most of whom are are men. Proenza Schouler has long since represented a distinctly New York woman, making its mark with accessible-but-chic silhouettes and coveted It bags like the the PS1 satchel. Now, Scott has the opportunity to bring a fresh and feminine point of view—something of which the team feels acutely aware, with Snyder adding that she looks forward to Scott expanding on the brand’s core spirit.

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This article was first seen on ELLE US.