Mark Thomas opened new chapter at Carven

Soft silhouettes traverse through a color palette of stark whites, smoky blacks and soft ecrus. Photo:theimpression.com

As of March 2025, British designer Mark Thomas has been appointed as the new Director of Design at Carven, succeeding Louise Trotter, who departed in January 2025. Thomas, formerly the head of menswear and collaborations at Lacoste and creative director at Helmut Lang, will continue to refine the brand's contemporary, minimalist, and, wearable, and tailored aesthetic.

Mark Howard Thomas made his debut at Carven in the courtyard of the house’s Paris headquarters in October, stepping into the role once held by his former boss, Louise Trotter, now at Bottega Veneta. His first collection leaned into femininity and minimalism, drawing inspiration from founder Marie-Louise Carven’s beloved white orchids.

Delicate slip dresses with lace edges were layered effortlessly, alongside reimagined bed linens and tablecloths transformed into airy dresses, showcasing the designer’s fresh perspective. Outerwear also made a statement, featuring standout pieces like an asymmetrical tunic trench and a safari-inspired jacket adorned with zippers. To embody Carven’s effortless chic style, casting director Rachel Chandler and Thomas sent the models straight from the venue onto the Parisian streets, with Lia Marie Mielke opening and Camille Desjardins closing the show, seamlessly connecting the maison’s heritage with its modern urban edge.

Now that he's running the show, Carven's Spring 2026 collection is one of refinement: soft silhouettes traverse through a color palette of stark whites, smoky blacks and soft ecrus. Pops of color are used sparingly, seen in a pastel pink blouse, sky blue peek-a-boo boxers and a burgundy handbag. Texture, however, reigns supreme through a mix of lace, jacquard, silk, cotton voile and moiré fabrications.

Outerwear safari jackets, sculpted trenches, and Esperanto riffs stood out, as did pearl details that quietly elevated knitwear. Sensuality appeared in flashes, a whisper of déshabillé in unbuttoned shirts or floaty trousers.