Finnish-born designer Achilles Ion Gabriel is set to step down from his role as creative director of both Camper and CamperLab after more than six years with the company, FN can exclusively reveal.
The Mallorca-based footwear brand said its internal creative team will assume the creative direction of Camper and CamperLab following the designer’s departure.
The spring/summer 2027 collection will be the last one under Ion Gabriel’s creative direction and is expected to launch in December.
In a statement, Ion Gabriel noted that he was “deeply grateful” to Camper and CamperLab for the trust they have placed in him throughout these years.
Camper chief executive officer Miguel Fluxà added that Ion Gabriel “played a key role in strengthening the contemporary identity” of Camper and in the evolution of CamperLab “from a footwear to a fashion brand.”
“His vision and leadership have contributed meaningfully to the evolution of both brands,” Fluxà said. “We are grateful for his contribution and proud of what we have achieved together, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Ion Gabriel joined the company in 2019 as creative director of its CamperLab brand. One year later, he expanded his responsibilities at the company, becoming creative director of Camper, where he oversaw the brand’s whole product design, including Camper Lab. His debut collection for Camper was in fall 2021.
In March, the Finnish designer helped open CamperLab’s new store in Paris’ Marais neighborhood. The boutique, located in the former Camper store space, was designed by Harry Nuriev, founder and creative director of Crosby Studios. The architect took a sleek raw concept and added unique industrial touches.
“Harry knows that I love not perfect things, so that’s why we have broken walls,” Ion Gabriel told FN at the time. “I wanted to have the product on display, but I didn’t want it to scream. I wanted it to be a little hidden.”
In June, CamperLab hosted its first-ever runway show during Paris men’s fashion week – bringing Ion Gabriel’s full brand vision to life through footwear, ready-to-wear and accessories.
Ion Gabriel previously worked for Marni and Sunnei and Marimekko — and ran his own footwear label dubbed Ion debuted in 2012 and discontinued in 2019. In 2024, the designer debuted a new namesake brand at Pitti Uomo. The collection encompasses apparel, footwear and accessories with a gender-neutral bent.
