When Jean Paul Gaultier announced in January that he would quit high fashion after 50 years in the industry, he simultaneously pointed out that he would still have a foot in the door. If you remember the designer, just before the great haute couture fashion show held at the Théâtre du Chatelet to celebrate the end of his 50 years old career, had posted a playful video on Instagram where he declared: “Gaultier Paris will continue, high fashion will continue. I have a new concept; I’ll tell you about it later, I’ll tell you all the little secrets. But it will continue. ”
Well, finally this new concept has been revealed. His decision is to invite a new designer each season to interpret the Maison’s codes and give a personal vision of Haute Couture and to start this new project the choice fell on the creative mind at the head of the Sacai brand. The Japanese Chitose Abe will in fact be the first designer outside the maison to collaborate for the creation of the next Gaultier haute couture fall 2020 collection that will go on the catwalk during the Paris Haute Couture Week, scheduled from 5 to 9 July.
“The idea of several designers interpreting a Haute Couture brand came to my mind in the nineties for a Parisian high fashion house that found itself without a designer,“Gaultier said. “I am glad that this concept becomes now reality with Sacai’s Chitose Abe as first guest designer. I admire her work, we have many things in common on a creative level and a similar vision of fashion. I am happy to give her complete freedom. ”
Chitose Abe also spoke about it, saying: «I have a long admiration for Jean Paul’s unique vision of subversive femininity and for its originality, towards which I have tried to strive in my work from the beginning. It is a real honor to have the opportunity to be the custodian of his maison as the first designer of this project.»
This new strategy of dynamic and creative collaborations undertaken by Jean Paul Gaultier, as well as by other very important fashion brands, represents a remarkable opportunity for new talents and young designers, who will have the chance to interpret Gaultier’s eclecticism and take advantage of the know-how of his atelier.
