Jean Paul Gaultier Finally Reveals His Big Plans For The Future Of His Couture House

Thus begins a new era of collaboration.

sacai x jean paul gaultier

by Hannah Banks-Walker |
Published on

He brought the end of January to a close with an inimitable bang thanks to his couture show in Paris but, at the same time, Jean Paul Gaultier announced that the spectacle would be his swansong. 'This show celebrating 50 years of my career will also be my last,' he wrote on Twitter. 'But rest assured Haute Couture will continue with a new concept.' The fashion world speculated wildly as to what that might mean but, thankfully, we have no wait no longer. This morning it was announced that the new era of JPG Couture will involve collaboration with a different designer every season. The first will be Chitose Abe, creative director of Sacai.

Abe will design the AW20 Couture collection, before Gaultier then invites a different designer to design the next season. Speaking toWWD, Gaultier said 'I am pleased that this concept [which came to Gaultier in the ’90s] will become reality now with Chitose Abe of Sacai as the first guest designer. I admire her work, we have many things in common creatively and a similar vision of fashion. I am glad to give her complete freedom.'

Jean Paul Gaultier at his most recent couture show
Jean Paul Gaultier at his most recent couture show

Abe will certainly bring a fresh perspective to the storied house of Gaultier. And if her previous collaborations are anything to go by – Sacai x Nike, for example – there is certain to be a whole lot of hype around this collection.

'I have a long-held admiration for Jean Paul’s unique vision of subversive femininity and his originality, both of which I’ve strived towards in my work since the beginning,' Abe said.

With this new approach to design, along with the return of Balenciaga's famous couture house, the AW20 couture schedule is shaping up to be very interesting indeed.

SEE: Everything That Happened At Paris Fashion Week

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SEE: Everything Happening At Paris Fashion Week

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CREDIT: Getty

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CREDIT: Getty

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CREDIT: Getty

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CREDIT: Jason Lloyd-Evans

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CREDIT: Jason Lloyd-Evans

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CREDIT: Jason Lloyd-Evans

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CREDIT: Getty Images

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CREDIT: Getty Images

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CREDIT: Getty Images

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CREDIT: Getty Images

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CREDIT: Getty Images

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CREDIT: Getty Images

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CREDIT: Getty Images

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