The Early Bird: Say Au Revoir to Jean Paul Gaultier RTW

Few designers in the fashion world have earned that esteemed reverence quite like Jean Paul Gaultier. He’s credited with being the fuel for some of the biggest moments in sartorial history — Madonna’s infamous cone bra comes to mind, as do Mylène Farmer’s tour outfits — and his is consistently one of the most anticipated shows come September and February. There really is no arguing that JPG has been one of the most influential people in fashion for decades, and that he has no chance of slowing down.

His announcement this morning, however, shook the fashion world to its core. While known for his long and very unconventional career, this just might be his most bizarre move yet: he’s scrapping his Ready-to-Wear collections to focus solely on couture and his ever-expanding beauty business. The designer spent 38 years in RTW, and this move is unheard of: quitting that would mean no more shows during fashion week, no more easy access to his wares.

His reasoning, though, is totally sound. Gaultier cites the “commercial constraints, as well as the frenetic pace of collections” as limiting his creative freedom and ultimately not giving the consumer what they crave: freshness. There’s also the never-ending and ever-growing pressure from the business aspect of fashion, and it becomes impossible to create new and inspired collections season after season at the breakneck speed that the commercial world requires. Plus, with the growth of fast fashion chains that offer comparable style at a much friendlier price point, catering to the (affluent) masses isn’t something that’s very feasible anymore.

Hide your Kleenex: despite showing his last women’s RTW collection on September 27th in Paris, he still has plenty in store. He’s planning on shifting his focus to couture and his ever-expanding beauty business. Ready-to-wear isn’t totally out of the realm of possibility, either: he has suggested collaborations with other manufacturers for accessories and ready-to-wear collections. He also plans on tackling projects in hotels and interior decor.

Are you as upset by Gaultier’s leave of the collection as we are? Are you excited for his future ventures? Let us know in the comments below!

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