“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,” Gaultier said in a statement, published by WWD. “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.”
What are Abe’s intentions? The Japanese designer, who is a master of slicing, splicing and manipulating fabrics into energising new combinations, said she was honoured to be the first custodian of the French house. “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,” she said.
Abe already has a series of cult collaborations under her belt. Every second guest at her spring/summer 2020 show wore Sacai x Nike trainers; and her 2019 Beats by Dre line, 2018 Ugg shoes and 2017 North Face utility wear have all given her an opportunity to demonstrate new skills and build Sacai’s profile.
Abe has an innate ability to surprise, but in a quieter way than Gaultier’s signature showmanship. Whether she will stick to the provocateur’s diverse casting – his January swansong saw supermodels walk alongside Pedro Almodóvar muse Rossy de Palma, legendary chanteuse Amanda Lear, French cinema icon Béatrice Dalle and former Miss France Iris Mittenaere, with performances by Catherine Ringer of Les Rita Mitsouko and Boy George – is unclear. But there will be plenty of loyal Gaultier worshippers who will undoubtedly put themselves forward to be a part of this new chapter in couture fashion.
To see Abe take on the sex, androgyny, corsetry, sailor stripes and conical bras that are part and parcel of Gaultier’s brand image will be a highlight of the autumn/winter 2020 couture schedule, along with the return of Balenciaga. Abe and Demna Gvasalia could be the new mix masters primed to take couture into a new decade.
Abe already has a series of cult collaborations under her belt. Every second guest at her spring/summer 2020 show wore Sacai x Nike trainers; and her 2019 Beats by Dre line, 2018 Ugg shoes and 2017 North Face utility wear have all given her an opportunity to demonstrate new skills and build Sacai’s profile.
Abe has an innate ability to surprise, but in a quieter way than Gaultier’s signature showmanship. Whether she will stick to the provocateur’s diverse casting – his January swansong saw supermodels walk alongside Pedro Almodóvar muse Rossy de Palma, legendary chanteuse Amanda Lear, French cinema icon Béatrice Dalle and former Miss France Iris Mittenaere, with performances by Catherine Ringer of Les Rita Mitsouko and Boy George – is unclear. But there will be plenty of loyal Gaultier worshippers who will undoubtedly put themselves forward to be a part of this new chapter in couture fashion.
To see Abe take on the sex, androgyny, corsetry, sailor stripes and conical bras that are part and parcel of Gaultier’s brand image will be a highlight of the autumn/winter 2020 couture schedule, along with the return of Balenciaga. Abe and Demna Gvasalia could be the new mix masters primed to take couture into a new decade.
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