Jean Paul Gaultier was born in 1952 in the Paris suburb of Arcueil. Best known for this iconic design house and his seven year tenure as head designer at Hermes. Although he was always interested in fashion he was never formally trained in design. Aged 18, he joined the house of Pierre Cardin before moving on to Jacques Esterel where he learnt much more.
Gaultier didn’t have his own company until 1982 after raising substantial funds with the help of his partner and the back of Japanese consortium Kashiyama. Gaultier soon became known as the “l’enfant terrible” of fashion because of his penchant for challenging views of fashion. Many of his collection show women adopting masculine attire, or men wearing skirts. He became internationally recognised when he designed the costumes for Madonna’s Blond Ambition tour in 1990.
In March 2010 he received an Inspiration Award for his lifetime contribution to men’s fashion and the fight against AIDS.
Gaultier didn’t have his own company until 1982 after raising substantial funds with the help of his partner and the back of Japanese consortium Kashiyama. Gaultier soon became known as the “l’enfant terrible” of fashion because of his penchant for challenging views of fashion. Many of his collection show women adopting masculine attire, or men wearing skirts. He became internationally recognised when he designed the costumes for Madonna’s Blond Ambition tour in 1990.
In March 2010 he received an Inspiration Award for his lifetime contribution to men’s fashion and the fight against AIDS.
