A collab to end all collabs, Jean Paul Gaultier announced today that the next person to create a couture collection for the house would be beloved British designer Simone Rocha. JPG is remaining tight-lipped (for now), and instead of a full-blown press release they released a single statement: “We are excited to announce that Simone Rocha will be our next guest designer for Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture show that will be presented in January 2024. See you for your next show in Paris, Simone Rocha!” But more information is due to come nearer to the show. The two brands collaborated on a single Instagram post with a slideshow of two images. The first juxtaposing the two brand names, the second exhibiting flowers sent from the JPG team to Simone congratulating her recent Spring '24 show at London Fashion Week.
Photo: Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier
Photo: Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier
After retiring in 2020, Jean Paul Gaultier has selected a different designer each season to design the haute couture collections. Prior talents include Haider Ackerman and Paco Rabbane’s Julien Dossena. We anxiously await seeing how the poetically punk ethos will blend with Rocha’s slightly more feminine but equally punk sensibility. We will just have to wait for January to find out.