Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier is a French fashion designer known for his daring shapes, imaginative use of materials and strong ties to popular culture. Born in the Parisian suburb of Arcueil in 1952, Gaultier entered the fashion industry without formal education or training. Starting as an apprentice to Pierre Cardin, whose avant-garde designs had a massive influence on him, Gaultier presented his first collection in 1976. Gaultier officially launched his eponymous label in 1982. Jean Paul Gaultier dresses became known for their unusual materials and elements of lingerie and corsage, as made famous by Madonna's cone bra. Over the years, the brand expanded to the wildly popular Jean Paul Gaultier cologne line, which included Jean Paul Gaultier Le Beau and Le Male. Next to his own label, Gaultier was also the creative director of Hermès from 2003 to 2010. Gaultier retired from fashion in 2020, but the brand is still alive, partially thanks to collaborations with Supreme, Nike and Y Project.