Jean-Paul Gaultier will present his Spring/Summer 2015 collection at Grand Rex, on September 27th. According to a letter he wrote to WWD, it will be his last Ready-To-Wear collection, since he announced his intention of stopping his RTW collections, and concentrate to Haute Couture, fragrances and accessories. This decision was made in concert with Puig executives, the Spanish fashion group, that had been invensting the French designer’s house, over the last 3 years.“We looked at various possibilities considering the present state of the company and we have reached the same conclusion. For some time, I have found true fulfillment in working on the haute couture and it allows me to express my creativity and my taste for research and experimentation. At the same time the world of ready-to-wear has evolved considerably. Commercial constraints, as well as the frenetic pace of collections don’t leave any freedom, nor the necessary time to find fresh ideas and to innovate”.Yet, there have been a lot of changes since 1976, when he founded his own house, while he entered the beauty and fragrance market -for the time being, they provide 80% of his company income- in 1991 and was named a couturier 6 years later. He also creates stage costumes for artists, like Mylène Farmer.“After more than 38 years spent producing men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections, it seems to us that the time has come to stop some of our activities and to concentrate principally on the development of the haute couture, of perfumes and to certain collaborations that I have not yet had time to explore. This is a new beginning, I will be able to express again my creativity fully and without constraints”.
