Biography
Jean-Paul Gaultier was born in Arcueil, France. He attended the Ecole Communale, the College d’Enseignement, and the Lycee d’Arcueil. At 17, he sent his design sketches to Paris designer Pierre Cardin, who recognized his talent and offered him a position as a design assistant; Gaultier worked for Cardin for two years. He then gained experience working at the couture houses of Jacques Esterel, Jean Patou, Angelo Tarlazzi, and Michael Goma.
In 1976, Gaultier began his design career under his own label for the company Mayagor, while also freelancing in ready-to-wear furs, swimwear, and leather clothing. He presented his first collection in 1978. In 1982, with financial support from the Japanese consortium Kashiyama, Gaultier established his own business. Throughout the 1980s, he became known for designs featuring broad shoulders and narrow hips, but he is chiefly recognized for challenging gender norms, showcasing men in skirts and women wearing underwear on the outside. In 1987, Gaultier received the prestigious French Designer of the Year Award. He debuted his first haute couture collection in 1997, and in 1999, with backing from Maison Hermès, he expanded his reputation and distribution by establishing a network of boutiques under his name.
In 2003, he was appointed creative director at Hermès. The following year, he launched a youthful denim and sportswear line. In 2000, BPI released Gaultier’s "Fragile" fragrance, packaged with a small figure dressed in his couture. He also broadened his licensing portfolio with companies such as Wolford, an Austrian luxury hosiery brand. Gaultier has designed costumes for films by Peter Greenaway, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Pedro Almodóvar, and Luc Besson, as well as stage costumes for Madonna—famous for her conical bra—and dancer and choreographer Régine Chopin. In 2004, he pioneered a makeup line for men and followed with an eyewear collection in 2006.
