Simone Rocha to design next Jean-Paul Gaultier couture collection

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
September 19, 2023

Simone Rocha is to design the next Jean-Paul Gaultier couture collection, which will be staged in Paris in January.

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Rocha is the latest in a series of high-profile designers who have created Gaultier couture, in a novel format, where the creator changes each season.
 
The London-based designer broke the news on Instagram with a story showing a bouquet of flowers, and a signed note from Gaultier that read: “Congratulations for your SHOW! And see you, for the next one…… in PARIS !!! Jean-Paul Gaultier.”

On Sunday, Rocha staged one of the stand-out shows in the latest London Fashion Week, a collection entitled Dress Rehearsal, and presented inside the rehearsal space of the English National Ballet in Canary Wharf. Inspired by the legend of The Ark of Kilbaha, it was a brilliant expression of Rocha’s romanticism, path-breaking use of fabrics and rich embellishment – for both men and women.
 
Debuting in July 2021 this series on collab’ couture collections began with Chitose Abe of Sacai, and has since been followed by Glenn Martens, Olivier Rousteing and most recently Haider Ackermann.
 
All the collections are created as couture clothes, which must be custom-ordered, and thus designed to generate attention for Gaultier’s extensive scent business rather than create actual sales.
 
Rocha is recognized for her unique blend of historical fashion, posh punk influences, skilled artisan qualities and ethnic references – ranging across the origins of her two parents – Hong Kong and Ireland.
 
Two years ago, in her biggest other collaboration, Rocha linked up with H&M to create a Tudor-influenced wardrobe for the entire family, launched amid Covid in spring 2021.