Last year, Jean Paul Gaultier chose to bid farewell to the 2020 spring/summer haute couture fashion show in the form of a “funeral”, leaving the entire fashion world reluctant to see him “leave”. However, after retiring for several months, he suddenly announced that the brand’s future haute couture collections will be presented in the form of guest designer projects – the first season invited Sacai’s creative director Chitose Abe, which was definitely not disappointing!
Chitose Abe expressed before the show that Jean Paul Gaultier gave her great freedom, allowing her to take full responsibility for the entire collection. Without constraints, she not only did not change the brand’s identity, but instead revisited many classic designs from the brand in the 90s, such as Madonna’s iconic cone bras, Björk’s fur-trimmed cape, signature navy stripes, etc. She then incorporated her signature deconstructive design into the collection, blending in Sacai’s common elements of down feathers, zippers, and sheer fabrics, bringing about a richly layered clothing line.
As for the collaborative sneakers that were already circulating online before the show, they are also the focus of this season; the shoes are a collaboration between Sacai, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Nike, featuring a high-top design made of different materials such as suede, calf leather, and mesh. The shoes are adorned with the iconic exposed stitching of Air Woven, embodying Chitose Abe’s deconstructive aesthetic, and embellished with the Jean Paul Gaultier logo, cleverly bridging the gap between streetwear and high fashion.
