Jean-Paul Gaultier

JeanPaul Gaultier was born on April 24 1952 in Arcueil France He studied at the Ecole Communale the College dEnseignement and at the Lycee dArcueil When he reached the age of 17 he sent his design sketches to Paris designer Pierre Cardin Cardin recognized his talent and offered him a position as design assistant  he worked for Cardin for two years  Gauliter then worked for the couture houses of Jacques Esterel Jean Patou Angelo Tarlazzi and Michael Goma In 1976 Gaultier launched his design career under his label for a company called Mayagor as well as continuing to design freelance readytowear furs swimwear and leather clothing  In 1978 Gaultier presented his first collection  In 1982 financed by the Japanese consortium Kashiyama Gaultier established his own business  During the 1980s he was known as the designer who emphasized broad shoulders and narrow hips  But he is mainly known for his obsession with gender  Hiscollections showed men in skirts and women wearing underwear on the outside In 1987 Gaultier received the coveted French Designer of the Year Award  Gaultier presented his first haute couture collection in 1997 and two years later in 1999 with financial backing from Maison Hermès he was able to increase his reputation and his distribution with the establishment of a network of boutiques bearing his name In 2003 he was appointed creative director at Hermes In 2004 he launched a young denim and sportswear line BPI launched Gaultiers Fragile fragrance in 2000 the package featuring a tiny figure dressed in Gaultiers couture Meanwhile the designer expanded his licensee list with the additions of companies such as Wolford an Austrian luxury hosiery firm Gaultier has created costumes for films of Peter Greenaway JeanPierre Jeunet Pedro Almodóvar and Luc Besson He has made stage costumes for Madonna Madonnas conical bra and the dancerand choreographer Régine Chopin Gaultiers latest innovation is a makeupline for men which he pioneered in 2004 He also launched an eyewear collection in 2006