Vintage Jean Paul Gaultier has become a full-on celebrity obsession, with everyone from Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner to Beyonce and Cardi B getting in on the act. It is no surprise that JPG has decided to rent pieces from their extensive archive to allow fans to experience a piece JPG history.
There will be around 30 pieces available for rent from the Gaultier archives, including an evening dress in a satin cage style and signature printed styles from both the ’80s & ’90s. “Jean Paul Gaultier’s archives are our treasure trove,” Antoine Gagey (the brand’s director general) says. “We want to value them and take care of them. And we want to share them with our fans.”
Jean Paul Gaultier will also launch resale on its new site. The range of resale products includes brand’s tartan designs to slinky tops that reflect the current Y2K trends. The edit also features upcycled leather jackets. This shows the multi-layered approach JPG takes to prolonging the life of its garments. Gagey says, “It’s time to discover new ways to enjoy fashion: vintage rental [and] custom could become strategic pillars of our house in the future.”
Gaultier, who has been in the industry for 50 years, is a fan of this refreshing approach. He previously stated that he was from a generation who scoured flea market for inspiration. That is where I discovered a French navy-striped shirt, which I began wearing and became one of my codes. It’s wonderful to bring new life to worn-out clothes and to put them back on the rack. What could be better in these times of crisis and confusion? There are simply too many clothes and not enough people who can wear them.
This comes as JPG launches its first ready to wear collection in six years under the direction of Florence Tetier, a reflection of the current booming demand for the brand. The pieces are inspired by the brand’s archive, including its mesh tops and Mona Lisa prints (which were seen on the runways in the ’90s).
Indeed, there seems to be no stopping the JPG resurgence right now, with Vestiaire Collective reporting in May that searches for vintage Gaultier had risen 300 per cent within six months. If you want to grab a piece, it’s best to be fast.
