Undeniably a fashion genius, Jean Paul Gaultier was designing for Hermes ever since 2003, when Martin Margiela retired. Hermes was also in possession of a significant part of Jean-Paul Gaultier label’s shares for four years already (since 1999) so it was a predictable move, bringing him over.
However, the latest Hermes news broke a liberation of Hermes iconic bags which could also mean the democratization of the once-so-exclusive Hermes label (the Birkin waiting lists were part of the Hermes bag myth). Now we’re hearing that Jean-Paul Gaultier is no longer with Hermes and that he was replaced by Christophe Lemaire. What could that mean? That extravagance and exclusiveness are no longer welcomed chez Hermes and that it’s time to bring “Un Peu D’Air Sur Terre” (a breath of fresh air on Earth) as the Lacoste campaigns, where Lemaire was head designer, were preaching. Should we feel good for Hermes getting closer to the average client? Or bad because true creativity seems to be an endangered species? (haven’t you learned anything from McQueen’s disappearance?) (via, photos via 1, 2, photochopping courtesy Stylefrizz)
1 comment so far
Well, people must be thinking a lot about what Lemaire will do with Hermes after his Lacoste collection but if you went online and look at his eponymous line, it’s a match made from haven.
Of course, JPG does a very great job at Hermes, but it’s time that he go bacj and focus on his line as well as for Hermes to have a stronger identity and really push to become famous in RTW not just leather good.
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