From ditching education to championing diversity, Jean-Paul Gaultier is a man who knows how to stick it the fashion industry and come out on 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The one time I saw Jean-Paul Gaultier in the flesh was about three years ago in a queue for the Eurostar baggage hold in Gare du Nord. I was overwhelmed by his physical presence and the mundane activity we were both sharing. There was nothing incognito about his look \u2014 he was decked in a huge fur coat while waiting patiently to store his bag. Not a single person, aside from myself, was gawping at him. This was a man I had admired for years, the man who convinced Madonna to walk down the catwalk topless, whose beautiful clothes I longed for when I could only afford the magazine pages on which they were printed.\u00a0<\/span>In spite of maintaining a surprisingly low personal profile, the French designer has dominated the runway for over 42 years. Fashion’s original enfant terrible<\/em>, his playful approach to design has always set him apart from the pack, allowing him to forge new creative paths that have been as much a cause for celebration as they have for controversy. His first show in 1976 was the result of many favours, dodgy market materials and the little cash Gaultier had to his name, but this seemingly haphazard, DIY introduction to dressmaking and showmanship put the designer in good stead for a career where his relentless passion has proven key to overcoming the odds.<\/p>\n Experimentation has been central to Gaultier\u2019s enduring success \u2014 he has proven himself a true innovator of his craft as well as in methods of presentation. Gaultier has never been a designer to compromise his vision, instead he’s been a trailblazer for change in the industry, setting countless fashion firsts.\u00a0 Here, on his 66th birthday, we chart six of his many forward-thinking feats, from championing diversity to rejecting the fashion cycle.<\/p>\n The fashion industry is a dog-eat-dog world from the second you step your foot on the ladder \u2014 and while school days might be the time of many people’s lives, in fashion, they can also make or break your future. Higher education fees, the cost of living, not to mention rigorous interview processes and gruelling tutorials, are all part and parcel of the fashion design journey, but not for Gaultier. The renegade designer never received any formal fashion training, instead sending his fashion sketches straight to the most famous couture houses in Paris. These caught the attention of legendary ’60s designer, Pierre Cardin, who took Gaultier under his wing. Under Cardin’s mentorship, the young designer quickly perfected his craft, and went on to work under two other notable couturiers, Jacques Esterel and Jean Patou. His first solo show, in 1976, comprised a collection of hastily made ballerina tutus, paired with leather jackets and trainers. Martin Margiela, who was just a student at the time, told Vogue <\/em>of the show, \u201cI was seized by an excitement I had never felt before.\u201d In 1985, Gaultier would make Margiela his assistant, the Belgian designer going on to found his own house two years later.<\/p>\n The frequency of fashion shows has long been a hot topic, with designers pushed to their limits to produce more and more clothing in less and less time. Smaller labels are at the mercy of the fashion week schedule and anyone seen lagging behind is forgotten by the media in place of the next “one-to-watch”. SS15 marked the end of an era for Jean-Paul Gaultier\u2019s ready-to-wear days, allowing the designer to focus on his real passion: couture. By showing only twice a year (just like the good old days), Gaultier has been able to regain control of his brand, proving that there is value in quality over quantity. In the years since, other designers have followed suit in an effort to fight fashion burnout.<\/a> Vetements has altered the way it shows collections, while Gosha Rubchinskiy has abandoned the schedule all together. The decision by a title weight brand such as Gaultier\u2019s to cut back on its collections, served as the first push-back against the impossible industry standards.<\/p>\nBeing too cool for school<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":false,"settings":{"fit_width":"6","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"
Rejecting the fashion cycle<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":false,"settings":{"fit_width":"6","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"
Championing diversity and inclusivity<\/h2>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"