After stepping back from designing haute couture shows in 2020, Jean Paul Gaultier tapped into the fashion industry by inviting designers from different houses each year to serve as guest couturiers. This initiative refreshed his couture arm, with notable names like Y/Project's Glenn Martens, Simone Rocha, Haider Ackermann, Olivier Rousteing, and Julien Dossena taking the reins.
For Autumn/Winter 2021, Sacai's Chitose Abe was the first in the roster. Abe brought her iconic deconstruction into the mix, merging it with Jean Paul Gaultier's signature tropes. Reimagining cone bras, trompe l’oeil tattoo prints, corsets, and Breton stripes—just to name a few. She also looked to the golden years of Paris couture for silhouette inspiration, a key reference point throughout Gaultier's career. Abe described the collaboration with Gaultier as an intimate, friendly "invitation for tea".
Amidst the legendary lineup of looks, Abe enlisted several collaborators to bring her vision to life. Tattoo artist Dr. Woo, a tattooist redid the iconic tattoo print mesh second-skin pieces that graced several looks. Pierre Hardy crafted the overstitched boots and thigh-high boots, paying homage to Gaultier's corsetry. Lastly, Nike and Sacai created a frankensteined sneaker with nods to several of Nike's iconic silhouettes, resulting in the Vaporwaffle.
While couture pieces are typically out of reach for most, the Vaporwaffle offered fashion enthusiasts a chance to own a piece of Jean Paul Gaultier history. The sneakers feature a nylon, suede, and leather upper, separated by visible woven stitching, laces made from different materials, and a double-stacked midsole.
Tagged Men's US 6.5 / Women's US 8
