After seven years of faithful service at Parisian luxury label Hermès, Jean-Paul Gaultier has quit his artistic director of womenswear role to concentrate on his own label. It's already been confirmed that his replacement will be Christophe Lemaire, creative director of Lacoste, who is expected to concentrate on the position full time.
"Hermès is deeply grateful to Jean-Paul Gaultier for his outstanding creative contribution during these seven years," the house said today in a statement.
Despite his infamous 'enfant terrible' tag, Gaultier's tenure at Hermès is widely accepted as a triumph (although not quite of the proportions of John Galliano at Christian Dior or Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton). He succeeded the equally eyebrow-raising Martin Margiela in 2003. Lemaire, in contrast, is a little-known figure.
Gaultier's contract will see him complete the spring/summer 2011 collection for Hermès, with Lemaire stepping into the breach come autumn/winter 2011.
While JPG hasn't yet made any announcements about his future, it's understood that he wishes to focus more closely on his own-name ready-to-wear and couture operations - in which Hermès owns a 45% stake.
Picture: Jean-Paul Gaultier and model Lily Cole at the Hermès autumn/winter 2010 show.
