September 19, 2023 |
Simone Rocha is booked and busy. But not just with her 13-year-old namesake brand which disrupts the sweetness of crinolines and coquette silhouettes with a hard-core, gothic twist; Rocha will be guest designing Jean Paul Gaultier’s next haute couture collection.
Following in the footsteps of Sacai’s Chitose Abe, Glenn Martens of Diesel and Y/Project, Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing, tastemaker Haider Ackermann, and most recently, Julien Dosenna of Rabanne, the Irish-born, London-based designer is the sixth collaborator to work on a one-off couture collection for the French atelier since Gaultier’s retirement in 2020.
To deliver the good news, the Simone Rocha brand posted on Instagram a photo of a deliciously delicate blue flower bouquet with a note, signed by Gaultier himself beside with a scribbled self-portrait, that read, “Congratulations on your show!!! And see you for your next one… in Paris!!!” The caption declared that Rocha had been handed the keys to his atelier.
Known for her ‘pretty with a tough edge’ aesthetic that makes a fascinating fusion between masculine tropes and ultra femininity, her latest collection, which stepped out in London just a few days ago, leant into nuptial traditions and lore concocting cake-like crinolined gowns and men’s pyjama sets adorned with tufts of tulle and bows of satin ribbon.
Rocha will debut her one-off JPG couture collection in January 2024 during Paris Haute Couture Week. It’s sure to be glorious.
