Gaultier

Gaultier is a French surname. The most prominent bearer is Jean Paul Gaultier (born 24 April 1952 in Arcueil, a suburb of Paris), a French fashion designer and founder of the fashion house Jean Paul Gaultier. Gaultier is noted for his avant-garde designs that blend couture craft with street and pop culture, and for challenging conventional gender norms in fashion.

Career highlights include rising to prominence in the late 1970s and establishing a distinctive voice in Paris fashion. His work spans haute couture, ready-to-wear, fragrance, and accessories. The house is known for subverting traditional silhouettes with sculptural tailoring, corsetry, nautical motifs, and gender-fluid styling.

Notable moments associated with Gaultier's career include the cone bra created for pop star Madonna in the 1990s, which became a cultural touchstone. He also contributed to luxury fashion more broadly, including a period as creative director for Hermès, where he influenced ready-to-wear and leather goods. His designs have been worn by celebrities and staged in runway shows around the world, as well as displayed in museums.

Legacy and influence: Gaultier is recognized for blending diverse influences—fashion, music, and street culture—and for advancing gender-fluid aesthetics within couture and mass-market fashion. The brand remains a major name in fashion and fragrance, continuing to release collections and collaborations under its umbrella.