Fresh off the back of her London SS24 runway show, Chinese-Irish fashion designer Simone Rocha has been announced as the next guest designer for Jean Paul Gaultier.
Rocha announced the collaboration via her Instagram today, posting a picture of a floral arrangement, accompanied by a signed, congratulatory note from Jean Paul Gaultier that read: "Congratulations for your show!!! And see you, for your next one … in PARIS!!!"
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Rocha is the fifth designer to guest design a collection for the iconic French fashion House, following in the footsteps of notable designers like Julien Dossena of Paco Rabanne, Haider Ackermann, Balmain's Olivier Rousteing, Glenn Martens representing Y/Project and Diesel, and Chitose Abe of Sacai. Rocha will be the first couturier from the UK to step up to the plate.
Who is Simone Rocha?
Since founding her label in 2010 – debuting her first solo collection within the Fashion East showcase at London Fashion Week the same year that she graduated from the MA class of Central Saint Martins – Rocha has been known for her gritty and contemporary accents to romantic silhouettes.
In the decade or so since, she's built a name for herself in the London fashion scene for her particular brand of feminine dressing – sweetly marrying gorpcore fashion trends like ponchos and pearl-studded Crocs with ballet-inspired flats and bow-and-lace-trimmed garments at her most recent Spring Summer 24 show in London this week.
She's established four brick-and-mortar boutiques around the world, in London, New York, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and has previously partnered with brands like J Brand and Moncler on collections. Rocha also served as the designer collaborator for H&M in 2021.
When will Simone Rocha x Jean Paul Gaultier's collection be shown?
Rocha's guest-designed haute couture collection for Jean Paul Gaultier is scheduled to be presented in Paris, in January of 2024.
