Jean Paul Gaultier Partners with Nicolas Di Felice for Haute Couture Collection

Puig doubles down on collaboration with external talent as Jean Paul Gaultier, a brand under the group since 2011, partners with Nicolas Di Felice, Courrèges’ artistic director, for its upcoming haute couture collection.

Following Jean Paul Gaultier’s retirement announcement in 2021, the brand adopted a guest designer approach for each haute couture collection. Starting with Chitose Abe of Sacai, followed by Glenn Martens, Haider Ackermann, and Simone Rocha, the brand now turns to Nicolas Di Felice, Courrèges’ artistic director, to design its Fall/Winter 2024/2025 haute couture collection, slated for June this year.

Catalan group Puig acquired Jean Paul Gaultier in 2011 for 30 million euros from Hermès, integrating the brand into its fashion division alongside Paco Rabanne, Nina Ricci, and Carolina Herrera. Di Felice, an alumnus of La Cambre art school in Brussels, previously worked at Balenciaga under Nicolas Ghesquière’s creative leadership in 2008. He later joined Raf Simons at Dior and then Louis Vuitton as senior women’s fashion designer under Nicolas Ghesquière.

In 2020, Di Felice succeeded Yolanda Zobel as Courrèges’ creative director, credited with revitalizing the brand founded by Andrè Courreges in 1969.

Puig reported a turnover of 4.304 billion euros, a 19% increase from 2022, with a profit of 465 million euros, up 16% from the previous year. EBITDA also surged by 33%, reaching 849 million euros.

Cosmetics sales soared by 31% to 431 million euros, while fragrances and fashion remained the company’s main revenue drivers, generating sales of 3.115 billion euros, up 17% from 2022. Makeup sales contributed 773 million euros, a 23% increase.

Words: @annaamaso