The House of Jean Paul Gaultier Brings Back Ready-to-Wear + More Fashion News

After his farewell from fashion in 2020, Jean Paul Gaultier fans were crushed. But the house of JPG is back with a Spring 2021 ready-to-wear collection. Plus, two of Canada’s leading fashion institutions have major news, including a book launch showcasing the creations of design graduates and a student preview show hosted by Canada’s Drag Race winner Priyanka. Read on for more of the week’s biggest fashion news.

Jean Paul Gaultier returns to ready-to-wear

jean paul gaultier 2021 — Photography courtesy of Pat Aldinger

The house of Jean Paul Gaultier has unveiled a Summer 2021 ready-to-wear drop. This is the label’s first ready-to-wear line in six years and it initiates the start of a new era, without Gaultier’s direction. The collection, titled Les Marins, takes on Gaultier’s signature maritime vibe while continuing to blur the lines of gender — an important keystone that’s been in place since the house’s inception in 1976. Sailor stripes on six different marinière styles as well as mesh, body-hugging pieces will easily carry wardrobes through the summer months, while cut-outs (including on the rear side of pants) and metal hardware add the signature JPG edge.

While the collection is led by creative director Florence Tétier, the JPG studio also tapped five designers to assist in its creation: Nix Lecourt Mansion, Ottolinger, Palomo Spain, Alan Crocetti and Marvin M’Toumo.

LaSalle College launches Signature, The Book, showcasing the future of Quebec fashion

Make space for a new coffee table tome. Signature, the largest fashion show in Canada and the academic highlight of LaSalle College’s fashion design students, has been reimagined as a book. The book release comes after a hiatus from the live event, and presents the creations of pandemic-era graduates from LaSalle College’s International School of Fashion, Arts & Design.

“We invited some of Montreal’s best photographers, stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists and models to collaborate on the project. This creative pool of talent reviewed over forty collections created by the 2020 and 2021 student cohorts to develop the story line for Signature, The Book,” said Andrew McNally, creative director of Signature, The Book, and instructor and artistic director of events at the school. Over 200 students have come together to collaborate with these industry professionals. “Some brilliant pieces were included in this collection, while others were selectively chosen to create astonishing designs. The results were diversified, creative and spectacular.”

Mass Exodus 2021 presents the digital fashion show MX: Live

Mass Exodus — an annual fashion event produced by students from the Faculty of Communication and Design at Ryerson University, where fashion students showcase their work to industry professionals and the public — has a new format this year. On June 10 at 7 p.m. ET, Mass Exodus will present MX: Live, an innovative digital show displaying the work of graduating students from The School of Fashion.

The virtual evening will be hosted by Priyanka, Canada’s Drag Race season one winner, and will feature an exclusive performance for those who tune in live. There is no cost to attend this event, though Mass Exodus 2021 is inviting donations to support its Black and Asian Fashion Student Associations. Donations to help foster and encourage the success of a new generation of fashion creatives and professionals from underrepresented and marginalized communities can be made here.

Superette and 4YE collaborate on merch that celebrates cannabis culture

Elevated essentials brand 4YE (which originated from Brampton, Ont.) and Canadian cannabis accessories brand Superette have teamed up on an apparel capsule that reclaims and celebrates the roots of cannabis culture as it becomes colonized by its 2018 legalization. The limited-edition Superette x 4YE collection pulls vintage garments and a limited run of existing Superette merchandise and reworks each piece. The eye-catching designs feature colloquial cannabis terminology. Shop the line here before it sells through.