Gaultier finally affordable

The concept of couturiers working with high street retailers is a successful one. This was demonstrated by the instant sell-out of Karl Lagerfeld's collection for H&M in Paris last Friday.

Now the French mail order catalogue La Redoute has revealed its new spring/summer 2005 issue, which includes a 20-piece capsule collection by Jean Paul Gaultier. The line he designed for La Redoute is significantly more conservative than what he usually produces, but features his familiar stripes.

The 52 year old Gaultier was asked to apply his signature stripes or staples on conservative pieces and jeans. He told Yahoo.com that this was not a new Gaultier line, but a completely separate venture.

Gaultier follows in the footsteps of designers Yves Saint Laurent, Sonia Rykiel and Issey Miyake in designing for the catalogue. La Redoute generates GBP1.2 billion in sales, with Britain as its second biggest market.