Oy Vey, Gaultier
By Izzy
Rummaging around eBay, Izzy found this very rare specimen from Jean-Paul Gaultier’s now-notorious 1993 fashion show inspired by Hasidic Jews. Needless to say, it caused quite a controversy, given that models walked down the runway in yarmulkes and sidelocks. (It also probably didn’t help that the audience was served sickly-sweet Manischewitz wine.) While the unconstructed jacket for sale doesn’t look Jewish in any way, the sewn-in label is quite the discussion piece. If Izzy reads them right, the Hebrew characters say “Zee-ahn Puh-ool Goh-teek.” Now THAT’S a label.
Gaultier’s collection might have been the first but it definitely wasn’t the last fashion show to reflect a Hebraic influence, as Izzy has discussed before. But no one else as gone as far as American Apparel—which, alas, is best described as a smutty Gap—in paying homage to the shmatte business (i.e., rag trade).
March 15th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
It’s even worse than that. The second letter of the “Gotiq” is (mistakenly) a final kaf, making it two words: Gakh Tiq. Zi’n P’ul Gakh Tiq. Sounds like a science fiction character.
To cleanse the (digital) palette, in an act of tikkun e-olam, these guys do it right: He’Brew, The Chosen Beer!
March 16th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
You’d think they’d go to the trouble of picking Hebrew letters that actually spell out real words in either Hebrew or Yiddish.