JEAN CHARLES DE CASTELBAJAC – VATICAN COLLECTION FOR JEAN PAUL II 1997. RUNWAY MAGAZINE ® Collections Special Selection “Fashion Treasure”.
Jean Charles de Castelbajac is an artist and designer, who’s bringing all innovative technics from art and design to fashion. This is not just a synergy, this is complete colorful chemistry and innovation.
Jean Charles is the one of the first ones who brought pop-art into fashion. His famous Teddy-Bear coat was as an existentialist dare, and some sort of “Fashion is dead, and everything is possible” promotion. Andy Warhol, Vivienne Westwood, Katty Perry, Rihanna, Lady Gaga… you name it wore his innovations. He was also the first one who brought Disney characters on the clothes in 2010. Today this idea became a trend.
This is one of a kind collection created by Jean Charles de Castelbajac for Pop Jean Paul II in 1997. “My idea was the rainbow, the ark of alliance between God and men,” said Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, moving by the words of the Pope, when he met him: “Young man, you have used color as the cement of faith. ”
The chasuble is a sacerdotal vestment with two sides and sleeveless, with an opening for the head, that the priest puts on for mass or for liturgical actions before or after the mass. The chasuble symbolizes charity, the love of the Lord, who must wrap the priest and the yoke of the Lord. Its color varies according to the liturgical time: from red, to white, through purple, green or sometimes pink, etc.
Pope John Paul II and Paris Archibishop Jean-Marie Lustiger arrive in Notre Dame cathedral to attend the beatification ceremony of French social activist Frederic Ozanam August 22, 1997. The chasuble was made for Pope John Paul II by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac on the occasion of the World Youth Day. It was preserved until recently in the sacristy of Notre -Dame de Paris.
This amazing vestment was created for a ceremony, bringing Vatican closer to modern generation. And the theme of the rainbow symbolized religious unity, modern point of view, and making Pop a “rock star” of today.