Gaultier leaves Hermes, new designer named

PARIS May 26 (Reuters) - Jean-Paul Gaultier, the enfant terrible of French fashion, is stepping down as designer of women's ready-to-wear for Hermes (HRMS.PA), but the luxury group will remain a major shareholder of his fashion house.

Christian Lemaire, the creative director of apparel company Lacoste, will replace the designer who earned rave reviews from the fashion world during seven years at Hermes. Lemaire has worked at Christian Lacroix, launched his own clothing line, and revitalised Lacoste since 2001.

"Hermes is deeply grateful to Jean-Paul Gaultier for his outstanding creative contribution during these past seven years," Hermes said in a statement on Wednesday.

The spring-summer 2011 collection, to be presented in October, will be the last designed by Gaultier for Hermes.

Hermes owns a 45 percent stake in Gaultier's fashion house. (Reporting by Leila Abboud, editing by Matthew Lewis)