French haute couture fashion designer and 'enfant terrible' Jean-Paul Gaultier received an award for his contribution to fashion, art and culture during an event organised in Athens on Saturday by the French Institute of Athens and the French Embassy.

The award was presented to the designer by Greece's Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Angela Gerekou, during a special ceremony that formed part of the 11th French Film Festival in Athens, which began on April 15.

Gerekou, after praising Gaultier's decisive influence on the world of fashion, also noted that fashion and film were two sectors that needed great support in Greece, stressing that with the proper ground work they might well become a tourist attraction.

Gaultier, one of the main sponsors of the film festival, said he was happy to be back in a country that he loved and warmly praised the statuette made by Zolotas jewellers that was presented to him by the minister, noting that "this is the first time I am holding a real Zolotas'.

source: globalfashionreport.com