Jean Paul Gaultier has been appointed as an ambassador for Sidaction, also teaming up with the French HIV/AIDS charity to raise funds for people around the world living with the disease.

The veteran designer has launched a limited edition pair of socks promoting the 'Safe Sex Forever' message, and commented 'The fight against AIDS is above all a personal story: this fight is particularly close to my heart. I was confronted with this scourge that took the life of my friend... I want to speak to young people and try to raise their awareness because too often they think that HIV/AIDS does not concern them'.