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06th Oct 2014
John Galliano has been named creative director of Maison Martin Margiela – an annoucement that has high fashion fans very excited, and taken by surprise after Renzo Russo, president of the Only The Brave group which owns Margiela, a couple of weeks ago denied the house was negotiating a deal with the disgraced designer. Galliano was dismissed from Christian Dior in 2011 after he was recorded making racist and anti-semitic remarks in a Parisian bar. He was found guilty at trial and ordered to pay fines. His career has been in limbo until today. Renzo Russo has nothing but good and effusive words about the appointment, saying that ?Margiela is ready for a new charismatic creative soul? and describing Galliano’s talent as ?beyond definition and time?.
Galliano has one of the most prolific resum’s in fashion. He graduated from Central Saint Martins in 1988 and by 1990 his label was declared bankrupt. Some years in Paris followed and in 1995 he was appointed head designer of Givenchy. In 1996 he moved to Dior where his shows and collections were relied upon for their opulent and beautiful drama.
After leaving Dior, Galliano entered rehab for addiction problems and worked temporily for Oscar de la Renta last year. Any remarks to the media since his public downfall have been contrite with the designer signalling his desire to return to full-time work. One of the designer’s most loyal champions has been his close friend Kate Moss, who asked him to design her famous wedding dress in the aftermath of the scandal.
The Margiela appointment sees Galliano putting himself back in the fashion world limelight – his first collection for the brand will debut during Paris Couture Week in January. We hope it all works out for the troubled and creative genuis.
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