John Galliano Goes to Maison Martin Margiela
Fashion’s enfant terrible finally has a new design home. It was announced this morning that besmirched design visionary John Galliano has named the creative director of Maison Martin Margiela. “Margiela is ready for a new charismatic creative soul,” said Renzo Rosso, president of Only the Brave—the group that owns Diesel, Margiela, Marni, and Viktor & Rolf—in a statement. “John Galliano is one of the greatest, undisputed talents of all time. A unique, exceptional couturier for a Maison that always challenged and innovated the world of fashion. I look forward to his return to create that fashion dream that only he can create, and wish him to here find his new home.”
It’s been over three years since Christian Dior unceremoniously ousted Galliano for a drunken anti-Semitic tirade at a Parisian boite. Galliano has spent much of that time cleaning up his act, including attending rehab to combat drug and alcohol addiction and even dipping his toe in the design world. In February of 2013, Anna Wintour brokered a deal where he would assist Oscar de la Renta with his Fall/Winter 2013 collection. Though that partnership was short-lived (rumors had it that Galliano’s atelier demands were too much for the patriarchal designer), the theatrical gowns that closed the show elicited oohs and aahs from the highly critical conglomeration of editors in attendance.
This past May, Galliano was named creative director of Russian cosmetics chain L’Etoile where he will be responsible for developing the brand. And while that will be interesting to say the least, we are curious to see where the four time British Designer of the Year will take Margiela, where he will finally be fully immersed back in the creative realm, responsible for the couture, menswear, and womenswear collections. Watch this space for his couture debut in January.
