MILAN (AP) — British designer John Galliano is leaving the Maison Margiela fashion house after 10 years as artistic director, the Paris-based brand’s owner Wednesday. No successor has been announced.
“John made it the most cutting-edge couture house in the world,’’ said Renzo Rosso, chairman of Italy’s OTB Group that owns Maison Margiela. Rosso said the last decade “of incredibly intense work, amazing shows and installations, extraordinary beautiful product, have laid the foundations for the future.”
Galliano expressed his gratitude to Rosso for giving him a new chance, adding “I continue to atone, and I will never stop dreaming.” Galliano left fashion in disgrace in 2011 after making antisemitic comments in a Paris bar.
“My wings mended, 10 years later, I am forever grateful for this safe space to create, and his undying support,’’ Galliano said in a statement.
Galliano made his runway debut with Maison Margiela in January 2015, with a small couture collection to a carefully selected audience of about 100 in London. It was the start of a comeback for the flamboyant designer who was dismissed from Christian Dior after he was caught on video making an antisemitic comment.
Givenchy hired Galliano as a young head designer in 1995, before Christian Dior brought him on as creative director the next year. For 15 years, his star rose with theatrical runway shows.
It’s been the year of musical chairs in the fashion industry, and now, John Galliano is leaving his longtime home at Maison Margiela.
In an interview with Women’s Wear Daily published Wednesday, Galliano confirmed his exit from the French luxury fashion house.
“As we are parting ways with this beautiful house, my heart overflows with joyous gratitude, and my soul smiles so I want to take this time to express it. I continue to atone, and I will never stop dreaming,” Galliano told WWD.
He continued: “In inviting me to assume the position of artistic director in the house that Martin (Margiela) built, he gave me the greatest, most precious gift: The opportunity to once again find my creative voice when I had become voiceless.”
The comments were made in reference to his infamous 2011 ouster from Christian Dior after a video surfaced of a 2011 rant at a Paris bar, where he made comments considered racist and antisemitic. That year, he was found guilty for two hate crimes. It followed a separate, similar incident at the same bar in 2010 a year earlier.
“Maison Valentino is honored to announce today the appointment of Alessandro Michele as Creative Director,” the brand announced in a statement shared to social media at the time. “This appointment marks the beginning of a new journey to continue shining unique values of the brand, its heritage and couture codes in the world through Alessandro Michele’s unique perspective and wealth of experience.”
Michele called the appointment “an incredible honor,” adding, “I feel the immense joy and the huge responsibility to join a Maison de Couture that has the word ‘beauty’ carved on a collective story, made of distinctive elegance, refinement and extreme grace.”
Chanel is also facing a shakeup as fashion onlookers await the naming of a new fashion creative director. WWD reported last month that Matthieu Blazy, the Bottega Veneta creative director, is a frontrunner for the brand’s top spot.
Contributing: Brendan Morrow
