THEThere’s no point in being surprised: in the fashion industry there’s no time to be bored. In a year marked by countless changes in creative direction and a constant game of chairs, another bolt from the blue has arrived (so to speak). John Galliano leaves Maison Margiela.
The possibility that the laison between the English designer and the fashion house part of OTB group reaching the end of the line wasn’t that remote after all. The success of Artisanal collection 2024in fact, had rekindled the spotlight on the work of Galliano, who slowly returned to carving out a prominent place for himself in the world of fashion after the scandal for which he was removed from Dior. The Met Gala 2024Furthermore, in which many stars had shown off archive creations designed by Galliano himself, it had left us imagining an even more protagonist future for the designer. Far, it seems, from Maison Margiela.
Rumors and confirmations
Already last July there was talk of a possible farewell of John Galliano to Maison Margiela. The choice to delete every post from his Instagram profilein fact, had helped spark rumors of imminent resignation and upcoming announcements. And it is precisely on social media that today the designer publishes a long letter in which he announces his Goodbye. Expressing feelings of joy and gratitude, Galliano first mentions Renzo Rossoowner of OTB, who in 2014 chose him to take over the baton from Martin Margiela. Thanks to Rosso and the ten years spent within the fashion house, the English designer was able to rebuild his reputation which was shattered after the accusations of anti-Semitism which caused him to be fired from Dior.
Maison Margiela, John Galliano and yet another change of creative direction
It certainly cannot be said that 2024 was an uneventful year in the fashion industry, especially regarding changes at the top. From Sarah Burton landed from Givenchyupon the resignation of Hedi Slimane from Celine and of Kim Jones from FendiThe fashion system is going through a moment of great transformation. Not to mention, of course, the frantic wait for the announcement of Chanel’s next creative director. Galliano, for his part, seems not only aware of this situation, but seems aware of having been one of the most mentioned names in this continuous game of chairs.
IMG
«The rumors, the gossip…Everyone wants to know, everyone wants to dream. When the time is right, all will be revealed. For the moment I want to express all my gratitude. I will continue to atone and never stop dreaming. I need to dream too” Galliano writes today on Instagram. The theme of guilt, of taking a second chance, as well as the danger of cancel culture permeate the text with which the designer communicated his resignation.
This opens up new questions about John Galliano’s future work and the fate of Maison Margiela.
iO Donna © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED