Ladies and gentleman, he’s back. After being disgracefully dismissed from Dior in 2011 when anti-Semitic statements surfaced, John Galliano has returned to the world of fashion. His new appointment sees him taking over the helm at the French atelier Maison Martin Margiela as creative director. The 53-year-old will be designing the brand’s women’s and men’s ready-to-wear lines as well as their haute couture collection. As Margiela’s creative team has been working somewhat anonymously since the founding designer’s retirement in 2009, this announcement returns an identity (albeit a controversial one) to the brand.
Maison Martin Margiela is currently owned by OTB, a group that seems willing to deal with any oncoming backlash to create buzz around the still little-known Parisian brand. “Margiela is ready for a new charismatic creative soul,” Rosso, president of OTB told WWD. “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.” Galliano’s first collection with the house is expected this coming January during Paris Couture Week.
