It’s all change at John Galliano

News has been brewing up for a while about some big changes happening at the house of Galliano.

The Gibraltarian-born fashion legend has been a big star in world of fashion since graduating from St Martin’s School of Art in London in 1988 with a first class honours in fashion design. His first collection, entitled Les Incroyables, was inspired by the French Revolution. His career boomed as his collection received positive reviews and brought about the resale of London fashion boutique Browns. Following this success Galliano started his own label alongside long-term collaborator Amanda Herlech, in a rented studio space in London where his business flourished as much as his love for the London nightlife.

In 1993 he received help from American Vogue editors-in-chief Anna Wintour and André Leon Talley, and then the European correspondent at Vanity Fair introduced him to Portuguese socialite and fashion patron Sao Schlumberger, as well as financial backers of venture firm Arbela Inc, John Bult and Mark Rice. This formidable partnership gave Galliano the high society stamp he needed to get him credibility in Paris. This collection was important in the development of Galliano as a fashion house, and is regarded as a “fashion moment” in high fashion circles.

During the following years, Galliano’s fashion talents were the highlights of the fashion world, each year bringing another stunning collection. However, on the 25^th of February 2011, it was announced that Galliano had been suspended from fashion giants Dior following his arrest over an alleged anti-Jewish tirade in a Parisian bar. This incident happened just before the Paris Fashion Week for autumn/winter 2011.

This year, after his comeback with Oscar de la Renta, the brand has unveiled a new visual identity following a deal with Modalis. “Because writing a new chapter is as much about how the words appear as what they say,” reads the brand’s official release, in which Bill Gaytten, creative director of the Galliano label himself, said. “Now is the right moment to bid farewell to the old gothic gazette lettering. We have a great opportunity to reimagine a look that is both timeless and of our time.”

A campaign shoot is to follow as is the launch of the newest off-runway collection, which aims to be more accessible in to the mainstream consumer.

Alexandra Burnell