John Galliano Returning to Fashion as Creative Director of Maison Martin Margiela, Kanye West Tweets Support

Famed British designer was axed from Dior following an anti-Semitic rant in 2011

By Alyssa Toomey Oct 06, 2014 4:20 PMTags
John Galiano, Kanye WestTony Barson/WireImage

After a public dismissal from Dior, John Galliano is ready to reignite his fashion career. 

The famed designer has been announced as the new creative director of Maison Martin Margiela. The move to the Paris-based fashion house marks the first collection that will be under Galliano's complete creative control since his public fall from grace in 2011 when he was axed from Christian Dior—where he has served as the creative director for 15 years—following a racist and anti-Semitic rant aimed at a couple in Paris. 

"Margiela is ready for a new charismatic creative soul," Renzo Rosso, president of OTB, which controls Margiela, said in a statement on Monday. "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."

AKM-GSI

The move is undoubtedly a second chance for the famed British designer, who has been making a "step by step" return to fashion since the headline-making scandal which saw Galliano retreat from the industry in order to address his various issues with substance abuse. His previous comeback-making efforts include a brief stint at Oscar de la Renta in addition to serving as the creative director for the Russian perfumery company L'Etoile. 

"Although I have lost a lot, I have gained so much," he said on the French news program Le Supplément earlier this month. "I mean, I'm alive today. I've been able to work on myself, and, eventually, when I do come back into the industry, I know the industry won't have changed, but my perspective on it has changed."

In June 2013, Galliano sat down with Charlie Rose for his first televised interview since the anti-Semitic rant. He echoed his earlier comments in Vanity Fair, in which he said he was going to "end up in a mental asylum" if he did not seek help, and continued to express his remorse for his remarks. "I apologize," Galliano said. "And I am trying to make amends in the best way I can.

He also shared his hopes to restart his fashion career. "I'm ready to create. I'm feeling fit. I'm feeling good," he said. "It really all depends on these steps I'm taking. And I mean, I hope that through my atonement that I'll be given a second chance." 

Following the news, Kanye West took to Twitter to show his support for Galliano in addition to Nina Garcia, who serves as the creative director for Marie Claire magazine. 

What do you think of Galliano's return to fashion? Tell us in the comments. 

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