Companies

John Galliano leaves Maison Margiela

Dec 16, 2024 France

The renowned British designer will leave the OTB-owned luxury brand, bringing to an end a successful 10-year collaboration. His next move remains unknown

John Galliano has announced his departure from Maison Margiela in a Instagram post. He was appointed creative director of the luxury label in 2014 and has since helped the brand grow rapidly while steadily rehabilitating his public image (a drug- and alcohol-fuelled outburst saw him ousted from Dior in 2011).

“For now, I want to express my immense gratitude. I continue to atone, and I will never stop dreaming. Gratitude to Renzo Rosso, who, in inviting me to assume the position of Artistic Director in the house that Martin built, gave me the greatest, most precious gift, allowing me the opportunity to once again find my creative voice when I had become voiceless”, Galliano said.

Over the past decade, the designer has infused his collections with kitsch, theatrical innovations, deconstructed designs and a gender-fluid sensibility. While OTB doesn’t break out revenue, it’s been reported that even amid a luxury slowdown, Margiela’s sales grew by 23% in 2023.

The designer has helped make the iconic Margiela Tabi shoe, originally launched in 1988, ubiquitous on the streets of major fashion capitals. Add to this January’s Artisanal show, in which history-steeped couture figures in glassy, mask-like make-up haunted a misty showroom under a Paris bridge, Galliano’s legacy as one of fashion’s greatest storytellers is cemented.

“Working with John was one of the most significant and impactful experiences of my life. He mentored me and showed me his vision, enriching me culturally and allowing me to bring some of that vision and culture to the rest of the Group”, commented OTB chairman Renzo Rosso. “Our industry has a habit of thinking in decades and these 10 years of incredibly intense work, amazing shows and installations, extraordinarily beautiful product, have laid the foundations for the future of Maison Margiela which I am very excited about”.

For now, Galliano has remained tight-lipped about his future plans, saying that “when the time is right, all will be revealed” and his successor at Maison Margiela has yet to be named.

Image Credits: vogue.ph

France Brands Companies Design Fashion Luxury Management