Description
John Galliano is a British Fashion designer, born in Gibraltar to a Gibraltarian father and Spanish mother. Having moved to Britain at age 6, Galliano was influenced by his mother’s bold fashion sense, and eventually attended Central Saint Martins in London, graduating with top honors in 1988 in Fashion Design. His graduating collection earned him accolades, inspired by the French Revolution and named “Les Incroyables” -- it was bought in its entirety to be sold at Browns.
Galliano then launched his own label, beginning a long-term partnership with Amanda Harlech. Following financial troubles funding his label, Galliano was bankrupt by 1990, despite showing his collection at Paris Fashion Week. However, his financial troubles finally came to an end when Anna Wintour, American Vogue’s editor in chief, and Andre Leon Talley, then the European correspondent at Vanity Fair, took him under their wing. They introduced him to socialite Sao Schlumberger, who lent Galliano her atelier for the show, and secured financing for him by way of the Paine Webber banking group. His first collection following showed to rave reviews, and relaunched his career. In 1995, Bernard Arnault of LVMH appointed Galliano as the creative director for Givenchy, where he became the first British designer to head a French haute-couture house. In 1996, LVMH moved Galliano to Dior, where he received various accolades awarded for his achievements. Thanks to Galliano, Dior dominated the high fashion world with his extravagant shows and designs.
In 2011, Galliano was recorded on an anti-Semitic tirade while inebriated, leading to his conviction for public insults on account of race by the French court, leading to his hiatus and suspension from the house of Dior. In 2013, following a stint at rehabilitation for alcoholism and substance abuse, Galliano accepted an offer for temporary residency at Oscar de la Renta for the Fall/Winter 2013 collection. The collection was well received, foreshadowing de la Renta’s comeback. In early 2014, Galliano was appointed the creative director of Maison Martin Margiela, with his first collection shown January 2015.
