John Galliano returns to fashion with Zara creative partnership
John Galliano, widely believed to be one of the most talented fashion designers of his generation, has signed a deal with Spanish fashion giant Zara to design “seasonal collections”.
Galliano, who left Maison Margiela in 2024, will re-author piece’s from the Zara archives during a contract that will last initially for two years.
A statement from Zara says: "Mr. Galliano will be working directly with garments from Zara’s past seasons, deconstructing and reconfiguring them into new seasonal expressions and creations.
"Guided by a couture process and authorship, the collections will be released seasonally over the course of the partnership beginning in September 2026. Further details will be announced in due course."
A Central Saint Martins graduate, Galliano made his name first at Givenchy and then at Christian Dior, where he was creative director for 15 years, producing some of the most elaborate and intricate collections in modern fashion history. He was dismissed in 2011 amid controversy surrounding anti-Semitic comments made, and captured on video, while he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Galliano spent several years outside of the industry and sought help for his addictions. He was brought back to fashion by Maison Margiela in 2014, where he remained as creative director for 10 years. His final collection for the house was considered to be groundbreaking and evidence that his great talent had not faded.
The Zara tie-up is the first time in his career he has turned his hand to mass-market fashion, though Zara has worked with designers in the past including Stefano Pilati, Anna Sui, Narciso Rodriguez and Samuel Ross.
