The End of an Era: John Galliano Says Goodbye to Maison Margiela After 10 Years of Creative Brilliance
It’s official: the rumors were true. After a decade of pushing boundaries and making fashion history as the creative director of Maison Margiela, John Galliano is bidding farewell to the French House.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Galliano wrote, “Today is the day I say goodbye to Maison. My heart overflows with joyous gratitude, and my soul smiles. For I am 14 years old today—14 years sober. Living a better life than I ever dreamt possible, and this is thanks to two people—two truly beautiful people who I both love and cherish.”
But who are these two people? Galliano chooses to keep their identities anonymous for now, before addressing the rumors of his next move.
“The rumors…everyone wants to know, and everyone wants to dream. When the time is right, all will be revealed. For now, I take this time to express my immense gratitude. I continue to atone, and I will never stop dreaming. I, too, need to dream.”
Galliano reflects on a conversation he had with Margiela-owner Renzo Rosso at a Halloween party in Tokyo earlier this year. The topic of “legacy” came up, prompting Rosso to ask Galliano about his thoughts on his own legacy.
“I explained that I had mourned the loss of JG and my previous identity, but I am much happier with the new version of JG. I strive daily to be a better version of this person.”
Galliano took over as Margiela’s creative director in 2014, just three and a half years after being fired from Dior for making two drunken, antisemitic rants in Paris cafés. But over the past decade, he has expertly embodied Margiela’s artistic fashion language, bringing back the beloved Tabi silhouette and wowing the industry with his 2024 Artisanal show, which sparked a doll-like beauty revolution and earned a glowing review from The New York Times’ chief fashion critic Vanessa Friedman, who called it “the sort of immersive show that hasn’t been seen in more than a decade.”
Galliano credits Rosso for showing him “goodness and kindness” when he first joined the House 10 years ago. “The greatest, most precious gift he gave me was the opportunity to once again find my creative voice when I had become voiceless. My wings mended, and I better understood the all-consuming act of creativity.”
He also recalls a conversation he had with Martin Margiela himself about taking on the role. The namesake designer told Galliano, “Take what you will from the DNA of the House, protect yourself, and make it your own…you know how to.” In that moment, Galliano knew he was ready to take on the esteemed position.
He concludes his message by saying, “I’ll readily admit I’m demanding and difficult to run with when challenged, but look at what we have built.” And indeed, Galliano’s powerful vision has overshadowed any remnants of his former unruliness, solidifying his place as a true creative force in the fashion industry.
