John Galliano Leaves Maison Margiela After a Decade
The British designer found a home at the French headquartered fashion house after being ousted from Dior. He surprise announced his departure on the same day he hit 14 years sober.
John Galliano is stepping down as the artistic director of Maison Margiela after a transformative 10-year tenure at the French fashion house.
The designer confirmed the news via a letter shared on Instagram. "Today is the day I saw goodbye to Maison Margiela. My heart overflows with joyous gratitude, and my soul smiles," he wrote. I am forever grateful for this safe space to create and build a new family that supports me with courage and dignity."
Galliano joined the Paris-based house—originally founded by Belgian designer Martin Margiela in 1988—after being fired from Dior in 2011 following a disturbing rant fueled by a concoction of drugs and alcohol. The designer alluded to the significance of receiving another change at Margiela in his Instagram letter. "Gratitude to my fashion family for this life-saving creative moment and the safe space we have built together," he wrote.
Galliano’s appointment to Margiela in 2014 marked a pivotal comeback following the highly publicized departure from Dior and his own label. His departure signals the end of an era at Maison Margiela, where he introduced a bold, conceptual approach that honored the house’s legacy while pushing boundaries. It brought viral moments like, most recently, Zendaya's 2024 Met Gala looks and the Maison Margiela 2024 Artisanal Collection with porcelain doll makeup by Pat McGrath.
Maison Margiela is owned by OTB Group, where Diesel founder Renzo Rosso serves as president. Galliano thanked Rosso in his letter for all their work together over the past 10 years. His departure coincides with his fourteenth sober birthday (or sober anniversary). During his time at the maison, Galliano helped boost sales, despite being in a luxury slowdown at times, per the Business of Fashion.
Galliano has not revealed his next steps, nor has the house announced a succession plan, leaving the industry buzzing with speculation about what lies ahead for both parties. In the never-ending musical chairs-like movement of creative directors at leading houses, open slots remain at Chanel (though rumored to be Matthieu Blazy) and Fendi.
