'THE DANDY' - THE UNTOLD JOHN GALLIANO STORY.

John Galliano is a modern day Icarus parable. Flew to the sun, then with just a couple of poorly chosen words, he was an outcast and pariah.

One of the most celebrated and equally notorious fashion designers of our time. He catapulted onto the french fashion scene with the help of some of the biggest names in the business who saw in him a unique talent. His creativity is unparalleled, drawing on his rich heritage and love of culture. He is a character unto himself, as much as the models open the theatre of his runway, Galliano himself draws the final curtain.

His own physicality and costumes often rivaled that of his couture gowns. Galliano injected fun into the stuffy world of high fashion, exploring opulence as a form of entertainment. His shows were completely immersive and rich with story. Galliano redefined the possibility of a fashion show, moving it beyond the sales room, beyond the industry to a level of public spectacle that would attract the attention of the world.

After moving to Paris, Galliano became the first British designer to lead a French Couture House with his appointment at the House of Givenchy. But it was not long before he was promoted to the head of Christian Dior. Not only was he an outsider, but at just 36 years of age he was considerably young for a role of such magnitude.

It was his youthful and energetic spirit which would redefine the world of fashion and French Haute Couture, with a legacy that would outlast his final and dramatic dismissal from the house. This is a story of Galliano the renegade, whose penchant for rebellion would make him one of the world’s top creative geniuses and the bad boy of fashion.

Born in 1960 in the British Territory of Gibraltar to his native father and Spanish mother, a plumber and flamenco teacher respectively, John Galliano moved to the South of England when he was just six years old.

His parents moved in hope for improved financial employment opportunities and Galliano explains how he was timid and insecure growing up in a strict Roman Catholic family. Finding it difficult as a foreign child being brought up in an English environment, Galliano often felt different and left out in his neighbourhood. He recalls how his mother would insist on dressing him in extravagant attire for running errands and everyday occasions and as a result he often felt bullied and estranged at the London boy’s Grammar school that he attended.

After finishing high school, Galliano went on to study at Saint Martin’s School of Art, from which he graduated in 1988 with a first class honours degree. Known for his whimsical and outrageous designs, his first collection titled “Les Incroyables” was extremely well received by critics, and was sold in Browns, the London fashion boutique. Galliano then moved on to launch his own fashion label with stylist Amanda Harlech and milliner, Stephen Jones. The designer was however not very gifted with finances, which led to the termination of multiple backers and his eventual bankruptcy in 1990. It was then that Galliano decided to move to Paris to make his skills more prominent to the international fashion industry, improve his client base and gain the financial backing he knew he could achieve.

[TheFiown]

I worked for the group and can say that designing a dozen collections a year with the long long hours that each show involves is a horrendous workload. Not to worry they have staff whose 'job' it is to supply on demande ANYTHING that could prep them up and allow them to go on and continue working. They filled John up with X and ignored his fatigue and worry and as soon as he began to be a problem they used the first thing they could to get rid of him as in there minds there were many ready to take his place NOW that he had put Dior back in the limelight. I met John, our dogs played together, he is a nice person.

[badarock]

He changed fashion history forever. He is the best of the best so far. His creations are nothing short of glorious.

[bimblaq]

Galliano is genius, no one did (in his era) & still does haute couture shows like him

[nwmirem]

Galliano, McQueen and Mugler are my holy trinity.

[CoachKarter]

The reason most design students in early 2000’s went into the industry

[DCFunBud]

Galiano's work had to be seen to be believed. Years ago I saw his French Revolution-inspired gowns at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. His unique talent was extraordinary and undeniable. I often wondered how any fashion designer could possibly be original when everything has been done, but he managed it. His collection was a tour de force.

[onlymasterpieceslimapoel]

Glliano needs the opportunity to have his own brand again ;(

[ianedwards]

No one could stand that pressure of producing such wonderful works of art, no wonder he fell apart He is a genius

[marciusnery]

THE GREATEST and most innovative fashion designer of all times. PERIOD.

[fabulousshawn]

John is an absolute icon and genius! I still have and wear pieces from his collections that I bought back in 2008 and 2009 and 2010 and still to today people flip on how cool they are. Amazing designer and creator!

[evergogo]

Galliano is LEGENDARY - his designs make me weep inside.

[MrAnonymous]

He is THE greatest name in fashion in human history. No one will ever come close to his excellence.

[rafaelyaguaro]

Right now, he’s the only left that does TRUE Couture, and no one, no one, comes close of what he can do!

I absolutely adore Margiela for giving him the chance after his downfall at Dior, and his work for the house have been supper, but I need him to let loose again, I love him most when he lets his bizarre imagination take over and produce literal pieces of walking art. I get his older, wiser and wants people to focus on his work and not him, and the current global trend to be more conscious but damn if I don’t miss him at Dior.

His era there was simply unmatched and seeing the current direction of the house brings me sadness.

[RafaelSaffiotti]

Galliano gives meaning to the term MASTER! Always amazing! <3

[orighomisandediare]

His past ignorance should be forgiven but not forgotten. We cannot allow such talent for future generation be wasted away, only to be celebrated at death. Let him appreciate his contribution to fashion. Too many bright lights have been forgotten after giving their all. R. I. P, Leon. You should have been remembered in life

[alanmence]

john has come a long way from heating up a can of bake beans using an iron while making an amazing first collection using 1 bolt of satin backed silk crepe.

[nllove]

A true genius, his style is second to none

[alexmaxwell]

Galliano is pure genius, excellence and such a visionary! His work at Margiela is amazing and some of my favorite as well so it worked out kind of perfect in the end for John!

[leslielutz]

How any one can hold that much vision and ideas in their head and not be redundant or overlap is astonishing. Then to execute them all in real life. Absolute marvel.

[JermaineJagger]

Thank you SO much for doing this!! John is one of my lifetime favorite designers and there is not enough told about his story! 👏🏾 well done!