Galliano 2.0

This week Oscar de la Renta announced the return of one of the Fashion industry’s most dramatic and theatrical designers.

Two years ago John Galliano fell from grace – and the helm of Dior – when he was charged with making anti-Semitic remarks in Paris. Galianno proceeded to plead guilty to criminal charges, pay the imposed fines and seek help for his alcohol addiction, and retreating almost entirely from the fashion (in part due to the industry turning its back on him)

This week however, Galliano’s much doubted return was announced.

Although his comeback seemed almost impossible – it could be construed as symbolic of the industry condoning Galliano’s remarks – this week it appears Galliano has been forgiven and is being allowed back into the fashion world.

Close friend and long-time admirer of his work Oscar de la Renta this week announced that he was inviting John Galliano into his design studio for three weeks to help reacclimatise the former designer to the environment and begin his return to the industry.

Although little detail has been revealed about what Galliano will do during his time in the studio – de la Renta denies he will be replacing him when he retires, although concedes taking advice on his collections from ‘everyone’ – it offers Galliano the foot  through the door he needs to mastermind his comeback.

The lack of theatre surrounding his return demonstrates the effort Galliano has made to rebrand and return to the fashion industry. The short-term ‘work experience’ as it has been called echoes the remorse Galliano has shown since the incident in Paris in 2011. No longer the bad boy calling the shots in the fashion industry, but instead seeking forgiveness and recognition based on his talent and creativity…Galliano is masterminding his comeback with impeccable acumen.

His two-year silence whilst in exile, and the absence of the drama for which he was famed, infers sincerity to his remorse and regret for his actions. The demonstration of genuine contrition and in not seeking public praise or recognition for his change in demeanour – like so many public figures would do – it would be cold and unforgiving of the fashion elite to continue to exclude Galliano.

The return of Galliano however, is not the return of the Galliano of old. The change in public presentation of the designer from wild child to repentant former alcoholic is perhaps the most outstanding example of rebranding the industry has ever seen.

No longer dramatic, headline-grabbing and brash, Galliano 2.0 appears (in press statements at least) to be repentant, subdued and reflective. In moving away from everything the designer was known for, attention is deflected away from his troubled past and returned to his talent and creativity.

…setting the scene for what will no doubt be one of the most phenomenal and spectacular comebacks since Chanel returned following her Nazi affair.