John Galliano leaves Maison Margiela

After 10 years of dedicated service, John Galliano is officially leaving Maison Margiela. This marks the end of a fruitful and revolutionary partnership between the British couturier and the OTB group, as explained by the group’s CEO Renzo Rosso and Galliano to Women's Wear Daily. While this goodbye is likely to sadden most fashion insiders, the chapter of Margiela under Galliano’s direction closes on a high note, following the success of the Maison Margiela Artisanal Spring 2024 show last January, which was widely acclaimed for bringing creativity back to the forefront of the fashion industry. Although the news of Galliano’s departure is still fresh and his successor’s identity remains unknown, rumors are already swirling.

Indeed, the announcement of Glenn Martens leaving Y/Project last September after 11 years as its creative director has sparked a significant amount of gossip regarding the reasons for his departure and his next destination, with Maison Margiela leading the speculation. An interview with Renzo Rosso published in Vogue Business didn’t help to quiet the rumors: “Glenn is a couturier, not just a designer. Like John Galliano, couturiers have a different way of creating. Every piece tells a story,” explained the CEO. While Martens has dismissed these claims, stating that he wishes to take a break from fashion to return to his roots and raise chickens, a potential entry of Martens at Margiela could be on the horizon. Stay tuned.