Galliano collaborates with Zara

John Galliano, a well-known fashion designer and former creative director of Dior, has announced a collaboration with Zara, a clothing brand owned by Inditex, the world's largest fashion retailer. The project, named Re{form} Zara Authored by the Couturier John Galliano, involves transforming existing Zara basics into new designs.

Collaboration origins and development

The collaboration began in secret in January 2024, following a meeting between Galliano and Marta Ortega Pérez, president of Inditex, in 2022. Ortega Pérez had first proposed the idea during a visit to an exhibition in La Corogne, Spain, dedicated to photographer Steven Meisel, which she owns.

Re{form} collection details

Galliano’s collaboration involves reworking everyday clothing items like wool coats, chemises, and cotton shirts into unique designs. He describes the process as "sample and remix," comparing it to methods used by hackers and DJs. The Re{form} collection is expected to be more affordable, with prices starting at 30 euros, unlike his previous haute couture pieces, which can be extremely expensive.

Cancellation of retrospective

In August, Galliano announced the cancellation of his retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He accepted responsibility for racist and antisemitic remarks he made in 2010 and 2011, expressing deep regret for the suffering caused to Jewish and Asian communities.

Galliano's career and future

Galliano’s career has been marked by both success and controversy. He has been sober for 15 years and has worked on the Zara collaboration in a secluded workshop in Boulogne-Billancourt, a Paris suburb. He refers to this phase as his "third act," following his time at Dior and Maison Margiela. The collaboration with Zara is expected to last two years, during which Galliano will create four collections.