John Galliano

Juan Carlos Antonio Galliano-Guillén is one of the most sought after designers in the fashion industry. The British artist has been the head of some of French Fashion’s leading brands like Givenchy and Christian Dior. John Charles Galliano, as he is known today, was born in Gibraltar, and his family moved to England when he was very young. Even as a boy growing up in a strict Roman Catholic household, his vivid imagination and flair got the better of him. He studied Fashion Design in prestigious Saint Martin’s School of Art, where he unduly impressed everyone with his naturally ingrained skills. He graduated with a first-class honors degree, putting himself at the top of his class. He was particularly inspired by historical costume work, and his first collection was titles ‘Les Incroyables’ after the French Revolution. This collection was immediately bought by a prominent London boutique, which set him off to establish his fashion label. The enterprise lagged as Galliano put all his energy into designing for major fashion shows and celebrities. His unique style and progressive style gained him the award of ‘British Designer of the Year’ four times.

The year 1995 saw Galliano appointed the head designer at Givenchy. He proceeded to dazzle the industry with extravagant collections, expressive and flamboyant in design. Many of them were licensed to Vogue Patterns. The succeeding year, the LVMH conglomerate moved him to another leading fashion company, Dior. The following years had their turns and twists for the acclaimed designer, but he rapidly made a comeback. In 2014, he was appointed the creative director of the Maison Margiela luxury fashion house. In a poll in 2004, Galliano was voted the 5th most influential person in British Culture. His life’s dedication to art and beauty has inspired many and has created a new niche in the fashion industry.