Advertisement
Advertisement
British designer John Galliano gives a press conference on his new work as a consultant for Russian cosmetics retailer L'Etoile. Photo: AFP

John Galliano back in business with Russian L’Etoile cosmetics chain

Disgraced British fashion designer John Galliano, little-seen since being sacked by Dior in 2011 for making drunken racist tirades, has reappeared in Moscow as creative director of a Russian cosmetics chain.

AFP

Disgraced British fashion designer John Galliano, little-seen since being sacked by Dior in 2011 for making drunken racist tirades, has reappeared in Moscow as creative director of a Russian cosmetics chain.

The L'Etoile chain, which has 850 branches in more than 250 Russian towns, did not skimp on Thursday's event in an exclusive Moscow suburb.

Galliano appeared for just a few seconds, in a halo of orange smoke, at the end of the show.

"This is an opportunity and a great challenge for me," he said later. "I am confident that our partnership will lead to new and exciting events in the world of beauty for Russian women. I think the results will be beautiful and inspiring."

Galliano, who spent nearly 15 years at Dior, is widely considered to be one of the most brilliant fashion minds of his generation. But his rehabilitation following the racism scandal has been difficult, and he has been rarely seen at public events since then.

Last year, New York's Parsons School of Design cancelled a workshop he had been set to give at the prestigious fashion college.

L'Etoile proudly announced Galliano's new job in a press release entitled "John is back".

In an interview in magazine last June, Galliano said he had been in denial about substance abuse and was "grateful" for his fall from grace because it forced him to confront his drug and alcohol demons.

"I have learned so much about myself. I have re-discovered that little boy who had the hunger to create, which I think I had lost. I am alive," he said.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Galliano back in the limelight in Moscow
Post