John Galliano

Juan Carlos Antonio Galliano Guillén, (born 28 November 1960), professionally known as John Galliano, is a Gibraltarian-British fashion designer. In 1984, he graduated in fashion design from Central St. Martin's School of Art and Design with a collection inspired by the French Revolution. The collection, entitled Les Incroyables, received positive reviews and was bought in its entirety by and sold in the London fashion boutique Browns. Galliano began his own label and met future collaborators Amanda Harlech, at that time stylist with Harpers and Queen, and Stephen Jones, a milliner.

Initially, financial backing came from Johan Brun, and when this agreement came to an end Danish entrepreneur Peder Bertelsen, owner of firm Aguecheek, who were also backing Katherine Hamnett at the time, took over. This agreement ended in 1988 and Galliano sought the backing of German agent Faycal Amor (owner and designer of fashion label Plein Sud) who directed him to set up his base in Paris. Galliano relocated to Paris in search of financial backing and a strong client base, his first show was in 1989 as part of Paris Fashion Week.

He has been quoted as identifying his love of theatre and femininity as central to his creations – "my role is to seduce" he has said and went as far as recreating some of Dior's period clothing for Madonna in the film Evita. Galliano has reputedly cited Charlize Theron as a muse and has been creating couture dresses for her to wear to formal red carpet events such as theAcademy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. She is also part of the ad campaign for Dior's "J'Adore" perfume, while Riley Keough, granddaughter of Elvis Presley, fronts his "Miss Dior Cherie" perfume, and Kate Moss, in photographs by Nick Knight, his ready-to-wear campaigns as well as modelling in both couture and ready-to-wear shows. His couture shows have featured other elite couture models of the last two decades - Erin O'Connor, Alek Wek, Linda Evangelista, and Karen Mulder. Hollywood film stars Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman have frequently worn dresses created by him to the Academy Awards. Private clientele for couture collections include Daphne Guinness and Diana, Princess of Wales.

Currently, between his own label and Dior, Galliano produces six couture and ready-to-wear collections a year and a new mid-season range under his own name "G Galliano"

Here you can learn more about Galliano: http://www.johngalliano.com/