Dior in no rush to replace Galliano

DISGRACED: British designer John Galliano.

French fashion house Christian Dior is in no hurry to replace disgraced designer John Galliano as it relies on existing teams for new collections, its head said.

Dior, one of the biggest brands within luxury goods group LVMH, sacked Galliano earlier this month following publicity over a video of him shouting abuse in a Paris bar and saying he loved Hitler.

Dior Chairman and Chief Executive Sidney Toledano said the company was studying possible replacements and the brand’s creative development had not been interrupted.

Fashion magazine Elle reported this week that Dior might not announce Galliano’s replacement before the autumn.

“(The announcement) could come at any time, after (the autumn) or before,” Toledano said after LVMH’s annual shareholder meeting in Paris.

“It requires a period of study of various projects. As our internal teams are working perfectly well, we have time.”

Toledano said the brand’s teams were working on a new cruise collection and that there would be a Dior haute couture show in early July as planned.

“There is no interruption at all,” he said. “No blanks in the calendar of creations.”

It is not clear, however, what will happen to the John Galliano brand of which Dior owns 92 percent. Toledano said it was for Dior to decide its future but he declined to elaborate.

Fashion critics said Galliano, known for his theatrical and dramatic styles, had grown out of touch with minimalist, sober and conservative designs favored after the financial crisis.

Possible contenders to replace Galliano include Peter Copping at Nina Ricci and, within the LVMH group, Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy and Phoebe Philo at Celine.

Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman, now promoting Miss Dior Cherie perfume, publicly condemned Galliano for his comments and said she no longer wanted anything to do with him.

LVMH, the world’s biggest luxury group, this month agreed to buy Roman jeweller Bulgari for 3.7 billion euros, its biggest acquisition in a decade.

The group, which makes 9 percent of its sales in Japan, on Thursday said the nuclear crisis in the country had only affected trading in the east and north of the country.

But overall, LVMH Chief Executive Bernard Arnault said: “The impact should be quite limited, despite everything.”

Similar Posts:

• The show goes on for Dior
• John Galliano reportedly files dispute against Dior
• Roland Mouret And Robert Clergerie On The Future Of Shoes
• Brunello Cucinelli market value doubles since IPO
• Kate Moss Wears John Galliano Wedding Gown