Zara and John Galliano enter into a two-year partnership

Fashion house Zara confirms a two-year creative collaboration with John Gallianopresenting a project based on the reinterpretation of garments from the brand’s archive. The collaboration will produce a series of seasonal collections drawn directly from previous Zara releases, with Galliano involved in each piece through a process of deconstruction and reconstruction. The first collection will arrive in September 2026, setting the timeline for a multi-season release.

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Galliano will work hands-on with clothes from past Zara seasons, reshaping existing materials into new forms. The process follows a couture-driven approach that emphasizes authorship, where each design reflects the transformation of an original piece. Zara frames the project as an internal re-examination of its archive, with each release offering a revised interpretation shaped through Galliano’s design method.

Galliano built his career through a distinctive approach to fashion design based on narrative, historical reference and construction. He graduated from Central Saint Martins in 1984, immediately gaining attention for a collection inspired by the French Revolution. His early independent work established a visual language defined by theatrical silhouettes and layered references to the history of dress.

In 1995, Givenchy appointed Galliano as creative director, marking the first time a British designer had led a French couture house. In 1996, Christian Dior appointed him artistic director, where he developed collections known for elaborate construction and strong visual storytelling. His tenure at Dior lasted until 2011 and was instrumental in shaping the brand’s direction during that time.

Galliano returned to fashion in 2014 when Maison Margiela appointed him creative director. At Margiela, he focused on deconstruction, anonymity and material transformation, working through techniques that revealed the manufacturing process within the final garment. He remained in this role until December 2024.

The Zara collaboration aligns with Galliano’s ongoing interest in reworking existing garments. By engaging directly with archive pieces, the project extends its approach to a wider retail context. Each collection will reinterpret previous designs through updated construction, maintaining a connection to the original garment while introducing a new form.

Zara will release the collections seasonally during the two-year partnership. Each drop will be based on the same remodeling method, using archival material as a starting point for new designs. The project creates a framework where the previous production informs the current production, guided by Galliano’s direction and experience.