IS THE NEWSPAPER PRINT LAUNCHED BY JOHN GALLIANO COOL AGAIN?

Twenty years ago John Galliano launched the iconic newspaper print, the print that used French newspapers as a pattern. It didn’t take much for mini-dresses and accessories with this print to become must-have items, to the point that the brand Galliano and its designer were soon among the biggest names in the fashion system. The print was used not only by the brand but also by Dior who chose John Galliano as creative director. The story between Dior and Galliano has been long and troubled, ending with a sudden arrest a few years ago due to unethical attitudes assumed by the designer. (editor’s note: he was accused of apologizing for Nazism)

Today, 20 years after it entered the fashion world, the newspaper pattern seems to be back in trend. The brand John Galliano, now disconnected from Dior, has relaunched it for some seasons, in particular, it was the Spring / Summer 2019 to see it as the protagonist, christened with the new name Gazette. But it wasn’t the only one! Just Kim Jones, creative director of Dior Men, has taken over the print launched by Galliano for Dior during the haute couture SS 2000 collection, to give it a new and fresh touch by working four-handed with Daniel Arsham for the next SS 2020 … but there is no trace of Galliano! The Dior men’s collection for next summer was simply defined by the brand as “a nod to the era of Galliano in the Maison”. Definitely a nice way to smooth out the disagreements between Dior and Galliano, but then why not with a collaboration?

In the shop windows, we will soon find two prints: the Gazette by Galliano and the newspaper by Dior Men. On the streets we will see two bags: the Gazette by Galliano and the Saddle Newspaper by Dior Men. What does all this mean? Is it a way to bring the pattern back into fashion? Or a vehicle to invoke peace made with Galliano? Or perhaps worse than a real affront? For now, the two brands have not shown themselves but be ready to see this pattern again everywhere, including fast fashion… which has already started to replicate it!