Zara has teamed up with former Christian Dior designer John Galliano in a move aimed at lifting the French brand’s appeal among more upscale consumers.

Under a two-year agreement, Galliano will reinterpret pieces from the brand’s past collections into new designs, with capsule ranges launching twice a year beginning in September.

The company said the collections will be “guided by a haute couture process and approach,” signalling a shift towards more elevated design within its offering.

Galliano, known for his theatrical style and influence on modern couture, previously led design at Dior before leaving the house in 2011 due to a controversy where he said racist insults to patrons in a Paris bar.

He later returned to the industry as creative director of Maison Margiela, where he remained until 2024.

Speaking to Vogue, Galliano said the scale of Zara’s platform was a key draw. 

“To deliver fashion through that enormous platform, that, of course, that’s thrilling; and to be able to work with the kind of resources they have as well, that’s equally thrilling,” he said.

• Further reading: Zara adopts AI to create fashion imagery using real-life models.