The fashion world cannot get over or enough of the news on designer John Galliano collaborating with Zara. After the announcement, then shock, many questions were answered but some not. Last seen at Maison Margiela, to this! Why would a man of such talent put his skills to use re-interpreting the archives of a company known for being loose with fashion intellectual property?
Inditex built its reputation not on design but logistics with a touch of store visual flash. However, under the white diffused lighting gossip about the mega retailer make for an uneasy conversation. Spending money on design isn’t a top priority. The fast fashion label has a reputation for copying other designers. During fashion weeks, stories of representatives taking pictures from the show then sending them to waiting teams to quickly replicate are notorious. Allegedly, there are tales of more aggressive physical tactics to get collection details.
Zara has been accused by smaller designers of stealing clothing ideas, facing knock off lawsuits. The Spanish giant’s legal strategy is making the court cost too high to bother filing a petition.
The irony is the British born talent maybe downscaling his own creations from his bygone luxury days.
Certainly, the game plan means moving into a new space Mr. Galliano’s “new” piece will debut in September. The fast fashion retailer is obviously looking to go more up market with new store concepts with added higher priced collections. Should we make more room in the fashion waste pipeline?