01/04/2026

LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 1, 2026

24

LYFE’S LOOKBOOK C HINA Fashion Week’s Spring/Autumn 2026 edition centered on the theme of “fusion”, blending thousands of years of Chinese cultural heritage with modern, intelligent textile technology. Here are samples fresh from the runway:

Models present creations by GRZG Rongrong Guo.

Models present creations by Yan Liang.

A model presents a creation by Max Hua. – ALL PICS FROM AFP

Zara partners with John Galliano SPANISH fashion retailer Zara said recently it has entered into a two-year “artistic partnership” with controversial British designer John Galliano.

artistry at Givenchy and Christian Dior, has dressed countless celebrities during his tenure, including Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry and Zendaya for red-carpet events. Known for his flamboyant personality and daring designs, Galliano’s career suffered a dramatic setback in 2011 following a drunken rant in a Paris bar where he hurled antisemitic and racist insults at the other patrons. He was subsequently dismissed from Dior, underwent rehab in Switzerland and apologised for his behaviour during a visit to the Central Synagogue in London. Gibraltar-born Galliano returned to the fashion world in 2014 when he joined French label Maison Margiela as its creative director, a position he held until 2024. With fast-growing budget fashion retailer Shein taking share at the cheaper end of the market, Zara has moved to attract more discerning shoppers and offered more expensive clothing in recent years. – AFP

The 65-year-old couturier will reconfigure pieces drawn from Zara’s past collections into new designs, the company said in a statement. “Guided by a haute couture process and approach, the collections will be unveiled each season throughout the duration of the partnership, starting in September 2026,” it added without giving further details. Zara is owned by Inditex, the world’s leading low-cost fashion retailer which posted a record annual profit in 2025 for the third year running. “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,” Galliano told fashion magazine Vogue . Galliano, who previously headed

A dress created by Galliano for the fashion house Christian Dior from the Haute Couture 2006–2007 collection displayed at the exhibition ‘Louvre Couture, Art and Fashion: Statement Pieces’ at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Galliano is known for his flamboyant personality and daring designs.