John Galiano Is Fascinated By Chinese Elements.

Andrew Bolton: you seem to be an ethnographic scholar. You say travel is an important part of creation. What impression did you get when you first visited China?

Galiano: that was in 2002.

I travel, experience culture, collect information from all walks of life.

I have stayed in China for at least three weeks, so I want to know more about myself in order to let myself drown in culture, because everything I see in China is so fresh and sparkly.

I am especially attracted by the color of China.

The streets at night in Shanghai are the sea of colored lights, while the orange sun in Beijing is embedded in the gray sky. The red bricks and blue tiles on the temple roof are beautiful.

Shanghai is an incredible modern metropolis, but in less than 20 minutes, you will be able to stay in the countryside.

We rented a car with the music of the Republic of China in the car, passing through the scenery that had not changed for hundreds of years.

Some women still wear national costumes. They are so real, but appear so surreal.

This kind of travel is full of electricity and makes time lag. When you get home, you have forgotten the reality.

Andrew Bolton: what is reality?

Galiano: specifically, it is preparing for my 2003 Dior summer and summer show.

Do you know Mrs. song? She is a business partner of Pierre Cardan. (Pierre Cardin opened a Maxim s restaurant in Paris in 1981, and Mrs. song opened a branch in Beijing in 1983).

Mrs. song organized our itinerary to introduce our monk to Shaolin Temple.

Their exercise is really interesting.

I told them, "I want to meditate.

I tried, but I couldn't get rid of distractions. "

They asked me about my creative process, and I explained everything.

They replied, "you don't need to meditate.

You've been meditating since you were 13 years old. "

I began to understand that the creative process is a meditation.

Even if the house is on fire, I will not notice it, because I am very focused on my work.

Andrew Bolton: creativity is definitely a meditation. Your 2003 series is a bit hard to decipher. I think Japan's influence is more than that of China.

Galiano: after I finished my trip to China, I went to Japan and brought back all two cultures.

Of course, in the final analysis, it is a fusion of illusions.

I never plan to reproduce anything.

A visit to these two countries is a kind of liberation for me.

You can see freedom in my clothes, in the texture and in the shape.

Galiano: Yes.

The outline and color are inspired by Chinese opera costumes.

I visited the backstage of the Peking Opera Orchestra and watched the preparations for the opera actors.

It's unbelievable. Those traditional rituals, those clothes wrapped in layers, I took all the pictures I could take.

Although I do not understand the language of Peking Opera at all, the visual effect is fascinating.

Andrew Bolton: Margiela (Maison Martin Margiela) 2013 "craft" autumn winter series includes two sets of Chinese opera costumes.

Galiano: Yes.

Recycling, assembling and deconstruction, whatever they call, is part of Margiela's gene. It's also the oxygen I breathe, the power of my creation.

Andrew Bolton: your 2005.

Jarno: the difference between Gao Ding and clothing is very important.

By customizing clothing, I can express the magic of clothing outline, from a cloth and ingredients to a beautiful dress, from embryo to beauty, showing every aspect of architecture.

Andrew Bolton: you are similar to Margiela's design concept. When you were appointed creative director of Maison Margiela, I saw you return to yourself. My image of Margiela is a designer who is not good at narrating, and you are the most telling story designer.

Galiano: Margiela has his own story.

Not the headlines, but behind the scenes, there are many real feelings.

His series is written in emotion, all about emotional dialogue.

Andrew Bolton: interesting.

Galiano: but what I see is the poetry in his works.

Many of his innovations have become part of the fashion language.

People forget how to change from the roots and how to reform, but he did not forget.

Many of his ideas changed the trajectory of fashion.

Andrew Bolton: what are your next steps in Maison Margiela?

Galiano: I will continue to explore other cultures, like looking for inspiration in China, to travel in other times.

"Assembling and piecing together" is my work feature, so does Margiela.

Margiela and I embarked on a new journey. This is a journey of self renewal, discovery and return to the place of origin.

I will inject more honesty and originality in my new work.

Honesty is a new emotion.