Disgraced designer John Galliano, 52, has been signed by Parsons’ New School for Design to teach a three-day master class.
Galliano was accused in 2011 of shouting anti-Semitic remarks at a couple during a night out in Paris, a scandal that cost him his job as head designer for Christian Dior.
He has been slowly working his way back into public favor, and as part of the good will thing he now agreed to share his wealth of fashion knowledge with NYC design students in a series of lectures titled Show Me Emotion.
The decision to hire Galliano was greeted with criticism online, but Parsons officials are defending their decision to recruit him.
A statement from the college was published in New York Magazine: “An invaluable part of a Parsons education is the opportunity to learn from the world’s leading designers, from Donna Karan and Diane Von Furstenberg to Olivier Theyskens. The planned master class with John Galliano will be a dynamic and intimate opportunity for our students to learn from an immensely talented designer.
“We believe that over the past two years Galliano has demonstrated a serious intent to make amends for his past actions, and as part of this workshop, Parsons students will have the opportunity to engage in a frank conversation with Mr. Galliano about the challenges and complications of leading a design house in the 21st century.”