John Galliano, the influential, internationally famous fashion designer has signed an exclusive agreement with Morellato & Sector to launch an “attractive” line of Swiss-made watches. As Galliano intends to innovate and differ from existing designs, we are expecting pretty spectacular results.

John Galliano, former chief designer at Givenchy – and the first British designer to head a French fashion couture house –designs ready-to-wear collections for Dior and for his own label, les Jardins d’Avron.

The agreement is effective January 1, 2008. The first John Galliano watch collection will be unveiled at the 2008 international BaselWorld watch trade show. Galliano himself will be “responsible for all creative decisions and the design aspect” of the watch brand, says a joint statement by the two companies. A new collection will come out annually with what the announcement called “an iconic shape” in different styles.

Calling the John Galliano brand “the essence of the contemporary luxury,” Massimo Carraro, chief executive officer of Morellato & Sector, said the new watch line will be “distinctly different from the mass products that have flooded the fashion market.”

Morellato & Sector, based outside Padua, Italy, has a large portfolio of self-owned and licensed, upscale and fashion watch and jewellery brands. They include Morellato, Molecole, Sector, Philip Watch, Just Cavalli Jewels, Just Cavalli Time, Miss Sixty Jewels, Miss Sixty Time, Roberto Cavalli Timewear, Moschino Hours&Minutes, and Pirelli PZero Tempo.

CP/Valerie Hill