John Galliano announced as speaker at Jewish event

The designer will be the keynote speaker at the London event in a synagogue next month.

John Galliano (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty)

John Galliano has been announced as the keynote speaker at an upcoming Jewish event in London.

Connect - Fashion with John Galliano is taking place on 28 May as part of a series of events organised by London synagogues in a new initiative "as a way of bringing Jews and Jewish learning back into the West End".

The event is described as a "brand new concept that will bring together like-minded Jews in Central London for a series of special evenings. Each evening will focus on a contemporary topic, explored by guest speakers, to ignite and entertain, providing a new insight into each subject".

The announcement is seen as a further step to mend relations with the Jewish community after the fashion designer was famously fired from Dior in 2011 following an anti-Semitic rant at a Paris cafe.

Jonathan Newhouse, chairman and CEO of Conde Nast, is reportedly the man behind the latest move, having introduced Galliano to Rabbi Barry Marcus of the Central synagogue as part of the designer's rehabilitation.

The 54-year-old British designer will appeal alongside Rabbi Sam Taylor of Western Marble Arch and Maureen Kendler from the London School of Jewish studies.

Galliano made his return to fashion last year when he was appointed the creative director of Maison Martin Margiela. He showed his first collection for the label in London in January.