With Paris Fashion Week in full swing, Karl Lagerfeld has spoken out about John Galliano's recent behaviour, saying the designer has tainted the fashion industry with his racist comments.

Chanel's Creative Director told WWD yesterday, "I’m furious that it could happen, because the question is no longer even whether he really said it. The image has gone around the world. It's a horrible image for fashion, because they think that every designer and everything in fashion is like this. This is what makes me crazy in that story."

Lagerfeld also said Galliano should have been "more careful" considering his public persona.

"The thing is, we are a business world where, especially today, with the Internet, one has to be more careful than ever, especially if you are a publicly known person. You cannot go in the street and be drunk - there are things you cannot do. I'm furious with him because of the harm he did to LVMH and [chairman and CEO] Bernard Arnault, who is a friend, and who supported him more than he supported any other designer in his group, because Dior is his favourite label. It's as if he had his child hurt."

On the other hand, costume designer Patricia Field allegedly sent an email to over 500 friends and media outlets on Tuesday defending Galliano and saying he was acting out of character.

"People in fashion, all they do is go and see John Galliano theatre every season. That's what he gives them. To me, this was the same," she said. "But people in fashion don't recognize the farce in it. All of a sudden they don't know him. But it's OK when it's Mel Brooks' 'The Producers' singing 'Springtime for Hitler.'"

Galliano apologised for his actions yesterday, saying in a statement, "I only have myself to blame and I know that I must face up to my own failures and that I must work hard to gain people's understanding and compassion. To start this process I am seeking help and all I can hope for in time is to address the personal failure which led to these circumstances and try and earn people's forgiveness."

Galliano went on to say that he has been subject to prejudice, intolerance and discrimination himself, and that his inspiration has been "to unite people of every race, creed, religion and sexuality by celebrating their cultural and ethnic diversity through fashion."

Galliano faces up to 6 months in prison if convicted.

The current Dior collection, which is expected to be shown in Paris on Friday, was unfinished by Galliano before his arrest. His design team has reportedly taken over in an effort to finish before the show.

What are your thoughts? Should Galliano be convicted?