On October 3, Kering and Alexander McQueen announced the appointment of Seán McGirr as Maison’s new creative director.
Seán McGirr is an Irish designer born in Dublin. He graduated from Central Saint Martins, a prestigious fashion school in London, and received his Master of Arts in Fashion in 2014.
He began his career as an assistant at Burberry and Vogue Homme Japan. For four years, from 2014 to 2018, he was part of UNIQLO’s creative offices in Tokyo and Paris, where he was also in charge of the men’s collection under the direction of Christophe Lemaire. He then worked as a women’s designer for Dries Van Noten in Antwerp before joining JW Anderson in 2020. He was responsible for the men’s ready-to-wear department collections and eventually took on the womenswear as well.
“We are delighted to welcome Seán McGirr as Creative Director. With his experience, personality, and creative energy, he will bring a powerful creative language to Alexander McQueen while building on its unique heritage,” said Gianfilippo Testa, CEO of Alexander McQueen in the statement.
McGirr’s appointment replaces longtime creative director Sarah Burton, whose retirement was announced last month. Burton has been with the brand for a total of 26 years and has been at the helm for 13 years. In particular, Burton has been at the wheel of the brand since the death of founder Lee McQueen in 2010.
Burton’s final Spring/Summer 2024 collection, recently unveiled at Paris Fashion Week, was dedicated to Lee, who “always wanted to empower women.” The show notes stated that it was dedicated to the “passion, talent, and loyalty” of her team.
Expectations are high for how McGirr will take over the unique legacy of this Maison that Lee and Burton have built and infuse it with his own creativity.
”Alexander McQueen is a House we are passionate about, and we are confident that Seán McGirr will be able to pursue its journey with a new creative impetus. We look forward to opening this new chapter in the history of this unique brand,” Kering’s chairman and CEO François-Henri Pinault stated.