In 2010, following the tragic passing of Lee Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton, an insider at his eponymous fashion house, took over as the creative director.
Fast forward 13 years, and after Burton’s final show on Sunday, a newcomer has been chosen as her successor.
Kering, the parent company of the brand, announced on Tuesday that Seán McGirr, an Irish-born designer based in London, will take on the role.
Though relatively unknown in the fashion press, McGirr brings with him an impressive resume. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, he most recently worked at JW Anderson, overseeing the ready-to-wear line.
McGirr has also had positions at Dries van Noten, Burberry, and Uniqlo, where he worked under Christophe Lemaire. Prior to his career in design, he served as a stylist in Tokyo and Paris.
Gianfilippo Testa, the CEO of Alexander McQueen, expressed his excitement about McGirr’s appointment, stating, “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.”
The announcement comes after much speculation about who would fill the prestigious role. Prominent fashion figures, including Riccardo Tisci, the former Givenchy designer who now leads Burberry, were rumored to be contenders.
However, McGirr’s appointment follows a trend seen in luxury fashion houses, with brands either promoting existing talent or poaching from other houses.
In January, Gucci, another Kering-owned brand, named Sabato de Sarno, previously a senior designer at Valentino, as its creative director. This followed the footsteps of Alessandro Michele, who was part of Gucci’s design team before becoming creative director in 2015.
In 2019, Virginie Viard, Karl Lagerfeld’s longtime protege, was named his successor after his passing.
Burton’s departure coincides with a broader restructuring at Kering, which also owns Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, and Bottega Veneta.
Although Kering doesn’t disclose sales figures for McQueen, sources report a slowdown in performance after strong growth prior to 2020.
In March 2022, Testa was appointed as McQueen’s new CEO with the mission of accelerating the brand’s expansion and tapping into its full potential.
Following McGirr’s appointment, many fashion enthusiasts took to social media to comment on the lack of diversity among creative directors at Kering-owned fashion houses, noting that all were white men.
Meanwhile, at rival conglomerate LVMH, four women hold top positions. Stella McCartney and Phoebe Philo lead their eponymous brands, while Maria Grazia Chiuri and Camille Miceli head Dior and Pucci respectively.
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