NoIt hasn’t been that long since Sarah Burton’s farewell. The historic stylist of Alexander McQueen he left the reins of the Maison just a few weeks ago and presented his latest collection during the recently concluded Paris Fashion Week, to great critical acclaim. And today the fashion house announces the appointment of his successor: Sean McGirr it’s the new one creative director which will guide the brand founded by Lee Alexander McQueen in 1992 into the future.
«This fashion show is dedicated to the memory of Lee Alexander McQueen, who always wanted the emancipation of women». The designer dedicated her farewell show to the creative figure of English fashion, who tragically passed away in 2010. A succession of releases with clear references to the archive: there were the anatomical clothes, the red roses, the scratchy blacks. And now the fashion house in Kering’s orbit is ready to write a new chapter in its history.
Who is Sean McGirr
Irish, native of Dublin, graduated from Central Saint Martins of London with a master’s degree in Arts in fashion in 2014 and has a fashion past especially in menswear. His most prestigious work experience: head of ready-to-wear for JW Andersonanother successful English brand, starting from 2020. It started with men’s and then also worked on the women’s line.
Previously, he worked on womenswear for Dries Van Noten. From 2014 to 2018 you worked for Uniqlo in Tokyo and Paris, taking care of the men’s collections and working with Christophe Lemaire. She started her career as assistant from Burberry And Vogue Hommes Japan.
A portrait of Sean McGirr (Photo: Robin Galiegue/Alexander McQueen)
Another man at the top of a luxury brand
In short, a very respectable CV. But, despite the official enthusiastic words from Kering leaders – «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 developing his unique legacy »said CEO Gianfilippo Testa – the vitriolic comments from the fashion system were not long in coming.
The last words to comment on Sarah Burton’s fashion show sound like a warning. And it is the independent publication that raises the controversy 1 Granary, which reports the words of some female designers, without revealing their identities: «With the appointment of Sean McGirr to @alexandermcqueen, all the creative directors of the @kering_official fashion houses are now white men». “I literally don’t know a single woman of my generation who has been chosen for a job like this.” «We gave everything to serve men paid 10 times our salary. It’s an insult to every woman working in the industry, not her appointment but the fact that she has an entire portfolio of brands led by men.”
An Alexander McQueen SS24 look (Photo: Spotlight Launchmetrics).
Except for Boucheronwhich he has at his own reins Claire Choisneall the luxury brands of Kering today, in fact, they have men as creative directors. The other “trend” of the group, the choice of leaders known only to the environment but who boast prestigious experiences – just think of the recent appointment of Sabato De Sarno from Gucci. Ultimately, does only the CV count? We’ll see.
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