News just in - Seán McGirr will be leaving his role as creative director of Alexander McQueen. The brand announced the move on Thursday afternoon, writing via a statement: “Since joining Alexander McQueen in 2023, Seán has shaped a new chapter in the House’s creative story, bringing a distinctive vision while staying deeply connected to the spirit and legacy of its founder, Lee Alexander McQueen.” McGirr’s successor is yet to be named.
Luca de Meo, CEO of Kering, said: “I would like to thank Seán for his contribution and dedication to Alexander McQueen. Our ambition is to establish a bold new direction for the House, building on its unique heritage of exceptional tailoring, uncompromising creativity and rebellion to reaffirm its position as one of the most innovative and culturally relevant voices in luxury.”
Gianfranco D’Attis, President and CEO of Alexander McQueen, said: “I want to thank Seán personally for everything he has brought to Alexander McQueen. Over the past three years, he has approached the House with great respect for its history while expressing his own vision. His talent and passion have helped us reconnect Alexander McQueen with London, its culture, and its extraordinary creative energy. I am deeply grateful to Seán and to the teams for their commitment, creativity, and contribution to the House.”
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Seán McGirr said: “My vision for Alexander McQueen was grounded in the interplay between raw, visceral, human beauty and the precision and rigor at the heart of the House. I am incredibly proud of the progressive energy we cultivated as a team, anchoring our creativity in contemporary culture, and seeing it resonate with the most forthright, expressive figures across art, music, cinema, and more. I leave with profound gratitude for the dedication of the studio and atelier, and craftspeople. I look forward to my next chapter and wish the House every success.”
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Upon hearing the news, the industry was abuzz with speculation. “Oh…Anthony Vaccarello is free,” wrote one fashion editor, while another said: “He did it amazingly.” Other names including Robert Wun, Maximilian Raynor and John Galliano were thrown into the ring across social media.
McGirr previously served as the head of ready-to-wear at JW Anderson, overseeing both menswear and womenswear collections. The designer, who studied at Central Saint Martins in London, has a rich background, having worked as a womenswear designer at Dries Van Noten and gained experience at Burberry and Uniqlo.