French luxury conglomerate Kering has announced the appointment of Seán McGirr as creative director of Alexander McQueen.
SEE ALSO: Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton departs
McGirr replaces Sarah Burton, who left her post as creative director of the British luxury brand this month, after two decades at the design helm.
McGirr, an Irish designer, was previously head of ready-to-wear at fellow British luxury brand, JW Anderson. In 2020, he joined the namesake label to head up the men’s collections, eventually adding womenswear to his responsibilities.
Prior to that, he was women’s designer for Dries Van Noten in Antwerp, a role he took on in 2018.
From 2014 to 2018, he was part of Uniqlo’s creative offices in Tokyo and Paris working on the men’s collections guided by Christophe Lemaire. He started his career assisting at Burberry and Vogue Hommes Japan.
Born in Dublin, McGirr is a graduate of Central Saint Martins in London, where he obtained a Master of Arts in Fashion in 2014.
“We are delighted to welcome Seán McGirr as creative director,” said Gianfilippo Testa, CEO of Alexander McQueen, who was recruited to the role in 2022.
“With his experience, personality, and creative energy, he will bring a powerful creative language to Alexander McQueen while building on its unique heritage.”
François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, added: “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.”
Founded by Lee Alexander McQueen in 1992, Alexander McQueen is a London-based men’s and women’s luxury brand known for its avant-garde designs. In February 2010, McQueen tragically died by suicide, at his home in Mayfair, London, leaving Burton to take over his brand.
In the first half of 2023, parent company Kering, which also owns Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga brands, generated EUR 10.1 billion (USD 10.57 billion) in revenue, a 2 percent increase in both reported and comparable terms.
Similarly, in the second quarter of 2023, sales increased by 2 percent as reported and 3 percent on a comparable basis. Kering’s retail network, including e-commerce sites, saw a 4 percent growth on a comparable basis in the second quarter, led by strong performances in Asia-Pacific and Japan.