Alexander McQueen names rising star Seán McGirr as creative director

Alexander McQueen has named rising design star Seán McGirr as creative director, replacing Sarah Burton who showed her final collection in Paris this week.

McGirr joins the Kering-owned house from JW Anderson where he had been head of ready-to-wear. McGirr joined JW Anderson in 2020 to head up the men’s collections, eventually adding womenswear to his responsibilities.

Prior to that, he was women's wesigner for Dries Van Noten in Antwerp. 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.

An Irish national, born in Dublin, McGirr is a graduate of Central Saint Martins in London, where he obtained a Master of Arts in Fashion in 2014.

Gianfilippo Testa, CEO of Alexander McQueen, said of the appointment: “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.

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.”

Naomi Campbell walks in Sarah Burton's final McQueen show

Sarah Burton had been right-hand woman to the late Lee Alexander McQueen and took over the creative direction of the house following the designer's untimely death in 2010. She had been with the house for 26 years and was considered a direct design link to its trailblazing founder.

She shot to prominence in 2011 when she was chosen to design the wedding dress of the now Princess of Wales when she married Prince William. At McQueen she forged a strong reputation for exquisite tailoring and red carpet gowns but reports suggest that Kering was looking for a designer who could bring a wider perspective with the introduction of more ready-to-wear for day.

Burton's imminent departure from McQueen was announced last month. At the time Burton said: "I am so proud of everything I've done and of my incredible team at Alexander McQueen. They are my family, and this has been my home for the past 26 years. I want to thank François-Henri Pinault for believing in me and offering me this amazing opportunity. Above all I want to thank Lee Alexander McQueen. He taught me so much and I am eternally grateful to him. I am looking forward to the future and my next chapter and will always carry this treasured time with me."