Who is Seán McGirr, Alexander McQueen’s new creative director?

When Sarah Burton was announced as the successor to Alexander McQueen at his eponymous label after his death in 2010, she was an unknown to many. Thirteen years, a very famous wedding dress and many high points since Burton is one of the most famous creative names behind any big fashion house today.

So it was a shock to many when Burton announced in September that she was leaving the label. And the rumour mill has been in overdrive since about who would be her replacement. Everyone from former Burberry chief creative officer Riccardo Tisci to London-based designer Grace Wales Bonner, founder of the Wales Bonner men's and womenswear label and recipient of this year's BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund, has been in the mix.

But yesterday, any doubt was quashed with the announcement that the head of Irish designer JW Anderson's ready-to-wear label, fellow Irishman Seán McGirr, was to take up the reins at McQueen. McGirr joined JW Anderson in 2020 to head up his menswear collection before moving to Anderson’s womenswear offering too. Before that, McGirr was women’s designer for Dries Van Noten in Antwerp. From 2014 to 2018 he was part of Uniqlo’s creative offices in Paris and Tokyo working on the men’s collection while his career began by assisting Burberry and Vogue Hommes Japan.

Dublin-born, McGirr moved to London to study at Central Saint Martins where he graduated with a Master of Arts in Fashion in 2014. “We are delighted to welcome Seán McGirr as creative director,” said the brand’s CEO, Gianfilippo Testa, in a statement. “With his experience, personality, and creative energy, he will bring a powerful creative language to Alexander McQueen while building on its unique heritage.”

Alexander McQueen is part of the global luxury group, Kering which also owns Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Venetta, and Balenciaga among others. In 2022, Kering had over 47,000 employees with a revenue of €20.4 billion.