Sean McGirr, 35, joins Alexander McQueen as the new creative director of the British luxury fashion house. He succeeds Sarah Burton, who presented her last collection at Paris Fashion week in October 2023.

McGirr served as the Head of ready-to-wear at JW Anderson in London, where he initially led menswear, then later took on womenswear collections. Prior to this, he worked as a designer at Dries Van Noten in Antwerp. Between 2014 and 2018, he was part of Uniqlo’s creative offices in Tokyo and Paris, focusing on men’s collections under the guidance of Christophe Lemaire.

McGirr, who was born in Dublin, built his creative experience after graduating from Central Saint Martins college in 2014 with a Masters of Arts in Fashion. He started his career by taking up assisting work at Burberry and Vogue Hommes Japan.

Gianfilippo Testa, CEO of Alexander McQueen, expressed excitement about the new chapter McGirr is poised to bring to the iconic brand: ““we are delighted to welcome Sean 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 own unique heritage.”

Francois Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Alexander McQueen is a house we are passionate about, and we are confident that Sean 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 in 1992 by Lee Alexander McQueen, also a graduate from Central Saint Martins, the British luxury fashion brand has been under the creative direction of Sarah Burton from 2010 to 2023. Alexander McQueen has established a distinctive brand identity, known for its innovative and uncompromising blend of innovation and tradition. Whether or not McGirr manages to live up to the high standards set by Sarah Burton will be up for debate, as his first collection for the brand is set to hit the runways in 2024.