Designer
Biography
Alexander McQueen was born in London on March 17th 1969 as the youngest of six children. He left school at the age of 16 and was immediately offered an apprenticeship at the traditional Saville Row tailors Anderson and Shephard and then at neighbouring Gieves and Hawkes, both masters in the technical construction of clothing.
From there he moved to the theatrical costumiers Angels and Bermans where he mastered 6 methods of pattern cutting from the melodramatic 16th Century to the razor sharp tailoring which has become a McQueen signature. Aged 20 he was employed by the designer Koji Tatsuno, who also had his roots in British tailoring.
From there he moved to the theatrical costumiers Angels and Bermans where he mastered 6 methods of pattern cutting from the melodramatic 16th Century to the razor sharp tailoring which has become a McQueen signature. Aged 20 he was employed by the designer Koji Tatsuno, who also had his roots in British tailoring.
A year later McQueen travelled to Milan where he was gainfully employed as Romeo Gigli’s design assistant. He finally returned to London in 1994 where he completed a Masters degree in Fashion Design at St. Martin’s. His degree collection was famously bought in its entirety by Isabella Blow.
Alexander McQueen is known for both the emotional power and raw energy of the shows as well as the romantic but determinedly contemporary nature of the collections. Integral to the McQueen culture is the juxtaposition between contrasting elements: fragility and strength, tradition and modernity and fluidity and severity. An openly emotional and even passionate viewpoint is realised with a profound respect and influence for the arts and crafts tradition.
Alexander's collections combine an in-depth working knowledge of: bespoke British tailoring, the fine workmanship of the French Haute Couture atelier and the impeccable finish of Italian manufacturing.
In less than 10 years McQueen became one of the most respected fashion designers in the world. In October 1996 he was appointed Chief Designer at the French Haute Couture House Givenchy where he worked until March of 2001.
In December 2000, 51% of Alexander McQueen was acquired by the Gucci Group, where he remains to this day as Creative Director. Collections include womens ready-to-wear, mens ready-to-wear, accessories, eyewear and fragrance (Kingdom 2003 and MyQueen 2005). Expansion followed and included the opening of flagship stores in New York, London, Milan, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Alexander McQueen collections are now distributed in over 39 countries through 194 wholesale accounts including speciality shops and better department stores.
In addition to the mainline collections, partnerships have been formed with Puma in October 2005 for an unexpected and unique exploratory footwear collection, which in January 2009 was extended to include an apparel collection.
January 2006 heralded the birth of McQ – Alexander McQueen – a denim based ready to wear line (womenswear, menswear and accessories), manufactured and distributed worldwide by SINV spa. March 2009 saw a collaboration between Dancer Sylvie Guillem, Theatre producer Robert Lepage and Choreographer Russell Maliphant for the costume design of their production Eonnagata at Sadlers Wells.
The following awards have recognized Alexander McQueen’s achievement in fashion: British Designer of the year 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2003, International Designer of the Year by The Council of Fashion Designer's of America (CFDA) in 2003, A Most Excellent Commander of The British Empire’ (CBE) by her Majesty the Queen in 2003, and the Fashion and Grooming Awards - Fashion Director’s Award 2007 for McQ.
Designer
Sarah Burton
Label
Management
Jonathan Akeroyd
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer
Fashion shows & sales campaign
Fashion shows
London men's spring-summer 14
Monday June 17 2013 at 4.00pm
Monday June 17 2013 at 4.00pm
Alexander McQueen
See invitation
,
See invitation
,
London men's spring-summer 14
Alexander McQueen
Valentina Palma
valentina.palma@uk.alexandermcqueen.com
M : +44 (0)207 017 8275
Charlotte Darrieus
charlotte.darrieus@uk.alexandermcqueen.com
Valentina Palma
valentina.palma@uk.alexandermcqueen.com
M : +44 (0)207 017 8275
Charlotte Darrieus
charlotte.darrieus@uk.alexandermcqueen.com
Milan men's spring-summer 14
from Friday June 21 2013 to Sunday July 07 2013
from Friday June 21 2013 to Sunday July 07 2013
Alexander McQueen
Piazza Gae Aulenti, 6
Viale Don Luigi Sturzo, 22
20154 Milan , Italy
Valentina Palma
valentina.palma@uk.alexandermcqueen.com
Fiorella Farina
fiorella.farina@it.alexandermcqueen.com
Piazza Gae Aulenti, 6
Viale Don Luigi Sturzo, 22
20154 Milan , Italy
Valentina Palma
valentina.palma@uk.alexandermcqueen.com
Fiorella Farina
fiorella.farina@it.alexandermcqueen.com
Contacts & showrooms
Alexander McQueen
Showroom contact
Commercial Director
Showroom contact
Commercial Director
Giovanni Paoletti
T : +44 (0) 207 017 8200
F : +44 (0) 207 017 8275
giovanni.paoletti@it.alexandermcqueen.com
T : +44 (0) 207 017 8200
F : +44 (0) 207 017 8275
giovanni.paoletti@it.alexandermcqueen.com
Alexander McQueen
Showroom contact
Global Communications Director
76-78 Clerkenwell Road
EC1M 5QA London, United Kingdom
Showroom contact
Global Communications Director
76-78 Clerkenwell Road
EC1M 5QA London, United Kingdom
Boutiques
Boutiques Alexander McQueen
Bangkok
Alexander McQueen
494 the Erawan Bangkok Building Ploenchit Road
Bangkok
Thailand
Alexander McQueen
494 the Erawan Bangkok Building Ploenchit Road
Bangkok
Thailand
Beijing
Alexander McQueen
Sanlitun Village Village North Shop N2-12/22, No.11 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District
100027 Beijing
China
T : +86 010 64168189
Alexander McQueen
Sanlitun Village Village North Shop N2-12/22, No.11 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District
100027 Beijing
China
T : +86 010 64168189
Beirut
Alexander McQueen
136 Allenby Street - 1st Floor Downtown
Beirut
Lebanon
Alexander McQueen
136 Allenby Street - 1st Floor Downtown
Beirut
Lebanon
Dubai
Alexander McQueen
The Dubai Mall - Fashion Level G
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Alexander McQueen
The Dubai Mall - Fashion Level G
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Istanbul
Alexander McQueen
Abdi Ipecki Cad. No. 21
34200 Nisantasi Istanbul
Turkey
Alexander McQueen
Abdi Ipecki Cad. No. 21
34200 Nisantasi Istanbul
Turkey
Las Vegas
Alexander McQueen
Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd South
89109 Las Vegas
United States
T : +1 702 369 0510
F : +1 702 369 1584
Alexander McQueen
Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd South
89109 Las Vegas
United States
T : +1 702 369 0510
F : +1 702 369 1584
London
Alexander McQueen
4-5 Old Bond Street
W1S 4PD London
United Kingdom
T : +44 207 355 0088
F : +44 207 355 0089
Alexander McQueen
4-5 Old Bond Street
W1S 4PD London
United Kingdom
T : +44 207 355 0088
F : +44 207 355 0089
Los Angeles
Alexander McQueen
8379 Melrose Avenue
90069 Los Angeles
United States
T : +1 323 782 4983
F : +1 323 782 0793
Alexander McQueen
8379 Melrose Avenue
90069 Los Angeles
United States
T : +1 323 782 4983
F : +1 323 782 0793
Miami
Alexander McQueen
9700 Collins Avenue
FL 33154 Miami
United States
Alexander McQueen
9700 Collins Avenue
FL 33154 Miami
United States
Milan
Alexander McQueen
via Verri, 8
20121 Milan
Italy
T : +39 02 76 00 33 74
F : +39 02 76 00 34 41
Alexander McQueen
via Verri, 8
20121 Milan
Italy
T : +39 02 76 00 33 74
F : +39 02 76 00 34 41
New York
Alexander McQueen
417 West 14th Street
NY 10014 New York
United States
T : +1 212 645 1797
F : +1 212 645 5380
Alexander McQueen
417 West 14th Street
NY 10014 New York
United States
T : +1 212 645 1797
F : +1 212 645 5380
Porto Arabia
Alexander McQueen
The Pearl Qatar - Unit 123 Parcel 5
Porto Arabia
Qatar
Alexander McQueen
The Pearl Qatar - Unit 123 Parcel 5
Porto Arabia
Qatar
Seoul
Alexander McQueen
Galleria Department store, East 3f 515 Apjujeong-Dong
Gangnam-Gu Seoul
South Korea
Alexander McQueen
Galleria Department store, East 3f 515 Apjujeong-Dong
Gangnam-Gu Seoul
South Korea
Selection of multilabel boutiques
Athens
Luisa (Rossi)
15 Skoufa Str.
10673 Athens
Greece
Luisa (Rossi)
15 Skoufa Str.
10673 Athens
Greece
Desenzano sul Garda (BS)
Tremolini
piazza Malvezzi, 27
25015 Desenzano sul Garda (BS)
Italy
Tremolini
piazza Malvezzi, 27
25015 Desenzano sul Garda (BS)
Italy
Milan
Biffi Boutique
corso Genova, 6
20123 Milan
Italy
Biffi Boutique
corso Genova, 6
20123 Milan
Italy
Seoul
Shinsegae
Via S. Antonio, 4
20122 Seoul
South Korea
Shinsegae
Via S. Antonio, 4
20122 Seoul
South Korea
Tel Aviv
Klaudee - Enigma
34 rue Hey Beeyar
62998 Tel Aviv
Israel
Klaudee - Enigma
34 rue Hey Beeyar
62998 Tel Aviv
Israel
Tokyo
Restir
4-2-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku
104-0061 Tokyo
Japan
Restir
4-2-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku
104-0061 Tokyo
Japan
Toronto
Holt Renfrew
60 Bloor Street West Suit 300
M4W3B8 Toronto
Canada
Holt Renfrew
60 Bloor Street West Suit 300
M4W3B8 Toronto
Canada
Zurich
Trois Pommes
Storchengasse 6
8001 Zurich
Switzerland
Trois Pommes
Storchengasse 6
8001 Zurich
Switzerland

