Who is Seán McGirr? What to Know About Alexander McQueen's Creative Director

In October 2023, Alexander McQueen, the revered British fashion house known for its boundary-pushing designs, announced Sean McGirr as its new creative director. This appointment came after a brief period of speculation following the departure of Sarah Burton, who had been at the helm since the untimely passing of the brand's eponymous founder, Lee Alexander McQueen, in 2010. McGirr’s entry marked a fresh chapter for the brand, and he had his debut collection with the brand in March of 2023.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Sean McGirr’s journey into the fashion world began in relatively quiet surroundings. His love for clothing and design was sparked at a young age, leading him to study fashion design at Central Saint Martins, the same prestigious school that produced talents like Alexander McQueen himself. 

Before stepping into his role at Alexander McQueen, McGirr sharpened his skills across some of the world’s leading fashion houses. He spent time at Dries Van Noten and Burberry, where he absorbed the intricacies of tailoring and the marriage between structure and fluidity. He also worked at Uniqlo in Tokyo, honing his expertise in everyday wear with a focus on quality and function. Most notably, McGirr served as head of ready-to-wear for JW Anderson, a position that solidified his reputation as a rising star in the fashion world.

In interviews, McGirr has emphasized the importance of storytelling in fashion. He views garments as a medium for communicating powerful narratives—about the people who wear them, the cultures they come from, and the emotions they evoke. This approach is likely to harmonize well with the McQueen legacy, a brand renowned for its theatrical presentations, deep emotional resonance, and daring exploration of themes like life, death, and rebirth.

In his debut collection, he used inspiration from McQueen's past collections in the 1990s, with a taste for rough glamour with rebellious silhouettes throughout, and the latest Fall/Winter 2024 also shared a rebellious spirit celebrating London fashion. With McQueen presenting their newest Spring/Summer 2025 collection later today, many are eager to see which director McGirr will take this time.