Designer of the Year

Alexander McQueen has been named Designer of the year..

Born in London in 1969 and dubbed ‘enfant terrible’ by the fashion press, Alexander McQueen has manipulated his own fashion career to become one of the youngest designers to achieve the title ‘ British Designer of the Year’ in 1996, 1997 and again in 2001. Alexander assumed the position of Chief Designer at the French Haute Couture House Givenchy from October 1996 – March 2001.

Leaving school aged 16; he walked into Anderson and Shepherd on Savile Row, angry at the lack of apprentices in what was the dying leg of the fashion industry. Moving on to Gieves and Hawks, Savile Row, and the famous theatrical costumiers Angels and Bermans, Alexander has mastered 6 methods of pattern cutting from the melodramatic 16th Century to the brutally sharp tailoring which has become a McQueen signature.

At 20 years of age Alexander began work with Koji Tatsuno. At 21 he ventured to Milan where he worked for Romeo Gigili. He finally returned to London to complete an M.A at St. Martins School of Art, where his final collection gained him extensive press coverage.

Alexander McQueen has now captured world-wide attention with his theatrical shows. Unequalled in London, they have become the predominant reason why the city currently radiates energetic fashion. Shows including ‘#13’ ‘The Overlook’ ‘Eye’ (also shown in New York) and ‘VOSS2001’ represent creative showcases that have captured world-wide attention.

December 2000 saw a new partnership for McQueen with Gucci Group acquiring 51% of the company with Alexander serving as Creative Director. Plans for expansion include the opening of stores world-wide and the launch of a perfume in 2003.

London: Alexander McQueen (Jan 2003).
Harvey Nichols and Harrods
New York : Alexander McQueen ( Spring 2002 )
Paris : Printemps and Colette
Japan : Alexander McQueen
Milan : Corso Como