Seán McGirr
Creative director of Alexander McQueen
Seán McGirr is an Irish designer who has been creative director of Alexander McQueen, part of Kering, since October 2023, succeeding Sarah Burton. Before McQueen he was head of ready to wear at JW Anderson, and in September 2026 he brought the house back to London Fashion Week.
| Role | Creative director, Alexander McQueen |
|---|---|
| Since | October 2023 |
| Predecessor | Sarah Burton |
| Previously | Head of ready to wear, JW Anderson |
| Education | Central Saint Martins, MA 2014 |
| Nationality | Irish |
Who is Seán McGirr?
Seán McGirr was born in Dublin, Ireland. He is the creative director of Alexander McQueen, the British luxury house owned by Kering. His appointment was announced on 3 October 2023, when he succeeded Sarah Burton, who had led the house since the death of its founder.
Career
McGirr completed an MA in fashion at Central Saint Martins in London in 2014. Earlier roles included assisting at Burberry and at Vogue Hommes Japan. He then worked for Uniqlo in Tokyo and Paris, in the team led by Christophe Lemaire, and as a women's designer at Dries Van Noten in Antwerp.
In 2020 he joined JW Anderson as head of men's collections, a role later expanded to head of ready to wear covering womenswear as well. At the time of his McQueen appointment, Kering's chairman and chief executive, François Henri Pinault, said the group was confident McGirr would "be able to pursue its journey with a new creative impetus".
On 20 September 2026 McGirr presented Alexander McQueen's spring and summer 2027 collection, for women and men, on the official London Fashion Week schedule, his first McQueen show in London after the house had typically shown in Paris. He said that "London has always been at the heart of McQueen."
Influence on the fashion business
McGirr's tenure illustrates several themes for luxury groups:
- Appointing experienced studio leaders from younger, commercially agile brands
- Renewing a house strongly associated with its founder's legacy
- Using a show's location to reinforce brand heritage, here London
- Kering's wider reshaping of creative leadership across its brands
McGirr's background combines the commercial scale of Uniqlo with experience in the creative studios of Dries Van Noten and JW Anderson. When he was appointed, Gianfilippo Testa, then chief executive of Alexander McQueen, said he would bring a powerful creative language to the house while building on its unique heritage.
Why it matters
Alexander McQueen is one of Britain's most famous luxury names and an important brand within Kering. McGirr's work, and the decision to show in London again, will shape how the house connects its founder's dramatic legacy with a contemporary customer and with the British fashion ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the creative director of Alexander McQueen?
Seán McGirr has been creative director of Alexander McQueen since October 2023. He succeeded Sarah Burton and in September 2026 presented the house's spring and summer 2027 collection at London Fashion Week.
Who is Seán McGirr?
Seán McGirr is an Irish designer from Dublin who studied at Central Saint Martins and worked at Uniqlo, Dries Van Noten and JW Anderson before joining Alexander McQueen.