Seán McGirr leaves McQueen after three years as Kering resets its creative ranks

Alexander McQueen said on Thursday, 15 October, that creative director Seán McGirr is leaving the Kering-owned house after three years, and that it will soon announce new creative leadership.

What was said

• Kering CEO Luca de Meo thanked McGirr and said the group wants “a bold new direction for the House”, building on its heritage of tailoring, creativity and rebellion.
• McGirr said his vision was grounded in “the interplay between raw, visceral, human beauty and the precision and rigor” of the house, and thanked the studio, atelier and craftspeople.
• According to Vogue, the next creative director will debut in London, where McQueen moved its shows for spring/summer 2027.

Background

• The Irish designer, born in 1987, was appointed in October 2023, succeeding Sarah Burton, after serving as head of ready-to-wear at JW Anderson.
• McQueen has been restructuring this year, with job cuts and a new CEO, Gianfranco D’Attis (formerly of Prada), since 3 June. At Kering’s capital markets day in April, de Meo outlined a plan for 50% fewer McQueen stores by the end of 2026 than at the end of 2025, Vogue reported.
• BoF noted that McQueen joins a long list of Kering brands in creative transition, a week after Anthony Vaccarello’s exit from Saint Laurent was announced. Kering reports third-quarter sales on 22 October.