Seán McGirr

Seán McGirr is an Irish designer and the Creative Director of Alexander McQueen, appointed to the role in 2023. Born in Dublin and a graduate of the prestigious Central Saint Martins in London, McGirr has built a reputation as a formidable talent through his work at major international houses. His career includes significant experience as the Head of Ready-to-Wear at JW Anderson, as well as roles at Dries Van Noten and Uniqlo.

As the successor to Sarah Burton, McGirr is tasked with leading the creative vision of one of Britain’s most iconic fashion houses. His appointment signals a new chapter for Alexander McQueen, bringing a contemporary, subculturally informed perspective to the brand’s storied legacy of tailoring and drama.

The creative approach focuses on a 'compressed' and raw energy, exploring the inherent tension between structured British tailoring and distorted, organic volumes. Drawing heavily from the archives of the house, the work reinterprets legacy codes through the lens of late 20th-century London subcultures. This results in a design language that prioritises visceral textures, from heavy knits to sharp, aggressive leatherwork, to evoke a sense of dark, contemporary glamour.

Exaggerated proportions and a deconstructive methodology are central to the work, where garments are often manipulated to challenge traditional anatomical shapes. This ethos values the intersection of the macabre and the beautiful, utilising the house's heritage of craftsmanship to explore themes of protection and vulnerability. By integrating industrial elements with high-fashion construction, the collections present a provocative and modern vision of the McQueen silhouette.