Sarah Burton Is Departing Alexander McQueen

Sarah Burton — Alexander McQueen’s long-standing artistic director and former right-hand of late founder Lee McQueen — is parting methods with Kering-owned home, the corporate mentioned in an announcement.

McQueen’s September present throughout Paris Trend Week can be her last outing for the home. Her successor is about to be introduced “in the end,” the corporate mentioned.

Burton first labored at Alexander McQueen as an intern throughout her research at Central Saint Martins, returning as a full-time designer after graduating. In 2000, after simply two years on the model, she was named head of womenswear design. Following McQueen’s dying in 2010, Burton was named his successor, tasked with persevering with the late designer’s legacy.

In 2011, she made headlines for designing Catherine, Princess of Wales’ wedding ceremony gown, and was quickly awarded an OBE for her providers to British vogue.

On the head of McQueen, Burton grew to become one of many business’s most revered designers in her personal proper as she managed to animate the model with runway collections that blended poetry with utility. She introduced a way of edgy glamour to the model, whereas shifting its message away from the extraordinary darkness that outlined McQueen below its founder.

Burton’s departure follows an govt reshuffle at McQueen: earlier CEO Emmanuel Gintzburger left for Capri-owned Versace final 12 months, and was changed by Gianfillippo Testa, a former retail govt at Kering flagship Gucci.

McQueen’s gross sales surged forward of the pandemic, powered by a streak of buzzier-than-usual exhibits by Burton and successful product within the type of its thick-soled, €500 sneakers. In 2018, Kering flagged plans to speculate closely in additional growing McQueen, which was then the group’s fastest-growing model.

The group is relying on smaller manufacturers in its “Different Luxurious” division greater than earlier than because the unit’s anchor, Balenciaga continues to battle in key markets just like the US and UK. However market sources mentioned a push to scale back wholesale publicity and restrict the model’s dependence on sneakers might have hampered the corporate’s development in latest months.

“We wish to specific our immense gratitude to Sarah for writing such an vital chapter within the historical past of the Alexander McQueen Home. Sarah’s contribution over the previous 26 years will depart an indelible mark,” CEO Testa mentioned.

Keep tuned to BoF for updates on this growing story.