Who is Seán McGirr? What to know about Alexander McQueen's new creative director

Just a few days after Sarah Burton presented her Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2024 collection—the last at the helm of the brand—the House has named its new creative director to take her place.

Kering announced it has hired Seán McGirr to succeed Burton. He is a JW Anderson alum who overlooked the men's ready-to-wear, and later added womenswear to the list.

"We are delighted to welcome Seán McGirr as Creative Director," Gianfilippo Testa, CEO of Alexander McQueen, said in a statement. "With his experience, personality, and creative energy, he will bring a powerful creative language to Alexander McQueen while building on its unique heritage."

Born in Dublin, McGirr obtained a Master of Arts in Fashion in 2014, graduating from Central Saint Martins. He has quite an impressive resume: He began his career assisting at Burberry and Vogue Hommes Japan, and he also has experience working under Christophe Lemaire while a part of Uniqlo's creative offices in Tokyo and Paris. Before his time at JW Anderson, he was a Women's Designer for Dries Van Noten in Antwerp.

"Alexander McQueen is a House we are passionate about, and we are confident that Seán McGirr will be able to pursue its journey with a new creative impetus. We look forward to opening this new chapter in the history of this unique brand," said François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, in a statement.

It's no secret that after her 26-year tenure at the House, Burton set a high bar, leaving McGirr with big shoes to fill. While McGirr has yet to make a statement of his own and with no confirmation on when his debut runway show will take place, the fashion world is certainly left intrigued on what path McGirr will take Alexander McQueen down.