Alexander McQueen was born in London on March 17th 1969. He left school at the age of 16 and then was offered an apprenticeship at the traditional Savile Row Tailors Anderson and Shephard and then at neighbouring Gieves and Hawkes. From there he moved to the theatrical costumiers Angels and Bermans and by the aged 20 he was employed by the designer Koji Tatsuno, who also had his roots in British tailoring. A year later McQueen travelled to Milan where he was employed as Romeo Gigli’s design assistant. When his return to London, he completed a Masters degree in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martin’s.
“Alexander McQueen shows are known for their emotional power and raw energy, as well as the romantic but determinedly contemporary nature of the collections. Integral to the McQueen culture is the juxtaposition between contrasting elements: fragility and strength, tradition and modernity, fluidity and severity. An openly emotional and even passionate viewpoint is realised with a profound respect and influence for the arts and crafts tradition. Alexander’s collections combine an in-depth working knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, the fine workmanship of the French Haute Couture atelier and the impeccable finish of Italian manufacturing.”
Right away McQueen became one of the most respected fashion designers in the world. In October 1996 he was appointed Chief Designer at the French Haute Couture House Givenchy where he worked until March of 2001.
Awards achieved in fashion:
- British Designer of the year 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2003;
- International Designer of the Year by The Council of Fashion Designer’s of America (CFDA) in 2003;
- A Most Excellent Commander of The British Empire (CBE) by her Majesty the Queen in 2003;
- GQ Menswear Designer of the Year in 2007;
SOURCE: http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/
