Sarah Burton Exits Alexander McQueen

THE KERING-OWNED BRAND SAID THAT SARAH BURTON WOULD BE LEAVING THE LUXURY FASHION HOUSE AND THAT HER SPRING 2024 COLLECTION WOULD BE HER FINAL ONE FOR THE BRAND.

LONDON — After serving as creative director since 2010, Sarah Burton is exiting British house Alexander McQueen.

“The Alexander McQueen fashion house and creative director Sarah Burton today announce the end of their collaboration after two decades together,” Kering said in a statement. “The spring-summer ’24 fashion show in Paris in September will mark the conclusion of a highly successful partnership that began when Sarah Burton became creative director of the fashion House in May 2010.”

Burton has served her entire career in fashion at McQueen.

Gianfilippo Testa, chief executive officer of Alexander McQueen, said: “We would like to express our immense gratitude to Sarah for writing such an important chapter in the history of the Alexander McQueen house. Sarah’s contribution over the past 26 years will leave an indelible mark.”

François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of Kering, said: “I am immensely grateful to Sarah, and I want to personally thank her for her work over the past two decades, first alongside Lee Alexander McQueen, where her role was instrumental to his success, and then as the creative director since 2010. Through her own experience, sensitivity and talent, Sarah continued to evolve the artistic expression of this iconic house. She kept and continued Lee’s heritage, attention to detail and unique vision, while adding her own personal, highly creative touch.”

Burton said: “I am so proud of everything I’ve done and of my incredible team at Alexander McQueen. They are my family, and this has been my home for the past 26 years. I want to thank François-Henri Pinault for believing in me and offering me this amazing opportunity. Above all I want to thank Lee Alexander McQueen. He taught me so much and I am eternally grateful to him. I am looking forward to the future and my next chapter and will always carry this treasured time with me.”

Kering said a new creative organization for the house will be announced in the near future.

Burton will show her final collection for McQueen in Paris next month. She was appointed creative director of Alexander McQueen in 2010 following Lee Alexander McQueen’s suicide.

Burton received the Designer of the Year Award at the British Fashion Awards in 2011, and in 2019 received the Council of Fashion Designer of America International Award.

While at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in the late 1990s, Burton studied print fashion and landed at McQueen after one of her instructors, Simon Ungless, introduced her to the designer in 1996.

He offered her an internship at his design house. After graduating, Burton became McQueen’s personal assistant and was subsequently promoted in 2000 to head of womenswear.

Kering is looking to reshape itself as a dynamic player in this forever changing and very competitive market and seek new avenues of growth as sales momentum fades at its flagship brand Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga.

Photos Credit: Erik Madigan Heck

Source: WWD