Sarah Burton to Leave Alexander McQueen

After twenty-six years with the company, and thirteen years as the artistic director of the Alexander McQueen brand, the English designer announces her departure.

On September 30, 2023, in Paris, she will present her final collection and bring an end to twenty-six years of collaboration. Sarah Burton is thus turning the page on Alexander McQueen. This departure was announced through a statement by the Kering group, the brand's owner. "We want to express our immense gratitude to Sarah for writing such an important chapter in the history of Alexander McQueen. Sarah's contribution over the past 26 years will leave an indelible mark," said CEO Gianfilippo Testa.

Joining Alexander McQueen as an intern in 1996 at the age of 21, Sarah Burton initially carved out a discreet place behind the brilliance of Alexander McQueen himself. He recognized her unwavering loyalty. Very quickly, the British designer's responsibilities grew. In 2000, she was appointed head of the ready-to-wear creative studio. Then, in 2010, she reluctantly assumed the role of artistic director for the Alexander McQueen brand, still deeply affected by the suicide of her mentor and dear friend, designer Alexander McQueen, in February 2010, who tragically took his own life on the eve of his mother's funeral. However, the designer took up the task to perpetuate his legacy.

Guardian of the McQueen Legacy

The Burton signature would soar into the media spotlight in 2011, thanks to the royal wedding dress she created for Kate Middleton. The gown, made of Caudry lace, transformed the aura of both women: the Duchess of Cambridge became a future queen, and Sarah Burton became a globally renowned designer, capable of modernizing a brand while preserving its founder's legacy. It's a popularity she would never exploit. Season after season, she continues the poetic, dark, and technical work inherited from its founder, adding her own touch – cleaner, brighter, and softer, yet no less powerful – to women's wardrobes.