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Alexander McQueen CBE (born Lee McQueen, 17 March 1969) is one
of the most influential English fashion designers. He has mastered
6 methods of pattern cutting from the flamboyant styles of the
16th Century to the sharp, contemporary tailoring which has
become his signature.
Born in the East End of London, the son of a taxi driver, Alexander
started running up dresses for his three sisters at a young
age and announced his intention of becoming a top designer.
McQueen went on to leave school at 16, landing himself an apprenticeship
with top Savile Row tailors Anderson and Shepherd, then working
for Gieves & Hawkes and the famous theatrical costumiers
Angels and Bermans. While on Savile Row, McQueen's clients included
Mikhail Gorbachev and Charles, Prince of Wales. When he was
20, McQueen went on to work for Koji Tatsuno and Romeo Gigli.
McQueen applied to London's most prestigious fashion school,
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design for a Masters
Degree. Although he had no formal education, he was immediately
admitted on the strength of his portfolio. He graduated in 1991.
Before opening his own studio in East London in 1992, McQueen
developed a reputation for controversy and shock tactics (earning
the title "enfant terrible" and "the hooligan
of English fashion"), with trousers aptly named "bumsters",
and a collection entitled "Highland Rape". His provocative
designs attracted a small but loyal clientele, including such
influential fashion figures as stylist Isabella Blow, who purchased
everything from his first collection, and was said to have persuaded
McQueen to change his name from Lee to Alexander when he launched
his fashion career. (It has also been claimed that he was on
income support and that he needed to change his name for his
first show so that he could continue to receive unemployment
cheques.) The president of LVMH, Bernard Arnault caused a stir
when he instated McQueen as head designer at Givenchy in 1996,
succeeding John Galliano. McQueen toned down his act at Givenchy,
but continued to indulge his rebellious streak, causing controversy
in Autumn 1998 with a show which included car-robots spraying
paint over white cotton dresses, and double amputee model Aimee
Mullins striding down the catwalk on intricately carved wooden
legs. McQueen stayed with Givenchy until March 2001.
Some of Alexander McQueen's  accomplishments
include being one of the youngest designers to achieve the title
"British Designer of the Year", which he won four
times between 1996 and 2003. He has also been awarded the CBE,
as well as being named International Designer of the Year at
the Council of Fashion Designer Awards. December 2000 saw a
new partnership for McQueen with Gucci Group acquiring 51% of
the company, and McQueen serving as Creative Director. Plans
for expansion have included the opening of stores in London,
Milan, and New York, and the launch of his perfumes Kingdom,
and more recently My Queen. In 2005, McQueen collaborated with
Puma to create a special line of sneakers for the shoe brand.
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