Alexander McQueen: After Lee

[honeycombchild]

So the show isn't going ahead, instead it's presentations.

After a week of mourning and tributes to the man himself, and a day of speculation about the future of the business and all of its employees around the world, the press office at Alexander McQueen have released the following statement this evening.

London, Thursday 18 February 2010

Alexander McQueen confirms the Women’s Autumn-Winter 2010/2011 collection will be presented in Paris on Tuesday, March 9th and Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 as a private “salon” presentation to be attended by invitation only.

This decision has been taken in agreement with the Gucci Group.

Further details about the location will be communicated to the invited guests.

Grazia Daily

 

[Squizree]

^ That's in contrast to what the article I posted said. Oh well, at least now we know for sure that the brand is definitely going to continue. I had a feeling PPR were going to keep it going, theyve invested millions in it and its not like them to just drop it just like that.

Im nervous to see who the new creative lead is, but the article didnt say.

 

[mistress_f]

i don't know maybe a presentation is the right thing to do but it seems a little anticlimatic. as if one last show could be a dignified farewell to lee and his work... i don't know.

 

[CharlottefromCA]

I agree.. if they are his designs.. and they have been created, I would like to see them in a full spectacular runway presentation, fitting of the last showing of McQueen.. although some might argue his last showing was his spring show.. but I want to see the clothes in motion.

 

[Salvatore]

I don't care how it's shown as long as I get to see the garments .

 

[honeycombchild]

Well the Times Article came earlier on in the day, as did Grazia's original article in which they too said the show was going ahead. They posted this second one tonight to say it was infact going to be presentations. I think they'll have got it right, they're usually a very good source.

 

[Squizree]

Another couple of articles about the brand's continuation.

Alexander McQueen Fashion Label To Continue

While the world still mourns the death of British designer Lee McQueen, founder and creative director of the Alexander McQueen label, after his suicide last week, WWD reports today that the fashion brand will soldier on. “We believe in the future of the brand. Lee was very proud of the people working in his company, and so am I.” said Robert Polet, president and chief executive officer of the Gucci Group, which has a majority stake in the McQueen line. Though the New York fashion show for the designer’s contemporary label, McQ, was abruptly canceled the day of McQueen’s passing, the runway presentation for the Alexander McQueen collection will be held on March 9 during Paris Fashion

stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com

 

[Squizree]

This one is from WWD

McQueen Business to Continue Despite Founder’s Suicide

PARIS – The Alexander McQueen business will go on despite the suicide last week of its founder and creative director, said Robert Polet, president and chief executive officer of Gucci Group.

"We believe in the future of the brand," said Polet, speaking at PPR’s annual results presentation here. "Lee was very proud of the people working in his company, and so am I."

He added that a McQueen collection would be presented during Paris Fashion Week.

In 2000, Gucci Group, the luxury division of PPR, swept in and bought a 51 percent stake in McQueen’s company, bringing an end to the designer’s rocky stint as Givenchy’s couturier at rival luxury group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

The acquisition set the stage for expansion via signature boutiques in 11 cities; a secondary line called McQ licensed to Italy’s SINV; men’s wear and leather goods, and collaborations with the likes of Puma, Samsonite and the mass retailer Target.

McQueen’s business is included in PPR’s “other brands” that also comprises Balenciaga, Stella McCartney, Boucheron and Sergio Rossi, which saw fourth-quarter sales rise 6.7 percent to 130.4 million euros, or $192.6 million at average exchange rates.

Gucci Group does not give breakdowns per brand. However, market sources estimate the McQueen business is approaching $100 million.

wwd

 

[Squizree]

Its gonna take a LONG time before we warm up to Lee's replacement.

 

[maxlinden]

^^thank you for all the updates Squizree

 

[Squizree]

You're welcome

 

[maxlinden]

i think im ganna try and give his replacement a chance, i wont be so fast to judge cruely. i just hope his collection gives me the creative high fashion art that Lee gave and doesn't just become commercial

i guess we will see come October

 

[Birkin]

don't fool yourselves , Alexander McQueen brand died the day its creator died.If it continues will be just the name of the company, but no the soul.What we will see will be Mr or Mrs X designs labeled with the name of Alexander McQueen. it's like if a disciple of Picasso would keep painting Picasso-like paintings and pretend they are real Picassos.

 

[tatouejeremie]

no way that a continuation of his label is ever going to work out

 

[honeycombchild]

^ Well, it certainly wont if no-one gives it even a chance to.

 

[surrealseven]

^ Exactly, it will definitely need time, but time will heal.

It would be much more of a pity if the brand closes down after the founder has passed away.

Look at Versace, people have come to accept after Gianni's death.

I think most importantly,is to keep his spirit of the brand alive so the brand lives on without its founder.

 

[iluvpink]

I hate to say it but I think that McQueen should close its doors. McQueen's thought process was so unique to him that it can't be duplicated.

cosign!

 

[educo]

How is it cheap to respect the wishes of a dead man?

Lee was proud of his team.

Why shouldn't they and his assistant be given a chance?

Plenty of assistants go on to become perfectly good (and even excellent) creative directors.

You say 'who knows' what she'll be like, but then you talk as if you already do.

For all you and I know, his assistant is the right person.

Why not wait and see?

How cheap it is to make a hasty decision on a company that was a dead man's heart and soul?

I said wait and see. I'm sure the company can provide a severance package to the employees while they figure out what's going to be the next move. It's barely been a week since he has passed and people are still shocked from it. Don't you think that some of these decisions are better made with a clear mind and not a clouded one? if time passes, and the assistant is good, then it doesn't matter if she waited or not. That is my point. But what good does it do to make these decisions in haste? These shoes are very big to fill and it would be smart to retreat and think of the next step and not just rush into the next phase just because the assistant designer is looks to be "the right person". There are some designers who rather stay in the background and just assist the head designer because they don't want to deal with the headaches. It's not as simple as "Lee was proud of his team, so why not?". Does anyone know that she evens WANTS this position?? Maybe she doesn't because frankly, who would want to deal with all this pressure so suddenly?

I'll repeat myself ONE MORE TIME:

Complete the collection and let the house rest until the dust settles and minds, options, and intentions are clear.

 

[educo]

TRUTH!

I hate the fact that tfsers are crucifying the new designer/s before they've even began. My god, the crazy levels of indignation! For all we know, Lee himself could be incredibly disappointed with such a reaction - given that his expressed wish was for his legacy to continue.

Aren't we all being abit selfish here, in satisfying our emotional "need" for the deification of McQueen in light of his tragic end and thereby assuming that anyone else is an affront to him? The logic is very strange, and I think more emotional than rational.

There is no crucification here, just common sense!

 

[educo]

^I don't think the real concern is that any future designers will be totally incompetent, it's the fact that the house doesn't need to exist any longer, period. Other than being economical for the Gucci Group, what purpose does it serve to keep it open? Sure, one of McQueen's assistants can make a name for him or herself there, but wouldn't it be better for all involved if they left and tried to make it on their own, without the curse of worrying about keeping McQueen at the forefront of their aesthetic rather than their own taste?

In my opinion, the whole idea of a fashion house is pretty outdated. Why even bother keeping the original name (Balenciaga and Chanel, for example) when the designers are more successful when they ignore the bulk of the heritage? Ghesquière's designs are completely his own besides fall '06, and he very rarely even acknowledge Christobal's forays into minimalism and volume, which were the founder's principal legacies. Lagerfeld on the other hand has turned Chanel into a caricature (albeit an attractive one) that focuses on the superficial embellishments the designer used (camellias, tweed, pearls, quilted leather, etc) rather than her original intent of creating a new femininity.

Also, McQueen's wish that the house stay open is, though it sounds insensitive to say, entirely irrelevant. There are any number of talented designers who would love that their lines be continued after their death. It's ego, for better or worse, and there is no moral imperative to carry that wish out.

Keeping the house of Alexander McQueen open serves only Gucci Group's bottom line, and I still don't understand why this is so appealing to TFSers. For the most part, we're only viewers, not executives or even consumers a lot of the time. Why do we value monetary gain over artistic integrity?

FINALLY. A voice of reason.