About Alexander McQueen - Essay Example

However, he interrupted his education and ventured into fashion design. Later, in 1994, he joined Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design for a master’s degree in fashion design (Frankel, 17). Unlike many designers, McQueen’s passion for fashion started during his childhood. He had always desired to be a designer when he grew up. This was demonstrated when he used to make dresses for his elder sisters while still a young boy at Rokeby Primary School (Bremner, 117). It is during the same time that he declared his interest in design and pledged that he would be a fashion designer when he grew up.

His love for clothes made him to associate with designers. It is for this reason that he left school at a tender age to advance his design interests at Savile Row Tailors; Anderson & Sheppard; Gieves & Hawkes and Angels & Bermans (Deniau, 73). His services in these premises as an apprenticeship exposed him to the challenging modern trends in fashion design. Upon graduating as a fashion designer, McQueen took several jobs in prestigious fashion companies both within the United Kingdom and Spain.

Here, he got an opportunity to interact with reputable designers who later influenced his life (Rawi, 91). For instance, after working as a Chief Designer at Givenchy, he encountered Hussein Chalayan, Pauric Sweeney and Katy England. These are some of his contemporaries who really shaped the direction of his fashion career. Had it not been for these contemporaries, he would not have achieved much. They were of a great importance to him. For instance, Katy later became his right hand lady who stood beside him and gave him the necessary assistance in whatever he was doing (Knox, 2010).

As a designer, McQueen is credited for making magnificent contributions in the field of fashion design. After terminating his six-year contract at the prestigious Givenchy in 2001, he founded his own company under his name. Here, he developed the new McQueen Alexander Brands which has now revolutionized the fashion design industry (Bremner and Robertson, 11). Moreover, he brought a new idea to fashion shows when he introduced drama and extravagance as new features in catwalk. Initially, fashion shows were cheaper to organize and did not involve the use of drama.

This necessitated him to fetch for renowned pageants to grace his shows. A t the same time, he introduced silhouettes to enable him incorporate the element of fantasy in his shows. Actually, these have become significant a component of fashion shows which are still prominent up to date. These are his legacies which will always remain in the minds of fashion lovers for a very long time (Cartner, 66). His McQueen out fits were properly designed to suit the modern man. By the year 2007, he had established boutiques in London, Las Vegas, New York, Milan and Los Angeles (Searle, 48).

Hence, he managed to win the confidence of many clients who preferred his clothes to any other designer. However, this did not only include ordinary people, but celebrities like David Bowie, Nicole Kidman, Rihana, Koda Kumi, Penelope Cruz, Ayumi Hamasaki, Namie Amuro and Sarah Jessica Parker. As a result of his bright ideas, his designs are still prominent and used by people from all corners of the world. Indeed, McQueen was not made, but born a designer. After realizing his ambitions as a child, he prepared himself for it.

However, could not manage to achieve anything single-handedly. First, he owes his success to his family. Had it not been for the co-operation from his parents, he would have shielded his interests for something else. This was a great source of inspiration for him (Bolton, 39). Moreover, he received