Earlier today, The Business of Fashion revealed The BoF 500 Class of 2024, listing 100 new additions to the definitive index of people shaping the global fashion industry.
Creative Director Seán McGirr was the newest Irish star to make the list, joining an already impressive Irish contingent including Dublin designer Simone Rocha (2014), Wicklow fashion photographer Boo George (2013), and Dublin activist Sinéad Burke (2018).
The publication credited McGirr for his innovative designs, describing his debut collection for Alexander McQueen as a showcase of his “ambition to honour McQueen’s legacy while exploring new creative directions”.
McGirr, 35, was appointed in his Alexander McQueen role in October 2023 and debuted his first collection at the autumn/winter 2024 Paris Fashion Week in February this year. He was largely inspired by vintage McQueen, which was cropping up on red carpets by rising stars such as Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler.
The collection was dramatic, rebellious and thought-provoking, and embodied a visceral energy – something the British fashion house hadn’t seen since the days of late founder Alexander McQueen himself.
McGirr’s debut collection explored themes of construction and release, with designs showcasing tightly bound jeans and jackets juxtaposed with bursts of organic fur to expose, as McGirr put it, “the animal within”.
By reviving McQueen’s radical vision, fashion followers are on tenterhooks to see the Irish designers second collection at Paris Fashion Week this weekend.
Founder and CEO of The Business of Fashion, Imran Amed said: “What began as a list of the 500 most influential people in the global fashion industry has now grown to 1,509 entries in our index, representing every facet of the industry.”
The new entrants were selected for their leadership, creativity, innovation and impact on the fashion industry.
