Product Knowledge

FMPC-5005

Design Exchange Assignment

Designer - Alexander McQueen
Student
Nazia Faizudeen N01071920
Instructor
Vaughn Stafford Gray
Date of Submission: 03-11-2014

Humber Fashion Institute

TORONTO, ONTARIO

INTRODUCTION
Politics of Fashion | Fashion of Politics, guest curated by international fashion icon Jeanne
Beker with DX curator Sara Nickleson, explores how fashion is a mirror of society by highlighting
how clothing has been used as a tool for communicating identity and political expression. For
decades, fearless and passionate designers have used this discipline as a tool to express their own
ideologies and create wardrobes for like-minded people.
Spanning 1960 to present day and presenting over 200 works including Jeremy Scotts leopard
print burqa, promotional paper campaign dresses featuring the faces of Robert Kennedy, Richard
Nixon and Pierre Trudeau and Rad Houranis slick Unisex Haute Couture collection the
exhibition spotlights the numerous ways fashion has helped ignite political awareness and how
politics have dictated style through the decades. Exploring such themes as activism, consumerism,
campaign and power dressing, gender and sexuality, and appropriation, the exhibition provokes
visitors to examine how fashion contributes to social progress.
Visionary works from the archives of Hussein Chalayan, Jeremy Scott, Moschino, PETA, Rad
Hourani, Christopher Raeburn and Jean Charles de Castelbajac will be on view alongside items
loaned by collectors of Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, Stella
McCartney, Mary Quant and Rudi Gernreich.
Design Exchange presents this provocative topic by taking visitors through a thematic journey in
a visually striking environment co-created by acclaimed designer, Jeremy Laing
Politics of Fashion | Fashion of Politics is generously supported by Mantella Corporation.

DESIGNER ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

HISTORY
Alexander McQueen was born lee McQueen, on March 17th 1969. He is one of the most influential
British designers of our time. He has mastered 6 methods of pattern cutting from the melodramatic
16th century to the brutally sharp tailoring which has become a McQueen signature.
He left school at the age of 16 and was offered an apprenticeship at the traditional savile row tailors
Anderson and shepherd and then at neighboring gieves and hawkes, both masters in the technical
construction of clothing.
From there he moved to the theatrical costumiers Angels and Bermans where he mastered 6
methods of pattern cutting from the melodramatic 16th Century to the razor sharp tailoring which
has become a McQueen signature. Aged 20 he was employed by the designer Koji Tatsuno, who
also had his roots in British tailoring. A year later McQueen travelled to Milan where he was
employed as Romeo Giglis design assistant. On his return to London, he completed a Masters
degree in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins. He showed his MA collection in 1992, which
was famously bought in its entirety by Isabella Blow. Alexander McQueen shows are known for
their emotional power and raw energy, as well as the romantic but determinedly contemporary

nature of the collections. Integral to the McQueen culture is the juxtaposition between contrasting
elements: fragility and strength, tradition and modernity, fluidity and severity. An openly
emotional and even passionate viewpoint is realized with a profound respect and influence for the
arts and crafts tradition. Alexanders collections combine an in-depth working knowledge of
bespoke British tailoring, the fine workmanship of the French Haute Couture atelier and the
impeccable finish of Italian manufacturing.
In less than 10 years McQueen became one of the most respected fashion designers in the world.
In October 1996 he was appointed Chief Designer at the French Haute Couture House Givenchy
where he worked until March of 2001.
In December 2000, 51% of Alexander McQueen was acquired by the Gucci Group, where he
remained Creative Director. Collections include womens ready-to-wear, mens ready-to-wear,
accessories, eyewear and fragrance (Kingdom 2003 and MyQueen 2005). Expansion followed and
included the opening of flagship stores in New York, London, Milan, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
The following awards have recognized Alexander McQueens achievement in fashion: British
Designer of the year 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2003, International Designer of the Year by The
Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2003, A Most Excellent Commander of The
British Empire (CBE) by her Majesty the Queen in 2003, GQ Menswear Designer of the Year in
2007.

Alexander McQueen Collection at Design Exchange

Alexander McQueens Non-Traditional Fabric Collection

Alexander McQueen, dress made of Razorclam shells stripped and varnished.

The shells had outlived their usefulness on the
beach, to use on a dress.

Feathered Creation - contrasts between the

wildly romantic and the controversial.
McQueen culture was the fusion of contrasting
elements: fragility and strength, tradition and
modernity, fluidity and severity