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Alexander McQueen


Alexander McQueen, the man who was destined to become one of the worlds most imaginative and original fashion designers, one who made and is still making an extreme contribution and impact on the fashion world.

This accomplished man came out of a household where you wouldn’t expect a world renowned fashion designer to; the youngest of a family of six and the son of a cabby. Born the 17th of March 1969 in London, Alexander McQueen quite lived an unhappy childhood, not known why, because barely any information can be found on McQueen’s childhood or early teens. His mother was a homemaker and they were not financially stable. When he was still in his young teens, McQueen started making dresses for his three sisters to help with the lack of spending money, and then announced his intention of becoming a fashion designer. His family didn’t really support him; they called him the “pink sheep of the family”.

By the time he was sixteen, McQueen had decided to devote himself entirely to fashion. He dropped out of school and took an apprenticeship at the Savile Row tailors “Anderson and Shepherd”. This gave him the experience he needed to father all of his extravagant clothing by teaching him the many different tailoring techniques. After this he then proceeded to “Gieves and Hawkes” and then to theatrical costumiers “Angels and Bermans”. This is where he had mastered six different methods of pattern cutting; from things such as the melodramatic 16th Century to the brutally sharp tailoring, which has become a McQueen signature. This great variety of numerous tailoring techniques, the technical construction of clothing and strategies gave him the knowledge and ability to do what he was born to do.

McQueen after made the transition to working alongside Koji Tatsuno, and at the age of 21 he moved to Milan to work with Romeo Gigli. All of this experience soon led him...