Luxury In Transition: Who’s Next To Leave?

Alexander McQueen is the latest luxury fashion house to face a change at the top, with Seán McGirr departing as creative director after just three years in the role. His exit raises questions about the future direction of the house, but also about the wider fashion industry. With major designers continuing to leave some of fashion’s biggest names, the trend raises questions about whether this is becoming the new normal.

Seán McGirr’s departure comes after a challenging three years at Alexander McQueen. According to The Business of Fashion, his early collections received a mix of responses from critics and retailers, making it difficult to establish a clear new direction for the brand. McGirr took over following Sarah Burton’s departure as creative director after 13 years in the role, amid a wider market decline in sales.

Kering did not give a specific reason for McGirr’s exit. However, the announcement suggests that the house is preparing for a change in direction. Kering CEO Luca De Mel has said: “Our ambition is to establish a bold new direction for the house.” He added that the brand would build on its heritage of rebellion and creativity.

This has left us questioning the need for a new direction.

McQueen’s difficulties come at a time when the wider luxury industry is facing its own challenges. The brands sales have fallen significantly following their post-pandemic spike, and its owners have been restructuring the business to improve their performance.

The scale of McQueen’s decline is significant. Revenue has fallen by around 60 percent over three years, forcing the need for a restructure, aimed at bringing the business back to break-even. In January 2026, unions reported the plans to cut around a third of the brand’s workforce in Italy. These figures put McGirr’s departure into context. While Kering has not confirmed whether his exit is related to financial performance, the brand was already facing considerable pressure to turn its fortunes around.

These challenges are not limited to McQueen, LVMH, one of the worlds largest luxury groups, reported a decline in fashion and leather goods revenue in 2024, while other major luxury brands, such as Gucci, have struggled to maintain sales. The wider market has faced two consecutive years of declining sales, with global luxury goods spending falling by 2 percent in 2025 according to Bain & Company and Altagamma.

There are signs that the market is now beginning to recover, with Bain forecasting growth of 2 to 4 percent in 2026. However, this recovery is expected to be gradual, with brands still facing pressure to attract customers who have become more selective about their spending.

For McQueen, a new creative director could bring renewed attention to the brand. The challenge now lies in turning this interest into lasting sales.

With creative directors continuing to move between some of fashion’s biggest houses, frequent leadership changes are becoming an increasingly visible part of luxury. A new designer can bring fresh ideas and energy to a brand, but rebuilding reputation and sales take time. As the luxury market works its way towards recovery, brands must find a balance between returning to growth and giving designers enough time to establish a clear creative identity.

Do you think a change in creative leadership can help boost McQueen’s financial performance?

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