RIP Lee Alexander McQueen

RIP Lee Alexander McQueen

The loss of the vibrant talent Alexander McQueen “On behalf of Lee McQueen's family, Alexander McQueen today announces the tragic news that Lee McQueen, the founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand, has been found dead at his home. (...)” This was the post that greeted fans on McQueen’s website the day after his death. Alexander McQueen, who was christened Lee but used his middle name as a designer, was found at his luxury flat in Mayfair, central London. He died on 11th February 2010 at the young age of 40. It is believed he hanged himself. Who was this genius often described in superlatives? Born in the East End of London as the son of a cab driver, he worked his way up. Openly gay, McQueen once described himself as the 'pink sheep of the family'. In 1992 he did his masters degree in fashion design at the London Central Saint Martin’s. Fashion stylist Isabella Blow brought McQueen’s entire graduation collection for £5000 and helped him to build his own label. In his early years he worked for Givenchy but McQueen soon noticed that he has to create his own designs with his own visions. Within two years he made himself known as the “hooligan of English Fashion”. In the 90s he was the reason fashion fans came to the London Fashion Week. Alexander McQueen’s shows are always special and people were always asking: 'What will he do this time?' With his punk rock attitude he stood out from the other competitors in the business. Surviving ten years as a solo designer, in 2002 the Gucci Group brought 51% of his company. From that day on his career rose even more. His stores opened from LA to Beirut and stars like Kate Moss and Sarah Jessica Parker were wearing his clothes. His international success made his company not only profitable, but he became a star himself. People loved him for being innovative and different with each collection. Alexandra Shulman, editor of Vogue, said: “Lee McQueen influenced a whole generation of designers. His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs.” McQueen himself was very modest and would describe his work as a “way of life”, despite coming to define British fashion and winning the British Fashion Council Designer of the Year four times. What happened? On the 11th February 2010 at 10:20am Alexander McQueen's body was found in his London flat. It is not official but it is believed that he hanged himself, and there are various reasons being speculated. It's three years since the suicide of Isabella Blow, it was just a week after the death of his beloved mother, and he'd recently broken up with a man who he had cared enough about to tattoo his name on his arm. But whatever happened that night and whatever the reason for his suicide, his death is a great loss for many people. Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman said: "His death is the hugest loss to anyone who knew him and for very many who didn't." Future of his lucrative company McQueen told February's issue of Love magazine: "I'm 40 now, but I want this to be a company that lives way beyond me, and I believe that customers are more important in making that happen than press. When I'm dead, hopefully this house will still be going.” A Gucci Group spokeswoman said that they are not making any business-oriented or forward-looking statements and the Alexander McQueen company has not confirmed how the brand plans to move forward following the designer's death, WWD reported. But there is a chance that his legacy will be continued. Whatever will happen next, we will always remember Lee Alexander McQueen for the person who he was: unique, creative, inspiring, talented, punk rock, controversial, and at all times he stuck to what he believed in. By Christin Radomilovic Information sourced from Vogue and BBC