The Alexander McQueen brand will continue despite its eponymous designer's suicide last week, Robert Polet, president and chief executive officer of parent company Gucci Group, confirmed yesterday. He added that McQueen's final collection, for autumn/winter 2010, will be presented as scheduled during Paris Fashion Week.
"We believe in the future of the brand," said Polet, speaking at the company's annual results presentation in Paris. "Lee was very proud of the people working in his company, and so am I."
Further details about the creative team and direction are as yet unspecified. Gucci Group, which is part of luxury conglomerate PPR, bought a 51% stake in Alexander McQueen in 2000, enabling the brand to grow exponentially - it posted sales of over £23m in 2008.
"You understand, the Alexander McQueen trademark will live on. His art went beyond the fashion world. He had a great command of technique... He hid behind an armour of provocation," commented Francois-Henri Pinault, PPR's CEO. "Fashion has lost one of its extraordinary people. He was one of the falling stars that comes across our generation."
McQueen made clear during his lifetime that he hoped his brand would be bigger than him.
"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," he told the February 2010 issue of Love magazine. "When I'm dead, hopefully this house will still be going. On a spaceship. Hopping up and down above earth."
Picture: Alexander McQueen, spring/summer 2010.
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