Alexander McQueen is founder and creative director of Alexander McQueen, the London fashion house owned by Gucci Group, the luxury division of Pinault-Printemps-Redoute.

McQueen’s meteoric ascent to fashion king mirrors some of the fairy-tale themes of his theatrical runway shows. He burst onto the scene as London’s East End bad boy, bent on shocking the establishment. His razor-sharp tailored looks fused the romantic with the edgy avant-garde, a fresh contrast that won international acclaim. French fashion house LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton took notice and named the 27-year-old chief designer for its Givenchy couture label. McQueen, however, turned his back on that alliance after a few years to concentrate more fully on his namesake collections.

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Although he dropped out of school at age 16, McQueen eventually earned his master’s degree in fashion design from London’s prestigious Central Saint Martins (formerly Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design) in 1994. McQueen was discovered by the late, legendary, fashion guru Isabella Blow, who purchased his entire graduation collection and helped him make industry connections.

In 2000, he teamed up with Gucci Group when it purchased a 51 percent share in his eponymous company and funded store development; by 2007, the company turned a profit. Collaborations with Puma and Samsonite have brought the iconoclast’s cutting edge imprint to footwear and luggage. Alexander McQueen offerings span women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, accessories, eyewear and fragrance.