GARY JAMES MCQUEEN HAS BEEN HONOURING THE LEGACY OF HIS LATE UNCLE LEE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN WITH HIS BOLD NEW ACCESSORIES COLLECTION. IN JULY, HE WILL SHOWCASE HIS DEBUT COLLECTION OF MADE-TO-ORDER SILK SCARVES AND HIS ICONIC CHROME SKULL ARTWORK IN ST GEORGE’S HALL. HE WILL BE LAUNCHING THE COLLECTION AS PART OF THE BRITISH STYLE COLLECTIVE, WHICH WE MAY HAVE MENTIONED WE’RE A TAD EXCITED ABOUT!
Discussing his career with Caryn Franklin MBE at St George’s Hall on the 8th and 9th July at 12.45pm each day, Gary James McQueen will present his personal story and reveal the inspiration behind his new collection.
Gary James McQueen was first introduced to the fashion industry by his late uncle Alexander McQueen, who mentored and inspired him to be the artist he is today. He was employed as head textile designer for Alexander McQueen Men’s Ready-to-Wear in 2005, experimenting with artwork and applying it to clothing to develop niche optical-illusion textile designs.
Gary worked alongside Lee up until his passing and in an insightful interview with Caryn Franklin for i-D Magazine in preparation for his live interview in July; Gary has spoken openly about their working relationship. He also discusses his influence on many personal projects, including the Chrome Skull artwork, which has become iconic as the face of the Savage Beauty Exhibition commemorating Lee’s life work, and a marble angel for the gravestone for Lee’s mother Joyce.
Upon the passing of Lee, Gary felt personally compelled to continue his uncle’s legacy and family heritage. Taking influence from Lee and using the instinctive qualities that run in his blood, he continues to establish the Gary James McQueen brand, which he believes encapsulates the McQueen spirit.
In his own words:
In an exclusive snapshot of the interview with Caryn Franklin, published in i-D, Gary reveals the inspiration behind his collection. He says; “My debut collection is dedicated to Lee. It’s the story of life death and rebirth, my take on the cycle of creative energy – hence what I’ve learned from Lee and taken forward for my brand. There are three different scarves and each scarf has an element of something that Lee loved or feared. Life is represented by birds because Lee loved birds. The second design is death and references the ivory trade in the Victorian era. It’s a homage to endangered species. The terrible treatment of wild animals was something that was very close to Lee’s heart. The final story of rebirth, has a campaign image that references an entity from another sphere with an octahedron shape like a portal as part of its body. The print of the scarf is bodies that look as if they are floating in the void. Maybe the feeling is melancholic.”
Gary also reveals how the pressures he saw Lee under has shaped the way he now works: “I’d like to grow the business slowly that’s why my scarves are made-to-order. It’s slow fashion. I saw the pressure that Lee was under and it’s not for me.”
With just under 3 weeks until British Style Collective lands in Liverpool, it’s time to start planning your day. Advance tickets to the Event include either a seat at St George’s Hall for a Designer Catwalk Show or Inside Fashion Talk, which Gary joins the line-up for. For visitors wishing to watch Gary’s insightful talk on either Saturday 8th or Sunday 9th July, book early to avoid disappointment- this is a guaranteed sell out session.
Visit www.britishstylecollective.com for tickets.
