Being a King and (Mc)Queen
“I never look at other people’s work. My mind has to be completely focused on my own illustrations.” — Lee Alexander McQueen
When my friend Nathan called me saying that our next project was going to be working on something for McQ I could’ve died. To know we would be a part of McQueen’s legacy in any capacity was almost unreal. With most of our collaborative projects, we start with our concept and build from there, however, with this one, we wanted to find a way to honor one of our idols by doing a project that reflected who he was and the legacy he left behind. Something romantic, a bit brooding, and most of all vulnerable. That meant digging deep into not only his fashion, but who he was as a creator.
Lee Alexander McQueen will forever be remembered as a designer that challenged EVERYTHING! Although he worked in a world based on image and decadence, much of his work reflected a deep and abiding disdain for the excesses that come with the fashion industry. With an attitude that always exuded more punk rock than Haute couture, one could easily mistake the designer for being anti-fashion, however, his years of working on Saville Row helped him develop a reputation for impeccable tailoring and garment construction that could only come from someone that used such specialty techniques as an art form.
“As a designer, you’ve always got to push yourself forward; you’ve got to keep up with the trends or make your own trends. That’s what I do.”
McQueen was once quoted as saying, “Fashion should be a form of escapism and not a form of imprisonment.” There are no boundaries, no rules, no guidelines it’s freedom. Whether he was showing his collection on a giant chess board in his “It’s Only a Game” S/S 2005 show, or around a giant trash heap in his A/W 2009 campaign, “Horn of Plenty,” his shows were a reflection on how he felt about the fashion world. He was the quintessential rebel, whose rebel yell only further launched his stardom — he was a master showman. Always one to think outside the box, McQueen was the very first designer to showcase an entire collection online; he wanted to provide visuals to those who wanted to be a part of his world, but couldn’t. His vision came to life through his remararkable storytelling, bringing excitement to the fashion industry in a way that only he could do. He never referred to his collections/garments as fashion, instead he reffered to them as illusions. The beauty of which was unrivaled by his peers.
“Of course I make mistakes. I’m human. If I didn’t make mistakes, I’d never learn. You can only go forward by mistakes.”
Mr. McQueen, absolutely rejected the idea of perfection. He created and welcomed all things that were out of the ordinary. To him, art and expression were paramount. The designer once said, “give me time and I’ll give you a revolution.” We’re very grateful to have expeirnced but a small glimpse of that revolution and it’s legacy.
