Alexander McQueen committed suicide one week ago today, but his label will continue to operate, Gucci Group president and CEO Robert Polet announced today. The designer is said to have pretty much finished his fall 2010 collection, and Polet said the house will show it at Paris Fashion Week (the show was scheduled for March 9). “We believe in the future of the brand,” Polet said. “Lee was very proud of the people working in his company, and so am I.” Gucci Group bought a 51 percent stake in McQueen in 2000.
Polet said he spoke with McQueen a few weeks ago. They concluded that “we have transitioned from being the name of a designer to putting in place the building blocks of a brand.”
“That means that will be my legacy,” McQueen had said, according to Polet. “That’s something I will always leave behind.”
The Gucci group will use its combined resources to ensure the label continues, he said.
“Lee is of course irreplaceable,” Polet said, referring to McQueen’s first name, dropped from his professional moniker.
No word yet on who will helm design moving forward.
McQueen Business to Continue Despite Founder’s Suicide [WWD]
Alexander McQueen label to continue [AP]
