Alexander McQueen for Puma
The ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, once noted that "the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long". A wise observation that was certainly the case with fashion designer Alexander McQueen, who died tragically and prematurely at the age of 40, only days before the London Fashion Week in 2010.
Because his designs were controversial and outrageous and he had a reputation for using shock tactics to surprise and astonish the audiences at his shows, he was known as the 'enfant terrible' of the catwalk and the 'hooligan' of England's fashion scene. But despite his relatively short life, he managed to set the fashion world ablaze, enjoying phenomenal success and becoming the recipient of many prestigious awards, including British Designer of the Year and Commander of the British Empire.
As often happens when someone like McQueen makes their mark, pop icons came calling to commission costumes for concert tours and photo shoots. David Bowie wore McQueen's designs while on tour in 1996/1997 and his now famous Union Jack coat adorns Bowie's Earthling album cover. Not to be outdone, the singer Bjork approached McQueen to design the garments that appeared on her 1997 album Homogenic. Interestingly, McQueen went on to direct the music video for one of Bjork's songs from the same album.
In 2006, an innovative range of footwear was launched. It was designed by Alexander McQueen for Puma, the German sportswear company. This Puma McQueen collaboration, the combination of his design philosophy and their excellence in the field, has resulted in a unique product and the trainer being elevated to the next level.
Puma described the Alexander McQueen Puma range as an "exploration of urban escapism". The man may no longer be around, but his rebellious, non-conformist nature lives on in his designs, especially Puma by McQueen.