ALEXANDER MCQUEEN CHAMPIONS THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF LONDON’S YOUTH

By Lizzy Zarrello

Alexander McQueen announces their collaboration with London based non-profit, A Team Arts Education, whose funding was cut due to the pandemic.

Alexander McQueen has just announced that it’s joining forces with A Team Arts Education in an effort to support creative education for young people. A Team Arts Education is dedicated to providing art and design study for young people living in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. McQueen will be both financially supporting the non-profit, as well as offering workshops to students and teachers. 

In East London, many schools have begun to remove art classes, opting instead to promote STEM courses (science, technology, engineering, and math) among students. Therefore, a Team Arts Education was founded as an alternate way to provide art schooling to young adults interested in pursuing a creative career. The budding non-profit previously received funding from the council; however, it had its funding revoked following budget cuts last year

Without Alexander McQueen’s donations, the organization would likely cease to exist. As stated by the director of A Team Arts Education, Sarbjit Natt, “we still need the arts to help bring about a positive recovery and come together after the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with Alexander McQueen will provide inspiration, hope, and opportunities to an area that has established links to the fashion and textiles industries that are now hidden through layers of history and a changing urban landscape.” The organization is working with McQueen to create the ‘The Explore Programme,’ through which students can learn directly from McQueen’s design, textile, and embroidery professionals. Usually, first-hand learning experiences with employees of well-established brands like McQueen are costly and challenging to come by. Under this partnership, however, they will be offered to students free of charge. 

Having grown up around the same streets of East London, the brand’s founder, Lee Alexander McQueen, shared a similar background to the young adults A Team Arts Education is working to help. In a press release, Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen, stated, “at this house, we all know that talent comes from everywhere, irrespective of background. At a time when UK arts education is narrowing and being cut and, young people are under pressure, we’re inspired and humbled to be able to join with A Team Arts Education.” 

Ultimately, the day will come when prolific fashion brands must pass the torch to their successors. Alexander McQueen’s financial support of A Team Arts Education not only unlocks the creative potential of underrepresented communities in East London but helps to develop a future generation of fashion designers. 

Images courtesy of Alexander McQueen