Royal wedding dress designer and fashion graduate Sarah Burton gets top job at Givenchy

Fashion graduate and royal wedding dress designer Sarah Burton has been given the prestigious top job at French luxury label Givenchy.

Burton is an alumna of the University’s Manchester School of Art and previously designed HRH The Princess of Wales’s wedding dress in her former role as creative director of Alexander McQueen.

She was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2012 by Manchester Met and has now been named as the prestigious creative director for famous fashion house Givenchy.

Burton, who studied Art Foundation at Manchester School of Art, will be responsible for the creative direction of the women’s and men’s collections with immediate effect.

In a statement released by Givenchy, she said: “It is a great honour to be joining the beautiful house of Givenchy, it is a jewel.

“I am so excited to be able to write the next chapter in the story of this iconic house and to bring to Givenchy my own vision, sensibility and beliefs.” 

Burton shot to fame as the former right-hand woman of the late Lee Alexander McQueen, working at his brand for 26 years, first under him, then as creative director after his death in 2010.

In 2011 she was revealed as the designer of HRH The Princess of Wales’s dress for her wedding to HRH The Prince of Wales, and in 2012 was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to the British Fashion industry.

Speaking after receiving her honorary doctorate in 2012, she said: “This award is incredibly special as the school holds a special place in my heart. Thank you to Manchester Metropolitan University for recognising my achievements and for awarding me with an honorary degree.”

During her 13-year tenure as creative director, Burton produced women’s and men’s collections to great critical acclaim, as well as establishing an extensive education programme supporting young creatives.

Burton is one of a growing number of Manchester Met alumni who have risen to prominence in their fashion careers. Just last month, Fashion Design and Technology alumnus Jason Denham’s off-track uniform designs for the Paris Olympics and Paralympics were showcased at the Games.

In June this year Max Mara creative director and Manchester Met alumnus Ian Griffiths revived his four-decades old Manchester Met student collection for the brand’s resort show in Venice.