Alexander McQueen Sneaker Review | Sustainability, Price, Fit and More!
I used to see this sneaker everywhere — kind of like when you are looking to buy a new car and you see the model you’re considering at every stoplight. Yea, that often. At first, I thought why so bulky? But, it slowly grew on me. The thought of a stacked sneaker became alluring considering my 5’4” frame.
In a moment, I am going to walk you through my thoughts on the shoe’s fit, pricing and it’s overall sustainability rating, but first, let’s dive into the company history of Alexander McQueen.
Based in the United Kingdom, Alexander McQueen is one of the most iconic and celebrated luxury fashion labels today. Alexander McQueen (1969 - 2010) was known to his friends and family as Lee. He was born in London and acquired his education in the historic city in the UK. He learned his skillset through multiple apprenticeships and went on to working as a pattern cutter at the theatrical costumiers Angels & Bermans.
Through his extensive history, McQueen was guided in traditional tailoring, technique, and what it takes to be a fashion designer. Soon emerged his graduate collection; Inspired by London’s history, its world-class museums and it's emerging BritArt scene bloomed a lustrous menswear jacket which gained him extensive press and media coverage.
He launched his own label in 1992, admired for its high quality and original blend of traditional silhouettes with a modern, yet costume-looking aesthetic. Now, the brand exudes a constant exploration, pushing boundaries and embracing English traditions. See more of McQueen’s history here.
Though it hasn't always been this way, the brand has been making progress supporting their goals to reduce environmental impact throughout the supply chain.
Here’s the deal. McQueen is owned by Kering, a French Luxury Group who houses some of the most prestigious Luxury fashion lines such as Gucci, Montblanc, Saint Laurent, Cartier, Bottega Vaneta and Brioni.
According to the sustainable directory, Good on You, Alexander McQueen received a 3/5 rating, or ‘It’s a Start’ - 1 being ‘We Avoid’ and 5 being ‘Great’. McQueen received an environment rating of 4, which is good. It’s progressing to using some eco-friendly materials including organic cotton as well as utilizes a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which are generated from its own operations within its supply chain. This method will [hopefully] aid the brand to move forward prevent deforestation of ancient and endangered forests as well as reduce chromium and other hazardous chemicals emitted by the leather tanning process.
Though the brand has made progress in it’s materials, technology & sourcing, lets dive into its labour rating which received a 3. A heavy amount of production is still undertaken in medium risk countries. The brand has not disclosed information about pay & wages to its employees in most of its supply chain.
Finally, another main factor in the brands sustainability and ethical rating is due to its “formal animal welfare policy aligned with Five Domains: wool, leather & exotic animal hair.” However, the brand does not use fur, down, Angora or exotic animal skin.
So, though the brand is making progress in its environmental impact, there is still room to improve. In 2021, Kering went entirely Fur Free, a huge milestone in luxury fashion. We will see what Kering has in store for us in future years to come.
I am going to touch on both fit & sizing of the Alexander McQueen stacked sneaker. I took my usual size, 37.5. At first, the shoe felt tight so I purchased a 38, but after wearing them in the house I quickly realized that I had a lot of room in my toe box and it felt like there was excess material. Luckily, they were purchased at Nordstrom, so I was able to make a quick and easy exchange.
With the 37.5 the sneaker feels snug - I like snug-fitting shoes.
In terms of fit, it is a stiff shoe, though comfortable around my heel and really well padded. For me, it didn’t need much [if any] breaking in. The insole feels a touch harder than [for example] my Veja sneaker which has a squishier insole. But, the insole is not uncomfortable by any means. I feel like the McQueen sneaker is giving my arch a really snug squeeze. It is supported without an overbearing amount of pressure. I have a high arch and my feet have endured a lot considering I am a runner so I am generally really picky when it comes to the fit of shoes. I have worn these sneakers for 6 hour stretches and my foot will sometimes get a little sore right below my instep (but not every time).
Now, i’m not saying the sneaker is uncomfortable. I am very picky with shoes and I have terrible runners feet. It is inevitable that a shoe will eventually make my feet ache. But, I love the style and the way they look on so I am a happy camper.
So, fit is fine. I took my regular size.
CURRENT & IN-STOCK SNEAKERS AS OF 8/1/23
Now, a big touch point. Price. The sneaker recently took a large price jump from $495 to $580. This happened early December. A lot of designers increased prices due to profitability and the pandemic.
Though the sneaker is not cheap, it is in line if not less expensive than other designer sneakers like Golden Goose, Christian Louboutin, Givenchy, Fendi and Prada.
I LOVE this sneaker, but I probably will not buy multiple considering the price. I would give this shoe an overall rating of 4/5.
The fit and sizing are a 5. I really like how this shoe fits my foot & don’t mind its stiffness due to its over-stuffed sole. My feet (right foot in particular) do tend to ache after a long day, but overall they feel pretty good.
Now, a big consideration for me is the companies sustainability rating. Though I love fashion and luxury brands, I do not buy everything (nor do I want to). I fell strongly that large brands, especially in the luxury market, have the ability to take care of their people and their planet.
Although the the company is moving towards more sustainability and being more ethical in its supply chain, they still have a lot of room for improvement. Yes, they are taking a stance & making changes, but I am a firm believer more can be done. I am hopeful that one day we can embrace luxury apparel without questioning its impact on the environment & on our people.
