THE TRAILBLAZER

Walking towards 27 Old Bond Street, one passes a succession of boutiques guarded by black-clad staff, whose gimlet gaze is a challenge to anyone who might wish to venture across their thresholds.

At Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton takes a radically different approach: She hopes to encourage everyone—schoolchildren, students and indeed, anybody with an interest in fashion—through her doors. “It’s vital that people have access to creativity, especially children,” says Burton, who has been the brand’s Creative Director for the past decade. “So much of it has been taken away from schools and people don’t see it as leading to a career. But fashion is a huge industry in this country. It’s an amazing melting pot. And if you’re really brilliant with computers, or good at maths, you could come and work here. I want to reach out to younger children and say that this is a possibility. Even if you don’t want