Alexander Wang: the young talent who found new ways of doing fashion
"When you focus on the consumer, the consumer responds."
Alexander Wang
Customer orientation, exceptional talent, and personal vision of fashion are perhaps the main elements of the formula for the success of a young designer who, in just a few years, conquered the most severe critics of the fashion industry and found his audience. Alexander Wang was born on December 26, 1983, in San Francisco in a family of immigrants from Taiwan. His parents owned a small production of packaging products - probably from them, Wang inherited a commercial flair, which later also played a significant role in the development of the brand. Nevertheless, one production was not enough for Alexander: he always tended to creativity and the creation of something new and extraordinary.
Wang made his design debut at the age of 15: as a teenager, he created a collection of 35 wedding dresses and presented it at his brother's wedding. The family supported their son's beginnings, noticing the talent of a young prodigy in time, and decided to send Alexander to study at the Parsons School of Design in New York.
Immersion in the world of fashion began in 2002. During his studies, Wang did internships at Marc Jacobs, Derek Lam, and Teen Vogue. And at the end of the second year, he started creating his own clothing line - working on the collection took a lot of time and interfered with his studies, so Alexander was soon expelled for academic failure. Surprisingly, this unpleasant event did him good. Immediately after leaving Parsons, Wang launched a line of unisex cashmere sweaters. At first, they were sold door-to-door, and after the publication of the article in The New York Times, they became a real hit. Many had their eyes on Wang's sweaters, while Diane von Fürstenberg noticed the young designer. She not only appreciated his work but also invited him to create several sweaters for her brand. Alexander was flattered by this offer but decided to concentrate on creating his own label.
The official launch of the brand took place in 2005 - and once again Wang was supported by his family, including his older brother, who became a successful lawyer, his sister-in-law, who had experience in production, and his mother, who had been engaged in entrepreneurship all her life. Two years later, the designer presented his collection of women's clothing for the first time at New York Fashion Week. Starting with the unisex knitwear collection, which was enthusiastically received by the fashionable public, Wang continued to develop the sport direction, actively using technological fabrics and the simplest cut in his work. The debut collection did not remain indifferent to Anna Wintour as well. The permanent editor-in-chief of Vogue USA became the main supporter of the young American designer and later used her influence in the fashion world to draw attention to Alexander.
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| Alexander Wang fall-winter 2007 collection | ||
| Photos: Vogue.com | ||
In 2010, Wang made a successful commercial decision: by lowering prices for the mainline, the brand managed to expand the circle of consumers and once again clearly define the main brand credo - accessibility, convenience, and impeccable style. Alexander himself believes that luxury is not always a synonym for a high cost. According to him, even the simplest T-shirt can be luxurious - it matters how you wear it and what you wear it with. In the same year, the designer launched the youth line T by Alexander Wang, which skillfully combined grunge, sports, classics, monochrome and laconic cut; and a series of glasses for men and women.
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| Balenciaga fall-winter 2013 collection by Alexander Wang | ||
| Photos: Vogue.com | ||
In 2012, Alexander Wang got a challenging offer to become the Creative Director of the Balenciaga fashion house. Many fashion experts were skeptical about this alliance, as they believed that the young designer was too street style oriented. Nevertheless, the choice turned out to be brilliant - already the first collection, created by Wang for Balenciaga, was received with a bang by critics and buyers alike. But neither the rave reviews of the public nor the dizzying success could change the main guidelines of the designer - after 3 years of working with Balenciaga, Wang left the brand to focus on developing his own brand.
The Alexander Wang brand is a harmonious combination of urban chic and minimalism, gothic grunge, and street style, which are at the head of convenience and comfort. His unique style balances restraint and absolute freedom and allows everyone to express their individuality.
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