"The most amazing thing about fashion is that it changes like a kaleidoscope, and people in the industry are crazy enough to follow it and accompany it on this wild journey".
- A. Wang for Vogue Voices
Boyish dreams and a self-taught school of design
His fashion adventure began as a young boy. Once, while waiting with his mother in the waiting room of one of the hair salons, having no other distractions, he was studying fashion magazines cards - in the age before widespread Internet and smartphones with millions of distracting apps. Some readings engrossed him so much that he would steal them and take them home to passionately study the work of top designers and their biographies. He admits that this is how he began his study of fashion design sketching - wanting to emulate his idols, he would draw pictures of outfits, trying to mimic the individual style of each artist.
Over time, this self-taught and amateur school of design was no longer sufficient, so as a teenager he attended summer design courses at the prestigious Central Saint Martins School in London. In 2002 he moved to the East Coast, to the Mecca of every budding designer, New York, to begin his studies at the Parsons fashion design school. However, he quickly came to the conclusion that academic classes were not his thing, as he himself says, it is hard to say that he attended Parsons, he was rather enrolled in studies. He took a risk - he dropped out of school, rolled up his tailoring sleeves and started his own business in the world of fashion. The decision was facilitated by the contacts he made during his work at Teen Vogue and Vogue US, including with Marc Jacobs and Derek Lam.
Shows, fame and his own name
Wang's dreams of designing clothes were always encouraged by his brother Dennis, who still supports him in his business activities (just like the rest of the family - his sister-in-law and mother). So it's no wonder that Alexander's first fashion show took place at Dennis and Aimee's wedding. This crazy 15-year-old, using a business opportunity - the stylish Ritz-Carlton hotel in San Francisco and a festively dressed audience, gave a show, inviting half-naked girls on heels to the catwalk. He also seized the opportunity to present his work during his mother's 60th birthday in Shanghai - then he even dared to hire professional models from a local agency.
After leaving school, Wang devoted himself completely to creating his collection of cashmere unisex sweaters, the main theme of which was intarsia. His success can hardly be spoken of in the context of luck or coincidence. Wang was raised in Asian culture, where the ethos of striving for perfection through hard work predominates. That's why he didn't dare to leave the fate of his collection to chance. He took care of its distribution himself, personally offering it to the buyers of large department stores, proving to the industry at the same time that he is not only a great designer, but also a capable trader.
In 2007, Wang, after two years of collaboration with Victoria Traina, released his first women's pret-a-porter collection, made up of oversized, sporty T-shirts, comfortable cardigans and high-waisted retro-style dresses. A year later, he also had a collection of accessories and ... one of the most important fashion awards awarded by the CFDA. After winning, his mentor became the fashion icon, Diane von Funstenberg. However, an event from 2012 permanently inscribed the name of Alexander Wang in the pages of fashion history - as a 28-year-old, he was appointed the creative director of the Parisian fashion house Balenciaga.
Wang's take on fashion
"In fashion, two things are necessary: telling a story and making contact with the customer" - this is how Wang summed up his approach to creating collections in an interview for Vogue Voices. In his collections, the starting point is comfort. His personal style is based on many shades of black - he himself rarely wears any other color.
Wang's concepts have their roots in sportswear. In creation, he is guided not by what the season dictates, but by what people like to wear. The most important thing for him is the feeling of freedom and comfort. He wants those wearing his clothes to always, regardless of circumstances, feel as if they were spending a lazy afternoon in the comfort of their own home.
The industry defines his projects as "mod" - Model Off Duty, that is a combination of urban chic with sportswear. In his collections, he is very often inspired by music, which is why grunge and rock often stand out in his silhouettes.
Wang does not divide his clients in terms of age or class origin. The style of the brand imposes a certain pattern of thinking, sensitivity and approach to life. Therefore, the recipients of his creations are all those who, along with the clothes, buy his style, regardless of who they are or how old they are.
Currently, Wang is no longer collaborating with Balenciaga, devoting himself entirely to his work on his two brands: Alexander Wang and T by Alexander Wang.
