Alexander Wang (born December 26, 1983)[1] is an American fashion designer.[2][3] Wang launched his eponymous fashion brand in 2005 and came to prominence after being awarded the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2008. He is known for his urban-inspired designs and use of black.
Wang was born on December 26, 1983, to Taiwanese parents in San Francisco, California, including mother Ying Wang, where he was raised with his brother, Dennis, and sister, Theresa.[4][5][6][7]Despite speculation, Wang has noted that he does not speak Mandarin Chinese.[8]
In 2005, after two years at Parsons, Wang decided to pursue the launch of his own fashion label, which debuted with a predominantly knitwear collection. In Fall 2007, Wang presented a complete women's ready-to-wear collection on the New York catwalk for the first time, to critical acclaim. He won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2008, an honor accompanied by a $20,000 award to expand one's business.[11] That same year, he launched his first handbag collection.
After designing a Fall 2008 collection using black as the predominant color,[13] he designed his Spring 2009 collection using bright colors such as orange, dusty purple, aqua and hot pink.[14] Following this, he reverted to using mainly black fabrics.[15][16] Wang's first flagship store opened in SoHo, in lower Manhattan, on February 17, 2011.[17] Some have noted that the brand has helped to rejuvenate an otherwise dissolving area into fashion's Lower Manhattan epicenter.[18]
On November 30, 2012, Wang was named creative director at Balenciaga, after Nicolas Ghesquière's departure, to oversee the women's and men's ready-to-wear and accessories lines.[19] His debut Fall–Winter 2013 Balenciaga collection was shown in February 2013 at the Balenciaga salons in Paris at 10 avenue George V. He created a collection for the fashion retailer H&M[20] that launched in November 6, 2014. On July 31, 2015, he left Balenciaga.[21]
In 2016, Wang became the CEO and chairman of the Wang brand, succeeding his mother, Ying Wang, and sister-in-law, Aimee Wang.[22] Later that year, he was awarded $90 million in damages after successfully suing over 45 defendants operating 459 websites that sold counterfeit goods bearing the brand name, although the reward was mostly symbolic, as neither Wang nor the brand were likely to ever receive the amount.[23] Wang hosted a 2016 New York Fashion Week show.[24] In 2018, he launched a capsule collection with the condom brand Trojan with the tagline 'Protect your Wang'.[25]
After multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, Wang attempted a comeback in the West with his first show since 2019. The accusations have had little effect in China.[26]
Awards and recognition
Wang was the winner of the 2008 Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)/Vogue Fashion Fund Award. In 2009, he was recognized by his peers when he was announced as the winner of the Swarovski Womenswear Designer of the Year. Later that same year he was the recipient of the Swiss Textiles Award.[27] Wang was celebrated again in 2010 with another Swarovski Designer of the Year Award, this time in the Accessory category. In 2011, GQ US acknowledged Wang as the Best Menswear Designer of the Year. That same year he also won the CFDA's Best Accessory Designer award.
In October 2013, Wang was honored with the 'Fashion Star' awarded by Fashion Group International. The award was presented to Wang by Hamish Bowles, European Editor-at-Large of Vogue US. In 2017, Wang was named one of HypeBeast's HB100, their top 100 influencers in the industry.[28]
Sweatshop allegations
In February 2012, a lawsuit was filed against Wang, claiming that his company violated New York Statelabor laws, and that employees were mistreated.[29] The 31 plaintiffs sought $50 million for each of nine charges, a total of $450 million.[30] One of the workers, Wenyu Lu, claimed that he was "hospitalized for several days after he passed out at his work station because he was forced to work 25 hours straight without a break".[31] Lu claimed that the 200-square-foot (19m2) office on Broadway was windowless and poorly ventilated, and that workers were being forced to work 16 hours or more without overtime or breaks; Lu's lawyer, Ming Hai, claimed that Lu was eventually fired on February 16 due to complaints about working conditions and applying for workers' compensation.[32] A second worker, Flor Duante, also stated that she was fired after filing for workers' compensation, and that she had worked 90-hour weeks at Wang's factory.[30]
On August 14, 2012, WWD reported that the lawsuit had been dismissed, with a spokesman for Wang stating that "We are gratified that this matter has been dismissed, as the allegations were unfounded and completely false". However, it was reported that both parties had agreed to a settlement with undisclosed terms.[33]
Sexual assault allegations
Fashion industry whistleblower account Diet Prada and modeling industry watchdog account Shit Model Management published posts on Instagram on December 29, 2020, compiling accusations made on social media (TikTok, Twitter and Instagram) by people who said Wang sexually assaulted them.[34][35]
Social media scrutiny ensued when male model Owen Mooney came forward, describing a 2017 incident where he was groped by Wang in a packed New York City nightclub, which was later reposted by Shit Model Management, leading others to come forward with similar stories. The posts amplified previous allegations from others such as New York-based DJ Nick Ward, who publicly accused Wang of groping him in a nightclub in 2017.[34] Some claimed to have witnessed a victim being drugged by Wang, or being slipped ecstasy or other drugs themselves without their knowledge. There were also repeat allegations of victims, including several trans women, being groped or having their bodies or genitals exposed by Wang.[36][37][38]
On December 31, 2020, Wang's representatives released a statement to various media outlets, with the designer denying all accusations of sexual assault and that he intended to "hold accountable whoever is responsible for originating these claims and viciously spreading them online."[39][40] On January 1, 2021, The Guardian published other alleged accounts of sexual assault incidents from others, including transgender model and actor Gia Garison.[41] On January 4, 2021, Wang issued an updated statement thanking those who had stood by him, while also assuring that he would "remain honest and transparent" throughout the investigation into the claims.[42] The same day it was reported that Lisa Bloom would represent alleged victims of Wang.[43][44]
He spoke with his accusers in 2022 and published an apology on Instagram. Bloom tweeted, “We acknowledge Mr. Wang’s apology and we are moving forward.”[26]
Personal life
Wang is gay[45] and a supporter of the LGBTQ community.[46] In 2018, Wang partnered with Trojan to release a limited-edition "Protect Your Wang" capsule collection in support of the LGBTQ community and to celebrate Pride.[47]
He is well-known for his party-going persona, having thrown a number of memorable parties, such as one thrown at a gas station in 2009 to celebrate his Spring 2010 collection,[48] a party in 2019 to celebrate Wang's Bulgari x Alexander Wang collection,[49] and parties held for New York Fashion Week.[50]
Vera Ellen Wang is an American fashion designer. Wang initially pursued a career in figure skating before transitioning to fashion. She worked for Vogue and Ralph Lauren before launching her own bridal gown boutique in 1990.
Thomas Carlyle Ford is an American fashion designer and filmmaker. He launched his eponymous luxury brand in 2005, having previously served as the creative director at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Ford wrote and directed the films A Single Man (2009) and Nocturnal Animals (2016). From 2019 to 2022 he served as Chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Lee Alexander McQueen was a British fashion designer and couturier. He founded his own Alexander McQueen label in 1992, and was chief designer at Givenchy from 1996 to 2001. His achievements in fashion earned him four British Designer of the Year awards, as well as the Council of Fashion Designers of America International Designer of the Year award in 2003. McQueen died by suicide in 2010 at the age of 40, at his home in Mayfair, London, shortly after the death of his mother.
Robert Lee Morris is an American jewelry designer and sculptor, who attributes much of his inspiration to organic forms he admires in nature and to designing for an imaginary futuristic society. His designs have been made in gold, silver and bronze and he is known for his 24 carat matte gold plating and rich deep red copper and green patina. He has collaborated or designed collections for fashion designers Geoffrey Beene, Kansai Yamamoto, Calvin Klein, Anne Klein, Karl Lagerfeld, Michael Kors and Donna Karan. Morris was awarded the Coty Award (1981) and the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award by the CFDA Awards (2007).
Balenciaga SA is a luxury fashion house founded in 1919 by the Spanish couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga in San Sebastián, Spain. Balenciaga produces ready-to-wear footwear, handbags, and accessories, and licenses its name and branding to Coty for fragrances. It is currently owned by the French corporation Kering.
Carolina Herrera is a Venezuelan fashion designer known for her personal style, and for dressing various First Ladies, including Jacqueline Onassis, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and Melania Trump.
Iselin Vollen Steiro is a Norwegian model.
Nicolas Ghesquière is a French-Belgian fashion designer who has been the women's creative director of the house of Louis Vuitton since 2013.
Proenza Schouler is a womenswear and accessories brand founded in 2002 by designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez. Based in New York City, Proenza Schouler is derived from maiden names of the two designers' mothers: Proenza is the maiden name of Hernandez's mother, and Schouler is the maiden name of McCollough's mother.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA), founded in 1962 by publicist Eleanor Lambert, and headquartered in Manhattan, is a not-for-profit trade association comprising a membership of over 450 American fashion and accessory designers. The organization promotes American designers in the global economy.
Prabal Gurung is a Nepalese–American fashion designer based in New York City.
Bibhu Mohapatra is a New York-based fashion designer and costume designer.
Karl Templer is a British-born New York-based fashion stylist. He is creative director of Interview and his work has appeared in publications internationally including Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, W, and The New York Times. Templer has styled brand campaigns and shows for designers including Alexander Wang, Calvin Klein, Sacai and Valentino, and collaborates frequently with photographers Fabien Baron, David Sims, Craig McDean, Steven Meisel.
Todd Snyder is an American fashion designer based in New York City. He founded his eponymous fashion label in 2011, and has been called "the most influential menswear designer of his generation" by GQ. The brand was acquired by American Eagle Outfitters in 2015, and reports $100 million in annual sales revenue.
Paul Andrew is an English fashion designer. He launched his eponymous women's footwear line in September 2012.
Demna Gvasalia, known as Demna is a Georgian fashion designer, currently the creative director of Balenciaga and the co-founder of Vetements.
The Row is an American luxury fashion label established by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in 2006. The Row produces ready-to-wear clothing, footwear, handbags and accessories. The label is based in New York City and is available in 37 countries.
Hood By Air is a fashion and streetwear brand based in New York City co-founded by designers Shayne Oliver and Raul Lopez. It was launched in 2006 and took a hiatus 2017–2019. Oliver left the brand in 2023.
Elena Velez is an American fashion designer and heterodox creative from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, based in New York City. Her work is known for its non traditional synthesis of metalsmith and high fashion.
Andrew Jun O Kwon is a Korean-American fashion designer based in New York, NY. He founded his label, ANDREW KWON, which focuses on demi-couture bridal and eveningwear.
References
↑ "Alexander Wang". London, England: The Business of Fashion. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019.
↑ "Alexander Wang Says He Doesn't Speak Mandarin, Is 'Doing Something Quite Different' at Balenciaga". Fashionista. April 10, 2014. Wang also more or less dismissed rumors that his Chinese connections helped him get the job. A few outlets have reported that Wang speaks Mandarin and that his parents are somehow involved in garment manufacturing in China. Both of those reports are untrue, according to Wang, who tells Menkes he can barely order a bowl of rice in the language. "It's a false background," he said, "My family had no experience in garment production." Hopefully Balenciaga isn't surprised by this news (hey, we all lie on our resumés, right?).
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
