ALEXANDER WANG

Alexander Wang, born in San Francisco to Taiwanese parents, always knew that he would have a career in fashion. As a bright young mind and fast learner, he taught himself to sew and spent a summer break at London's Central Saint Martin's design program. At 18, Wang moved to New York to begin his studies at Parson's School of Design, where he would work as an intern at Vogue and Teen Vogue, Marc Jacobs, and Derek Lam. In 2005 his life's dream began to manifest with the establishment of his eponymous fashion brand, unveiling six unisex ensembles entirely of knitwear. In 2007 he launched his first Women's ready-to-wear collection at New York Fashion Week. The show attracted acclaim from some of the industry's biggest names: Anna Wintour, Diane von Furstenberg, and even Karl Lagerfeld. The young designer's sportswear aesthetic captivated the press, and before long the accolades began to roll in: Vogue Fashion Fund/CFDA Prize in 2008, laurate of the Swarovski Designer of the Year Award and the Swiss Textile Award in 2009, the Best Accessory Designer Award in 2011. As the ultimate touchstone, Alexander Wang would go on to take over as acting Creative Director at Balenciaga, the historic couture house from which he had previously worked, before his departure in 2015 to focus on his own label. Rebellious and dynamic, Wang's collections are destined for "cool kids" who, like him, grew up around underground and hip-hop culture. With a signature style reminiscent of models after the show, collections are close-cut, often in dark tones and featuring utilitarian details. In terms of accessories, studded handbags like the Rocco, Diego, and Prisma have become emblems of the label and timeless classics. Alongside his own collections, Alexander Wang frequently collaborates with the creative teams at Uniqlo, H&M, and Adidas, turning out must-have capsule collections.