Alexander Wang

Alexander Wang (born December 26, 1983) is an American fashion designer.

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.

Despite speculation, Wang has noted that he does not speak Mandarin Chinese.

He attended elementary and middle school at the Harker School in San Jose, California.

He spent ninth grade as a boarding student at the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California.

Subsequently, Wang attended and graduated from the Drew School in San Francisco.

At 15 years old, Wang took part in a summer design program at Central Saint Martins.

At age 18, Wang moved to New York City to attend Parsons School of Design.

He left his program after two years to begin his professional career and did not graduate.

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.

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.

That same year, he launched his first handbag collection.

After designing a Fall 2008 collection using black as the predominant color, he designed his Spring 2009 collection using bright colors such as orange, dusty purple, aqua and hot pink.

Following this, he reverted to using mainly black fabrics.

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.

Wang was celebrated again in 2010 with another Swarovski Designer of the Year Award, this time in the Accessory category.

Wang's first flagship store opened in SoHo, in lower Manhattan, on February 17, 2011.

Some have noted that the brand has helped to rejuvenate an otherwise dissolving area into fashion's Lower Manhattan epicenter.

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.

From November 2012 through July 2015, Wang was creative director at Balenciaga.

Women's Wear Daily reported on November 30, 2012, that Wang had been named creative director at Balenciaga after Nicolas Ghesquière's departure from the French design house.

As the creative director, Wang would oversee the women's and men's ready-to-wear and accessories lines.

His debut Fall–Winter 2013 Balenciaga collection was shown in February 2013 at the Balenciaga salons in Paris at 10 avenue George V.

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.

On April 12, 2014, Wang announced that he would be creating a collection for Swedish-based fashion retailer H&M.

The collection was available at H&M stores and online November 6, 2014.

The collaboration included pieces for both men and women, as well as a selection of accessories.

Kering issued a press release on July 31, 2015, announcing that Wang was leaving Balenciaga by mutual consent.

In 2016, Wang became the CEO and chairman of the Wang brand, succeeding his mother, Ying Wang, and sister-in-law, Aimee Wang.

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.

Wang hosted a 2016 New York Fashion Week show.

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.