fashionologie

Alexander Wang Racks Up Another Award Nomination, Used to Use Craigslist Models

fashionologie — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:54:44 PDT

>> Laura and Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte became the first American designers to take home the 100,000 euro Swiss Textile Award last year, and the 2009 nominees are half American brands this time around: Thakoon Panichgul, Ohne Titel, Alexander Wang, Erdem, Alexis Mabille, and Peter Pilotto among them.

A winner will be announced Nov. 12, but in the meantime, Wang, who's been on an winning streak with the 2009 Swarovski Award for Womenswear and the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award under his belt, recently spoke to Vogue about how he's gotten so far in such a short time.

He's known for his model selection now, but in the beginning, they came from Craigslist.

"In one of the first pictures we did, the model, who we found on Craigslist, was just wearing a sweater, slouching, and smoking a cigarette. People identified with her then, and she hasn’t changed much since.”

"When I first started, my product was definitely a lot safer . . ." »

fashionologie — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:27:27 PST

>> INSIDER WIRE -Speaking of awards, Rodarte won double honors - 100,000 euros for the Swiss Textiles Award, the first American designers to ever do so - last night. The prize, which Laura and Kate Mulleavy snatched over fellow nominees Richard Nicoll, Louise Goldin, and Jean-Pierre Braganza, is to be used to fund international development of the brand. Last year's winner was Marios Schwab. [Style File, WWD]

Mary Katrantzou Awarded 2010 Swiss Textile Award

fashionologie — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 08:14:42 PDT

>> The Swiss Textile Award for the past two years has gone to American designers - Rodarte and Alexander Wang, respectively - but this year, Greek-born Mary Katrantzou beat out Jason Wu, Duro Olowu, Adam Kimmel, Juun J, and Damir Doma to take home the 100,000 euros (approx. $142,150) prize. "I'm stunned. It was such a big buildup, and I cried backstage so I think that says it all," says Katrantzou, who plans to put the prize toward her next collection, which she describes as "a progression of [the Spring 2011 collection], it's not as thematic, and it's darker than this season." Wang, who presented Katrantzou with the award, said the prize enabled him to "develop the textiles which will be sold in [our] store that's going to open in New York next year." [Vogue UK]

Alexander Wang Takes Home 2009 Swiss Textile Award; Kate Mulleavy On Why Her Label Is Called "Rodarte," Not "Mulleavy"

fashionologie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:37:42 PST

>> Alexander Wang is experiencing quite the winning streak - he was awarded the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund of $200,000 last November, the 2009 CFDA Swarovski Womenswear winner this past June, and now he's taking home the 2009 Swiss Textiles Award, a prize of about $150,000, to go towards international development. Wang becomes the second American designer in a row to win the Swiss Textiles Award, following after Rodarte, who were the first American winners ever last year.

The jury this year, chaired by Isabel Toledo, apparently had a tough time making a decision - Wang's fellow finalists this year were Peter Pilotto, Erdem, Thakoon, Alexis Mabille, and Ohne Titel, who will each receive a prize of approximately $6,000.

Former winners, Raf Simons, Kate Mulleavy sound off »

fashionologie — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:29:49 PDT

>> Jason Wu, Mary Katrantzou Among 2010 Swiss Textile Nominees -American designers have won the 100,000 euro (approx. $130,000) Swiss Textile Award for the past two years running - Rodarte took home the award in 2008 and Alexander Wang won last year; could Jason Wu continue the monopoly? He, along with Mary Katrantzou, Damir Doma, Juun J, Adam Kimmel, and Duro Olowu, is a 2010 finalist for the award. The winner, determined by a judge panel which this year includes Harper's Bazaar's Glenda Bailey; the Financial Times's Vanessa Friedman, and Luisa Via Roma's Silvano Vangi, will be announced Nov. 4. [Sportswear International]

Alexander Wang on Tweeting, His Bestsellers, and the Upcoming Costume Institute Gala

fashionologie — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:25:39 PDT

>> Alexander Wang's New York flagship is just over a month old, but it sounds like there's been no shortage of shoppers passing through. Within a week of opening, he told us, some of the bags had already sold out. Late last week, the designer threw an exclusive shopping event for American Express cardholders - to encourage a few more shoppers to do some damage - and took a minute to chat with us about his upcoming trip to Coachella, whether or not we might see him Tweeting, and what he's currently excited about. Also, for those who haven't been able to make the store in person, Wang just posted a behind-the-scenes video documenting the making of the store, in which he describes his ideas and inspiration for the space.

You guys have had such good luck with awards! The Swiss Textile Award, the GQ Menswear Award a couple of months ago, and now three CFDA Award nominations . . .

I always say that I really owe it to my team and I share it with everyone that I work with, because they really are the ones that make it happen. Yeah, it’s my name on the door, but I could not have done it without my entire team.

And you just recently started a Twitter - can we expect to see you Tweeting at all?

Yes! They actually just taught me how to use it, in terms of signing up and actually posting things. Right now, it’s been a collective [effort]. We want to be very mindful in terms of what we want to put on there - making sure it’s only the best news and the things that people really, really want to pay attention to, to make it have good value. But yeah, definitely. I don’t know, I’m going on some big trips, and then maybe I'll . . . something will come up . . . whatever it may be. Maybe tonight!

Are you going on these big trips for inspiration hunting?

Yes, I’m going to Coachella . . . my yearly retreat. I’m going with friends, four of us. We’re renting a house for the first time, actually - I usually stay at a hotel. I stayed at the Ace [Hotel in Palm Springs] the first time, and that was so far [away from the festival], and then I stayed at another hotel last year. This year we were like, we’re going to rent a house so we can play music at night when we get back and not have people complaining about it, so, yeah.

Anyone you’re really looking forward to seeing at Coachella?

Yeah, Kanye’s headlining, so I’m really excited, and Lauryn Hill’s going to be there. I don’t know, I feel like I always . . . I don’t really care who’s performing, I’m always just like: for the experience, I want to go, and then when I get there I plan out my day . . . you know, see who’s going on. But just those two [alone], it's worth going for.

What has sold well in the showroom and during buyer's appointments from your Fall 2011 collection?

Oh good, we just did our merchandising meeting this week! Our handbags have really taken off as a part of our business, our footwear is actually growing tremendously as well. I’m actually learning a lot from the store [and] what’s on the floor right now: our Diego and our Rocco from our Dumbo group, which is all of our handbags with the studs on the bottom, are still our best-sellers, which has been awesome. The first week [after the store's opening], we did this really special display in the back, and within the first week they all sold out, so it’s great that there’s still life [for a design] beyond one season.

Of course, I’m a big fan of our new Prisma group, which is all the [handbags] with the metal corners. My favorite bag is the Jade clutch, just this toiletry clutch that we put metal corners on. I think for Fall, what was great is that we did a lot of things with fur, and with the higher price point, it was kind of like . . . we wanted to test the market and see how the buyers would respond. They have really . . . they’ve been great. Our bestseller from the entire ready-to-wear collection was the grey vest with the yellow zip-out windbreaker pockets and the fur collar. It was great, to see an item like that . . . I feel like it had a really strong impact in the show, so it really kind of transcended into the market week.

Have you been in the store a lot while people are shopping?

Yeah, I’ve been in here at least once a week. At least.

Do you like to interact with the customers?

Well, one day, we came in and the phone rang, so I just picked up the phone and was like, "Alexander Wang," and I helped the lady on the phone - she was looking for one of our Rocco bags. So that was kind of fun. Other than that, a couple of times I’ll be in and people will be like, "Oh, hey!" and I’ll be like, "Do you have any questions?" You know? It’s been great to have that really direct communication with the customer and really, this is the first time we’ve been one-on-one [with] what works, what doesn’t work . . . not even in the product itself, just the entire experience of shopping with us.

Are you dressing anyone for the Costume Institute Gala?

We are dressing someone, but it’s not confirmed yet who. Actually, a lot of my friends have been like, "Oh, you know, I’m taking blah blah blah, who are you going with?" And I’m like, "I don’t know yet!" It’s always a little last minute for us, and it’s great, because we really want to make it special. It’s always someone we feel like we have a special relationship with or someone who really means something to us, so . . . but no, we haven’t confirmed yet.

Is there anything else you’re really excited about right now?

Our menswear. I met with our store manager last week, and I was like, "What has been the one thing that everyone has been asking for or talking about?" And they said the men’s stuff. I was actually really surprised, because we only started men’s T about three seasons ago, and so I felt like we haven’t really . . . we’ve started to build a following, but it hasn’t been paying off as much. Women’s line has been around much longer. But it’s great that we’re going to have that audience, and it’s been perfect timing since we [just] launched our men’s ready-to-wear [with] a capsule collection for Fall [2011], and it will be fully launched for Spring [2012]. To have that audience already, we’re really honored and really excited to showcase it.

Rodarte Fall 2009 Continues the Evolution

fashionologie — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:39:03 PST

>> While guests sat in tinfoil-wrapped folding chairs, Laura and Kate Mulleavy sent out a collection that was living proof of their recent Swiss Textile Award; they were furnished with the financial ability to mix even more materials than before - leather, lace, metallics, Swarovski crystals, and of course those knits they're so well known for.

The inspiration was photographer Ari Marcopoulos, but when you get down to it, the collection is just another evolution of the Rodarte aesthetic that has been in place for a few seasons now: a collage of textured, hand-stitched, wearable art. There weren't any long, flowy dresses this time, just short, semi-structured minidresses; that, combined with the iridescent fabrics used on some pieces is sure to draw some Balenciaga comparisons. Nicholas Kirkwood contributed the shoes again, this time square-toed, leather strap-wrapped thigh-high boots, but it's still those knits that really get you - those loopy, nubby, arts-and-crafts knits.
*image: source

View Slideshow ›

fashionologie — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:58:14 PST

>> INSIDER WIRE -Vera Wang had yet to start on her Fall 2009 collection as of a couple of days ago, but the same can't be said for the sisters Rodarte. So what are the first Americans to win the prestigious Swiss Textile Award currently thinking? "The other day we were on the highway and we saw a car that was half blue, half white. At the time, we happened to be in the middle of an argument about color, and that car kind of settled it, right there. Blue." They're also "obsessed with these colored gels, fills for cameras": "We’ll be looking at something like the gels, and maybe that generates an idea like, let’s do graphic color." [Style File]
*image: source

Gareth Pugh for Topshop: The Collection That Could Have Been, But Won't Be

fashionologie — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:33:13 PDT

»Gareth Pugh was asked to do a range for Topshop, but turned it down because he "hate[s] the idea of being in Grazia" [Dazed Digital]

»Roberto Cavalli compares models to "pieces of wood" [The Cut]

»Vanessa Traina appears out and about in Balmain boots with Nicole Richie [PopSugar]

»Karl Lagerfeld, dressed in white with blue striped bib, and Amanda Harlech, spotted in Saint Tropez [Jezebel]

»Did Ralph Lauren's Olympic opening ceremony uniforms embarrass America? [Gawker]

»A recent Bill Blass alum is about to go solo [Style File]

»Anna Selezneva is the Spring 2009 girl to watch [TI]

»Charlotte Ronson, re-imagined as Eli Cash from The Royal Tenenbaums [FabSugar]

»Rodarte among finalists for prestigious Swiss Textiles Award [FWD]

»According to Richie Rich, Heatherette is just taking a breather [The Cut]
*image: source