Jason Wu: The Golden Age Of Prodigy

It was in the night of the presidential election that determined his fate.

From Domino s, he ordered a Sausage Pizza, then sat with his boyfriend and career partner, GustavoRangel, in the apartment in midtown, Manhattan, and watched the live broadcast of the ceremony.

Like tens of millions of viewers in front of the television, he knew nothing about what MichelleObama would wear to the party.

He never met with her, nor did he know that several works he submitted two months ago were already placed in the final list by the first lady.

When Mrs. Obama, dressed in a white skirt, passed away in front of the camera, he could not even be sure that it was his own design. After a few minutes, he received a call from CNN TV station.

The quiet and leisurely days are gone forever.

One congratulatory phone was followed by another congratulatory phone. CathyHoryn, a fashion critic of the New York Times, made him speeches. "Today Show" and "Good Morning America" have finalized the second - day program recording time with him.

"I was unable to express my feelings at that time, as if I had gone to heaven in an instant."

Wu kept looking back at that night. "I know I was an unusual choice for the first lady, but I really didn't expect it to come so soon."

However, good luck suddenly came to this 26 year old Taiwan young man.

"People want to wrap me up as a TV star."

During the days when the people were enthusiastic about Obama and his wife, Wu, who was in the center of the storm, was also disturbed all day.

Mail from all over the world sent him to a near paralyzed e-mail, and paparazzi lurked at the fast food store opposite his 37 West Street.

At the same time, various kinds of invitations to publish books and co operative endorsements have been pouring in, and even more people have volunteered to make a reality show for Wu.

"Some of the proposals are extremely inappropriate, for example, let me promote household products."

He said.

From obscurity to overnight fame, Wu has suddenly made many choices: he can accept the olive branch of Hollywood like IsaacMizrahi, and take a documentary called "Unzipped", which reflects the fashion world. He can earn a ticket. She can also go to MTV TV as a guest host, like JeanPaulGaultier or MichaelKors, as a judge of the overpass, and become addicted to pop idol.

If he really did that, maybe he could enjoy greater wealth and fame now. But considering that fame and wealth is a double-edged sword, this year's Best Designer Award of the American designers association will probably pass him by.

In the face of temptation, Wu decided to go back to his old business and become a designer.

"People want to wrap me up as a TV star, so I have to learn to say no."

It is worth mentioning that when the Wu in the restaurant of The Ritz Carlton Hotel in Beijing said the above words, he did not look like a fashion designer at all.

In terms of appearance, he has no handsome face of TomFord, no jewellery of KarlLagerfeld, and no JohnGalliano's dramatic appearance. Compared with the fashion designer in the secular fashion, his childish appearance is closer to those business gods who we often read in newspapers.

He understated that the brand's annual sales volume is expected to exceed $10 million this year.

The aura of the business prodigy appeared again on his head.

Wu Jigang (Wu's Chinese name) showed his talent in his creation (his childhood dream was to become a painter or sculptor), but his interest in fashion didn't begin until he was 9 years old when he moved to Vancouver with his family.

Thanks to the blessing of his English teacher, he was given a stack of fashion magazines to exercise his English reading ability. It turned out that magazines were more useful than textbooks, because little Jason was fascinated by the story of designers.

"For me, the process of learning English is the process of discovering fashion."

He said with a slight pride.

Wu has a solid painting and handwriting skills, which is more or less benefited from the help of two neighbors.

A Christian who lives opposite his home originally majored in fashion in University.

"She would say to me," if you listen, I will teach you to paint later. "

Wu recalls, "we will read the Bible for an hour and draw an hour of fashion sketch.

She later sent me a box of watercolors. "

Another often gives Wu the cloth left in the curtains to make clothes for dolls.

As the saying goes, good luck always pays attention to those who are prepared. This sounds like a cliche. It's right for Wu.

From the age of 16, he began to design a series of dolls called "FashionRoyalty" for IntegrityToys Doll Companies in the form of odd jobs. He was not only responsible for providing a complete set of wardrobe for the doll, but also for hairstyle and makeup.

In 2006, when Wu dropped out of Parson design school and left the studio of NarcisoRodriguez to prepare for his own initiative, his savings were enough for him to start his own business, even though the company's headquarters was Wu's own living room at the beginning of its brand creation, and his staff actually had only one employee.

"The opportunity to participate in history is priceless."

"Elegant, exquisite, just like a lady, as from another age", is the evaluation of JasonWu women's wear.

Wu's fashion taste is not matched by his age.

While his peers are looking for inspiration from street and sports, Wu is committed to designing traditional, decent clothes, retro prints, slender waistlines and cup like skirts.

LindaFargo, vice president of BergdorfGoodman department, praised him: "I am glad to see that a young designer has not deconstructed the modern fashion, but expressed his opinion in a traditional way."

When asked about where his love for classic beauty came from, Wu seemed somewhat puzzled.

He admitted his mother's influence on him - "her untidy", "her pan head", and "she always dressed me up as a college student", and listed CharlesJames and YvesSaintLaurent as his most respected fashion masters.

But when it comes to the "JasonWu style", he immediately talks about it.

"My design is generally classic and rebellious.

In the last spring and summer series, I used the magic green belt with pink feather skirt.

I like this strong contrast, for example, at the Rigi Hostellerie (St).

Regis) show a twill and soft Hoodie.

Wu, for example, "I have always been an old-fashioned person, and I would rather live in Reggie than a modern design hotel."

Even in the way of work, Wu has its habit of "old-fashioned".

Instead of spending his time on red carpet and parties, he seemed more willing to go to the retail front, experimenting with fabrics and tailoring in conversations with customers in different regions.

In the past few years, you can often see him in the Jeffery store in Atlanta and the Ikram boutique in Chicago.

It is IkramGoldman Ikram shopkeeper, the "shadow stylist" of MichelleObama, who introduced the design of Wu to the first lady (after Mrs. Obama wore all the JasonWu costumes she bought through Ikram).

After Obama won the election, Wu quickly completed several draft works and handed in Goldman.

According to his recollection, the latter's request is only a few words: "to flash".

"Two days later, Ms. Goldman asked me to make the white single shoulder skirt in the draft.

After the Thanksgiving Day, I personally escorted the skirt to Chicago and escorted it to Ms. Goldman personally.

Wu said.

No matter whether this white dress or the two colored long skirts that were gradually added later, they did not receive any money at last.

In Wu's view, "the opportunity to participate in history is priceless."

Thanks to Mrs. Obama, Wu has become the main force of American cutting-edge designers.

His companions also include AlexanderWang, ThakoonPanichgul, PrabalGurung, PhillipLim, RichardChai and DerekLam - it is easy to see that these people are all yellow skin and dark eyes.

Just a few years ago, when we talked about Asian Designers, we thought of AnnaSui, VeraWang and others who came out in 1980s. Now Wu and Wang have left their predecessors behind with their clear personal style and sober business sense.

"I am proud of being part of Asian Designers, and I think every one of us can feel that sense of honor."

"We are the coolest group today," Wu said.