NYFW S09: Alexander Wang and United Bamboo

Fashion Week Hullabaloo, originally uploaded by David Cady

Here’s to part two of my NY Fashion Week series, featuring RTW Spring 2009 collections from Alexander Wang and United Bamboo. On another note, I find it rather amusing that the fashion industry has decided to adapt electoral imagery for its theme this year. In my own opinion, it’s just another effort to capitalize on the heated interest in this year’s rather interesting elections.

Alexander Wang

To be honest, I am not sure why I am so fascinated by Alexander Wang. Is it his urban knitwear? Is it the fact that he’s a Chinese-American kid who was born and raised in the SF Bay Area? Or is it the fact that at just he became the rising star of the fashion industry during his Sophomore year in collage? I don’t know…but this 24 year old, this guy has already established a name for himself in a rather cut-throat industry.

United Bamboo

Not sure if many people are aware of this, but United Bamboo shares its name with Taiwan’s largest triad society (i.e. gangsters, organized crime or what have you). Though it is doubtful that the two founders did this intentionally. Miho Aoki, a native of Japan, and Thuy Pham, a native of Vietnam, launched the label and lifestyle brand is a collaborative cultural project with downtown artists, curators and musicians.

Filed under: Fashion, Alexander Wang, Asian-American, Designer, Fashion, Fashion Week, Japan, Miho Aoki, Ready-to-Wear, Thuy Pham, United Bamboo, Vietnam

NYFW S09: Nuj Novakhett and Jason Wu

Vote for fashion., originally uploaded by urzzz.

In honor of New York Fashion Week, which concluded on September 12th, I will be highlighting my top picks from the show’s Asian and Asian American designers all this week.  As you may or may not know, Fall Fashion Week is a showcase of ready-to-wear (RTW) collections for Spring 2009. First up, introducing Nuj Novakhett and Jason Wu. All the photos are courteous of WWD.com and Polyvore.

Nuj Novakhett

Nuj Novakhett (pronounced Newzj Nova-ket) is an up and coming designer hailing from Thailand. From what I have read, she got her start by secretly enrolling at Parson’s School of Design during her study abroad in the U.S., instead of completing the family-approved political science degree. You’ve got to admit, the girl’s got guts!

Nuj’s line first debuted in Spring 2006. This season, she created a rather unique presentation by displaying her collection on 4×4 girls on a white platform in a studio setting.

Jason Wu

Jason Wu is 25 year old Taiwanese-Canadian designer with a global perspective. Born in Taipei, he grew up in Vancouver where he learned to sew and make patterns. At the age of 14, he went to Tokyo where he studied sculpture and spent his senior year of high school in Paris, during which he decided to be a fashion designer.

Jason’s collection “celebrates” a women’s hourglass figure with a vintage style that’s classic and timeless. Looking through his RTW Spring 2009 collection, I can’t decide if he is pulling his inspiration from the 40s, 50s or 60s, but either way, I just love the look that he’s created this season.

Filed under: Fashion, Asian-American, Designer, Fashion, Fashion Week, Jason Wu, Nuj Novakhett, Ready-to-Wear, Thailand

Josie Natori + Saks Fifth Avenue

 

KO Natori5667b, originally uploaded by konradphoto.

Filipino fashion designer, Josie Natori (born Josefina Almeda Cruz) launched her new in-store boutique in Saks Fifth Avenue’s New York City flagship last week. Both the Josie Natori label (ranges between $100 and $500) and the Josie Natori Couture label (ranges between $1,200 and $5,000) will be sold in that space.

The Natori company features a wide variety of apparel collections including lingerie, sleepwear, loungewear, underwear and other high-end women’s fashion. Sold in upscale department stores in the U.S. and in 14 other countries.

It’s interesting to note that Natori is quite the over achiever. She became a world famous fashion designer after a very successful career as a concert pianist in the Philippines, where she performed solo with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of nine. Later, she embarked on her second career as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch where she rose the ranks to become the first female vice president. For a woman who’s only 61, she has lived three incredible life times.

Filed under: Fashion, Retail, Designer, Fashion, Intimates, Josie Natori, Merrill Lynch, Philippines, Ready-to-Wear, Retail, Saks Fifth Avenue