Though we are not to expect a statement from Balenciaga until next week, sources have confided to WWD that American designer Alexander Wang, who shot to fame under the guidance of Vogue Editor in Chief, Anna Wintour, will be named as the new creative director of Balenciaga.
Nicolas Ghesquière, Balenciaga’s former creative director for the past fifteen years, transformed the brand first launched in 1937 into a couture-like, elitist label with a staple silhouette of high-waisted skinny pants and voluminous ‘blousons’; all the while remaining devoted to Spanish Cristóbal Balenciaga’s original design concepts and legacy. The introduction of Wang, renowned for his accessible androgynous, rock’n roll style, and equally business savvy approach to fashion suggests that PPR’s Balenciaga is keen to now appeal to a broader audience.
Thirty year old Alexander Wang is fluent in Mandarin and was born in San Francisco to Taiwanese-American parents. At 18, he studied fashion at Parsons School of Design and created his signature label in 2005.
