Career
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. He won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2008, an honor accompanied by a $20,000 award to expand one's business.[12] That same year, he launched his first handbag collection.
After designing a Fall 2008 collection using black as the predominant color,[14] he designed his Spring 2009 collection using bright colors such as orange, dusty purple, aqua and hot pink.[15] Following this, he reverted to using mainly black fabrics.[16][17] Wang's first flagship store opened in SoHo, in lower Manhattan, on February 17, 2011.[18] Some have noted that the brand has helped to rejuvenate an otherwise dissolving area into fashion's Lower Manhattan epicenter.[19]
On November 30, 2012, Wang was named creative director at Balenciaga, after Nicolas Ghesquière's departure, to oversee the women's and men's ready-to-wear and accessories lines.[20] His debut Fall–Winter 2013 Balenciaga collection was shown in February 2013 at the Balenciaga salons in Paris at 10 avenue George V. He created a collection for the fashion retailer H&M[21] that launched in November 6, 2014. On July 31, 2015, he left Balenciaga.[22]
In 2016, Wang became the CEO and chairman of the Wang brand, succeeding his mother, Ying Wang, and sister-in-law, Aimee Wang.[23] 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.[24] Wang hosted a 2016 New York Fashion Week show.[25] In 2018, he launched a capsule collection with the condom brand Trojan with the tagline 'Protect your Wang'.[26]
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.[27]
