Alexander Wang is proof that the fashion industry still values creative genius over ethics
Back in 2005, aged only 21, Chinese-American fashion designer Alexander Wang launched his eponymous label, subsequently earning him the title of “wunderkind” by industry experts Business of Fashion (BoF). Unfortunately for the publication’s credibility, as well as Wang’s numerous alleged victims, this praise has not aged well.
From Wang’s groundbreaking debut and the overwhelming praise he received throughout his career all the way down to the horrific sweatshop allegations and accusations of sexual assault, here’s everything you need to know about one of the fashion industry’s greatest’s fall from grace, and his eventual absolution.
Alexander Wang, fashion prodigy and one of the most revered names in the industry
Following the launch of his brand, wiz-kid Wang gained some recognition within the fashion industry after being bestowed with the iconic CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2008, an award which granted him $20,000 to expand his business. From there, things only got crazier for the young designer.
Replacing the notorious French-Belgian Nicolas Ghesquière as Balenciaga’s creative director in 2012, Wang oversaw the luxury household’s women’s and men’s ready-to-wear as well as its incredibly successful accessories lines—back then, the City bag was the bag to rule them all.
Despite the initial hype surrounding Wang’s new position however, it didn’t take long for Kering (aka the multinational corporation specialising in luxury goods that owns Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, and many more) to issue a statement announcing that Wang was leaving Balenciaga by mutual consent. That was in July 2015.
Shortly after in 2016, Wang became the CEO and chairman of his brand, succeeding his mother, Ying Wang, and sister-in-law, Aimee Wang. Later that same 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.
Though the move made sense at the time and Wang was widely acclaimed for his uncompromising approach to tackling counterfeit goods, the irony of this situation should also be highlighted. Back in February 2012, a lawsuit was filed against Wang, claiming that his company violated New York state labour laws, and that employees were being seriously mistreated.
Involving 31 plaintiffs, the case sought $50 million in damages for each of nine charges, adding up to a total of $450 million. One of the workers brave enough to speak out, Wenyu Lu, claimed that he was “hospitalised for several days after he passed out at his workstation because he was forced to work 25 hours straight without a break,” as reported by The Cut.
Lu also claimed that the tiny office on Broadway in which he was stuck slaving away in (quite literally) was windowless and poorly ventilated, and that workers were being forced to work 16 hours or more without paid overtime or breaks.
His lawyer claimed that Lu was eventually fired due to complaints about working conditions and applying for workers’ compensation. A second plaintiff, Flor Duante, also stated that she was fired after filing for workers’ compensation, and that she had worked 90-hour weeks at Wang’s factory.
Though it was then reported that the lawsuit had been dismissed by the likes of Women’s Wear Daily (WWD), with a spokesman for Wang stating: “We are gratified that this matter has been dismissed, as the allegations were unfounded and completely false,” it was reported that both parties had agreed to a settlement with undisclosed terms. In other words, hush money.
Like with countless other individuals in the limelight however, these first few stains to Wang’s name didn’t alter the fashion designer’s impressive harem of celebrities.
From Pamela Anderson, The Weeknd, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky to Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, Zoë Kravitz, and many, many more, Wang is probably one of the most well-connected fashion designers out there. And it’s not only work-related partnerships that we’re talking about here—most of the names listed above are actually considered close personal friends of the 39-year-old.
An impressive list of sexual abuse allegations launched by DietPrada
On 29 December 2020, fashion industry whistleblower Instagram account @DietPrada, along with modelling watchdog account Shit Model Management, published posts compiling accusations made on various social media platforms (including TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram) by users who claimed Wang had sexually assaulted them at some point in the past.
Scrutiny only ensued further when model Owen Mooney came forward to speak out about an alleged 2017 incident where he said that Wang groped him in a packed New York nightclub. Mooney’s story was later reposted by Shit Model Management, leading others to come forward with similar accusations.
The posts amplified previous allegations from others such as New York-based DJ Nick Ward, who also publicly accused Wang of groping him in a nightclub in 2017. Some claimed to have witnessed a victim being drugged by the designer, or being slipped ecstasy or other drugs themselves without their knowledge. There were also repeated allegations of victims, including several trans women, being groped or having their bodies or genitals exposed by Wang.
Two days after the accusations started flooding social media platforms, Wang’s representatives released a statement to various media outlets in which the fashion designer denied all accusations of sexual assault and instead added that he intended to “hold accountable whoever is responsible for originating these claims and viciously spreading them online.”
The next day, on 1 January 2021, The Guardian published other alleged accounts of sexual assault incidents from others, including transgender model and actor Gia Garison. On 4 January, Wang issued an updated statement thanking those who had stood by him, while also assuring that he would “remain honest and transparent” throughout the investigation into the claims.
That very same day, it was reported that American attorney Lisa Bloom—known for advising Harvey Weinstein amid various sexual abuse allegations, as well as for representing women whose sexual harassment claims precipitated the firing of Bill O’Reilly from Fox News—would represent alleged victims of Wang.
More than two months later, however, Wang changed his tune, instead promising that he would “do better” going forward and expressing regret, though without offering an outright apology, of course. Representing 11 of the accusers who had come forward against Wang, Bloom revealed that her clients had met with the fashion designer only days before his Instagram post and that they had “[spoken] their truth to him and expressed their pain and hurt.”
She went on to add that her group “acknowledged Mr Wang’s apology” and “are moving forward.” When asked about any arrangement, financial or otherwise, that came from the meeting, Bloom declined to comment.
Wang’s inevitable yet distasteful comeback at New York Fashion Week
After laying low for a couple of years, and focusing on his brand’s booming growth in China, Wang made his official return to the runway during this year’s New York Fashion Week, which took place between 10 and 15 February.
His first show back in the city that never sleeps was billed as the fashion designer’s “romantic return” by BoF—had you not been aware of what had been going on before then, you’d never known his brand was tarnished just two years earlier.
The dreaded question of whether the fashion scene would show up for the disgraced designer was clearly answered. The 150-person audience was packed and filled with most of New York’s fashion elite. Anna Wintour was spotted. Julia Fox walked the runway. And celebrities like Nikita Dragun and Ava Max were in the crowd.
Though many were quick to criticise Wang’s return on social media, when it came to the world of the rich and famous, it seemed that no one batted an eye. Kylie Jenner is currently featured all over the designer’s Instagram account for his label. Pictured wearing the brand’s new Spring 2023 collection, Jenner not only models Wang’s clothes, but she goes as far as to promote them in a video specially made for his eponymous brand.
From recently posting a branded TikTok video featuring con artist and fraudster Anna Sorokin, aka Anna Delvey, flashing her ankle monitor to having Vogue proclaim that the designer “still has a handle on what the kids want,” one thing is evident. Alexander Wang is cool again.
