Amidst London Fashion Week’s trends of shiny metallics, florals, and fruity colors, new designer and Fashion Fringe winner, Haizhen Wang, emerged as the dark knight.
orn in China, Haizhen Wang, who now calls London home, is the latest winner of Fashion Fringe’s 9th annual competition. As a former graphic designer and graduate from London’s Central Saint Martins, Wang has worked with MaxMara and AllSaints. Leading up to his recent victory, Wang was working on his own collection, which has since been exhibited in London and Paris. After missing last year’s competition, Wang came to this year’s Fashion Fringe to win.
Fashion Fringe, known for spotting emerging designers and taking their talent to newer heights, is the UK’s competition for designing students. Created by Colin McDowell in conjunction with IMG Fashion, this year they chose Burberry’s Christopher Bailey to present the award of £100,000 to Wang to help foster his label. The designer’s label, Wang, in its warrior spirit is a clear winner on the fashion battlefield.
[quote align=”center” color=”#b64736″]Unlike his competitors Teijia Eibola and Vita Gottleib who presented earthy neutrals and beautiful chiffon gowns decorated with ribbon, Wang’s designs came forth with an air of edge and mystery.[/quote] Gaining his inspiration from Japanese armour and Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava, the models wore helmets to top off their geometric ensembles mimicking Japanese origami. From the use of a 3D digital printer to create some elements of his collection including his shoes, the collection literally pops off the runway with a strong sense of street style. Like Calatrava, whose architecture is saidto be “in a state of constant movement”, Wang’s designs balances the art of fluidity as the collection alludes to an androgynous essence.
By CheRima Manayan
