Bonaveri Magazine

Jason Wu, the ‘enfant prodige’ of American
fashion, has been in love, ever since he was a child,
with the art of making a dress and sewing, when
his mother bought him his first sewing machine
and he began sketching in fashion proportions by
using dolls as mannequins. The past times and
memories - as follows in our interview - definitely
lead him today to create designs and gowns of
intricate craftsmanship, always delving into
details of fascination and construction.
“My philosophy has always been to build a
garment from the inside out,” says Jason.
Born in Taiwan, he soon had an international
trajectory and education, moving with his family
to Vancouver, Canada, when he was 9 years old.
He attended school in Connecticut in the US, by
the age of 14 he went to study sculpture in Tokyo
and then spent his senior year of high school in
Paris.
He settled down in New York City, where he
founded his own eponymous label in 2007, at
only 24 years of age. A new face of the US fashion
landscape was born. Meanwhile, he worked for
Hugo Boss until 2018 as Artistic Director of BOSS
Womenswear. In 2009, the photo of First Lady
Michelle Obama wearing an embroidered white
silk chiffon one-shoulder gown at the Inauguration
Ball of President Obama at the White House
appeared in the news and toured around the
world. That exquisite dress was by Jason Wu.
“I was over the moon. I know I am an unusual
choice for a First Lady. I didn’t think it was my turn
yet,” he told The New York Times.
A super young talent beat the establishment of
American fashion system – Oscar de la Renta
was the reference, having dressed both Hillary
Clinton and Laura Bush.
“At that time, the brand was in all the stores
already,” as Jason Wu himself recalled to Vogue
America, “This episode amplified my name and
made me more well known, but we had had three
years of hard learnings before that.”
4 years later, when Mrs Obama chooses Jason Wu
again for Obama’s second Inauguration Ball – a red
victory gown - Jason Wu was already totally out there
in the international fashion firmament and articles
and accolades keep celebrating his talent and work.
The seek for the best and most exclusive fabrics –
mostly produced in Italy and France, old world couture
techniques with a modern twist; unique prints that
change every season and always explore new and
innovative ways of production; embroidered creations
and sequins hand-sewn onto garments, which can
take up to 1000 hours. Chiffon gowns in shades of
grey, nude, violet, and ivory; organza, draping tulles,
bouquets of Swarovski crystals; ruffled day dresses
with botanical prints as well as a satin strapless
cocktail dress or a sequinned evening gown…Jason
Wu couture is a triumph of beauty, romantic textures
and modern sophistication; impalpable lightness and
femininity a plenty!
Your women. From Scarlett Johansson to Gwyneth
Paltrow and Diane Kruger, your dresses embody not
only gorgeous women, but also self-confident and
intense ones - and I think in particular about Michelle
Obama.
I create clothes for women who are not only fiercely
fashionable but also own their power and femininity.
I have always embraced the feminine form. I think
women gravitate toward my designs because they can
feel beautiful, confident, sophisticated and completely
themselves.
The image of a woman, but also the allure of her
scent. Your new perfume Velvet Rouge, the intangible
message of a fragrance…
Fragrance is something quite subliminal but really
impactful. A scent really does become your signature,
so it is a great form of self-expression. I think when
making anything, it has to start with materials to create
something meaningful in the end. With the new Velvet
Rogue fragrance, we started with Jasmine Sambac,
which is a key ingredient in my first fragrance and
has symbolic meaning to my childhood in Taiwan. We
incorporated pure rose, golden amber, and incense
to give this fragrance a full body and depth. There is
something extremely sensual about this new scent.
28
BONAVERI 29
Bonaveri_Magazine_Final_Final.indd 28-29 31/01/2020 10:05