I wonder, how does it feel to be Jason Wu? How does it feel to be a 26-year-old designer whose dress was worn by the first lady (Michelle Obama) to the inauguration ball?
When I first saw his design (I think it was the Fall 2006 collection if I’m not mistaken), I thought he was brilliant and I started to look forward to his designs the next seasons. I also remembered that in July last year, he was named the finalist of CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. I thought, this guy is really making it work out there! But I really never thought that the gown the US first lady chose to wear to the inauguration ball would be his design!!
Minutes before he became famous as the designer of Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown, he was eating pizza & watching the festivities in telly. He had never met the new first lady, and he had no idea that the gown he submitted earlier would be seriously considered. At first, he wasn’t even sure that the ivory chiffon dress was his design!
Although unpaid, he made the dress with the understanding that should Mrs. Obama wear his design, the dress would be donated to the Smithsonian Insitution. (And that means that your work becomes a legacy & plays a part in the history!)
Jason grew up in Taipei, Taiwan. At the age of 5, his parents already recognised his creative talent. Sometimes his mother would drive him to bridal stores, so he could make sketches of the gown from the windows. From then on, he moved to Vancouver, then Tokyo, Paris, and New York to pursue his ambitions.
Without doubt, this inaugural gown achievement will contribute to a real boost in his business. We should expect to see and hear more of him from now on. Kudos to Jason!