ADRIAN WU…CTV labelled him “a symbol for Canadian fashion.” Both CityTV itself and Project Runway Judge Shawn Hewson managed to summarize his impact on the fashion industry and world in just two words… “unconventional,” while Hewson simply uttered the term “brilliant.”
But, words can’t even begin to describe the authenticity and complexity of Adrian Wu’s work. Inspired by the perspectives of Freud, Plato, and Socrates to the “art” of Westwood, Chanel, and McQueen, he seeks to connect fashion, philosophy, and fine arts. “I think what makes me different than other designers is that I care very little about the idea of fashion. I care about the bigger picture. I use fashion as a medium for art is explore the assumptions we make about our existence.” He likes blurring the lines between past and present, challenging the comparisons between fashion and art; to Wu, fashion is art. To Wu, fashion isn’t something defined by gender or trends. It’s not even fashion; it’s an asexual being that isn’t just worn, it has a message. “Most people don’t realize that most of my dresses are designed for both genders. I still don’t think I’m designing women’s fashions. I think its a very understandable assumption that I design for women. I think fashion is very much a society created idea just like most things and it is like most things followed by a lot of assumptions. I guess I find the women’s body to be a convenient subject for fashion.” But, the wide selection of gowns is also mused by another designer adored/admired by Wu. “It’s very much the waist that what I love. There is something very simple about it. Designing for a women’s waist will always make her look beautiful. Something Dior taught me.”
Adrian Wu withdrew from University of Toronto “trying to figure out what (he) wanted to do for the rest of (his) life” and then decided to pursue a career in fashion design. In fact, he only began designing in 2009 at the tender age of 18. Within the next year, he already had his work on display at Vancouver Fashion Week. Wu was also admitted into the coveted Instituto Marangoni, school of Fashion in London England as one of only 20 selected per year, but risked the chance to instead establish his own fashion design business late 2010. That same year, Wu’s work was also featured in a book called Style Diaries distributed internationally. Since then, he has made headlines as a young Canadian designer addressed in nearly every news publication and television station throughout the country. Late last year, Wu reached the ultimate career climax/breaking point. Wu’s collection was first released at LG Toronto Fashion Week, capturing National Post’s attention with his provoking designs. With his use of voluminous shapes and vibrant fabrics, Wu portrays his ideas about fashion through his own style and clothing. “I think my style is very much always changing. I am a firm believer in change. Change is good. I think I apply this to myself every day by constantly asking myself the philosophical question “what is the self?” As for his collections? “I’m inspired by contradiction. I like to put two things together that don’t go together. I have been known to do very romantic clothing but always extremely unwearable clothing. Every collection I do is a new idea I’m putting out there, something I think people would be aware of and I think the importance of history has something to do with it.” Even though Wu’s collections may be significantly distinct from eachother, they all possess one common characteristic, one brain behind the brawn: him. “(I like to use) heavy and unusual fabrics. It feels expensive and worth the money. I like to think that when you own an Adrian Wu, you’re owning a piece of art.”
Juno award winner Keshia Chante modelled his clothing for LG’s charity show Dare To Wear Love. Wu’s work is continuously and usually covered by FLARE and CTV. He also experienced his first business collaboration with Allan Candy, where he was commissioned to create/develop a collection of dresses out of their wrappers. At just 21 years of age, not only is Adrian Wu potentially one of the youngest or newest Candian designers in years, he is also signed with Perrier as an Official Influencer of 2012. When asked what separates Canadian designers from other designers, Wu provided the following response “that most of them are uneducated and uncreative. I don’t mean to sound arrogant but I’m actually very passionate about changing Canadian Fashion. I think there is so much potential for Canadian design, I just believe there is a lack or a flawed education about it. Canadian fashion lacks two things, funding and vision. It’s not anyones fault, I just think that if there was a better understand of what the rest of the world is doing around fashion, Canadian fashion could be taken a little more seriously.”