Alexander Wang Goes (And Wins) GQ's Best New Menswear Designer

Honestly - I'm not sure how I feel about this because the more that Asian American men get accolades in the design and fashion industry the more I'll be forced - or at least expected - to do something with this mop of a fro I have in the mornings versus just leaving it as is and scaring the bejeezus out of the people who work the drive-thru at McDonalds in the morning.

Fall/Winter: Akufuncture

Got word sent in from the folks at Akufuncture about their new Fall/Winter lineup and wanted to post up some pics and info.

Akufuncture's second season dropped on August 24th and continues the line's dedication of creating a fusion between fresh streetwear style and elements of Chinese culture.

Check out more down at http://www.akufuncture.com/

Riding The Asian Fashion Wave

There's a somewhat interesting article down at the IHT on the current wave of Asian and Asian American designers - and one of the reasons I say "somewhat" is simply because they use the term "ying and yang" when describing the the mixture of West Coast and the East Coast - I mean seriously - let's get past it:

The parents of the current Asian generation are indeed classic achievers on the model of the Jewish communities who settled in the Garment District of New York. "We used to be the manufacturers, but we can also become designers - it's a generational thing - a natural evolution," says Lam, who has "warm childhood memories" of his grandparents' bridal business in San Francisco. The seamstresses became his "aunties" as he watched them wrap fabric around chopsticks to create spaghetti straps.

Read it in full.

Win A Shirt-Tail Top In Metallic Silk

I was checking out the ALTRA site for the new re-launch and while it seems to still be in the works, they do have a free giveaway from Vietnamese American designer Thuy Diep. For all the details go to the ALTRA site here.

Kim Myles: HGTV’s Design Star

In the world of Reality TV, Kim Myles was just recently crowned as this year’s Design Star for HGTV - and from watching the show and the final “design-off” - definitely deserved to win. Cool, calm, neat designs - and a person of color helming their own show on a major cable network channel - here’s a little more info on Kim from her profile down at HGTV:

Three favorite styles:

1. Modern

2. Boho (bohemian chic)

3. Contemporary

A design do: Texture and color.

A design don’t: Bare, white walls.

Favorite designer: I’m inspired by all kinds of designers — interior, fashion, furniture, pottery and jewelry. I could never choose just one!

Vera Wang looking to change the face of Kohl’s Department Stores

When you think Vera Wang you don’t just think elegant - you think expensive, you think elite. The words “Kohl’s Department Store” don’t quite roll off your tong right away. But if Wang and Kohl’s Department Stores have anything to say about that - it will all change - and will also add $150 million dollars of extra sales to Kohl’s and Wang’s bottom line.

The department store has just recently (Sept 9th) rolled out her Simply Vera line - its first designer collection ever and doing so in the largest product launch of the company’s history looking to help align itself with more upscale designers in order to help create more of an upscale brand - and the experts are expecting Vera’s new line of clothing to be a success:

There are girls here in the office who are so excited about this,” says Nicole Phelps, executive editor of Style.com, which is based in Manhattan. “And given that the prices are so affordable, I think it will appeal to younger women, possibly college age and even high schoolers.”

Experts believe Wang’s foray into the middle-class will be very successful.

Asian-American woman helping to change the face of a franchise.

How cool is that?