GQ’s 5th Best New Menswear Designer in America award went to Asian

GQ’s 5th Best New Menswear Designer in America award went to Asian American wunderkind Alexander Wang – a move that came as a surprise to many onlookers and the designer himself.

Wang, who has just barely got his feet wet in menswear with his T collection, beat out more obvious choices including Kirk Miller of Miller’s Oath, Patrik Ervell, Derek Buse of Riviera Club, Joe Sadler and Greg Ullery, Michael Bastian for Gant, and Rick Klotz of Warriors of Radness.

“He was doing T-shirts and hoodies, and when we approached him, he said, ‘Don’t you think it’s a little bit early on?'” GQ’s creative director Jim Moore said at the award bash Thursday night that was attended by the likes of rapper fashionistos Kanye West and Swiss Beatz as well as Hollywood A-listers such as Jessica Alba. “I said no, I think you have the potential to be a great American menswear designer. It pushed him to expand his categories.”

Wang – chosen by a panel composed of designer Tommy Hilfiger, GQ editor-in-chief Jim Nelson, and Moore, among others – received a check for $50,000 and a mentorship with lifestyle brand Dockers, department store Bloomingdale’s, and the editors of the magazine, and will also design a piece for a limited-edition Dockers collection.

The designer has previously won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and Swiss Textile Award.

http://www.alexanderwang.com