Adrienne Wu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adrienne Wu
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Adrienne Wu in 2020
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| Born | 9 August 1990 Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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| Occupation | Fashion designer |
Adrienne Wu (born August 9, 1990) is a fashion designer from Canada. They are known for their unique designs and for speaking out about non-binary identities.
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About Adrienne Wu
Adrienne Francis Wu Ming Bong was born on August 9, 1990, in Burlington, Ontario. They are a Canadian fashion designer. In 2015, Wu shared on their YouTube channel that they are non-binary transgender. This means they don't identify as only a boy or a girl. They started using "they/them" as their pronouns. Wu also began working with Toronto's Supporting Our Youth (SOY) group. This group helps young people in the LGBTQ+ community.
Wu started their fashion career in 2008. They taught themselves how to design. They posted 50 outfits online. This led to chances to create fashion shows and collections across Canada. Wu's designs have been shown at big events. These include Vancouver, Ottawa, and Toronto Fashion Week. They have worked with famous people and places. These include author Margaret Atwood and the National Gallery of Canada.
Since their transition, Wu has focused on several projects. They work with fleecer.ca, a company that makes wearable technology. They also use their YouTube channel, @wumingbong, to support transgender and non-binary people. Wu also writes for Huffington Post. They explore ideas about gender and identity.
Early Life and First Steps
Wu says their mother, Jean Carole Wu, is their biggest inspiration. Their grandmother, Joan Davis, was a head designer for Tai Ping Carpets Hong Kong in the 1960s. Wu started university but left after one year.
After creating a collection of their designs, Wu was accepted by the Istituto Marangoni. This is a famous fashion school. But Wu decided to start their own company instead in September 2010. In 2011, they opened their first fashion store in downtown Toronto.
Fashion Career Highlights
Wu learned to sew in 2009. This was after they left the University of Toronto. Their first big opportunity came in April 2010. They were offered a job at MuchMusic as a Fashion Correspondent. They worked there for six months.
On the same day, Wu was invited to show their Fall Winter 2010 Collection. This was at Vancouver Fashion Week. Wu was only nineteen years old. This show was their first big step as a fashion designer. Wu also showed their Spring-Summer 2011 Collection. This was at the National Gallery of Canada during Ottawa Fashion Week in October 2010.
In the same month, they met Shawn Hewson. He was from Project Runway Canada. Hewson became Wu's mentor for a year. He introduced them to the Fashion Design Council of Canada. In 2009, artist Mehrnaz drew a painting of one of Wu's early designs.
In November 2010, Wu got their first company partnership. It was with The Allan Candy Co. Wu was asked to make dresses from Allan Candy wrappers. These dresses were for an online advertisement. This was the first time Allan Candy worked with a fashion designer. They used the ad to launch their DOPS candy line.
Wu quickly became known as the 18-year-old who modeled their own dresses. In February 2011, Prestel published a book called Style Diaries: World Fashion from Berlin to Tokyo. The author, Simone Werle, called Wu "one of the most influential forces behind tomorrow's trends."
In March 2011, R&B singer Keisha Chanté wore Wu's dress. This was for the Dare to Wear Love Fashion Show. After the show, Wu's work was shown at the Textile Museum of Canada. It was part of Canada's first Fashion Exhibition. This show was called Dare to Wear Love. It supported the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
Critics have praised Wu's designs. The Ottawa Citizen said Wu had "remarkable silhouettes." The Huffington Post called Wu's designs "dramatic and breathtaking." Both the Ottawa Citizen and Toronto Star called Wu "a fashion wunderkind." This means a young person with amazing talent.
Wu worked with author Margaret Atwood in January 2012. This was for the Book Lovers Ball. The event supported the Toronto Public Library. Wu created designs inspired by Atwood's book In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination. Margaret Atwood tweeted that Wu is "a brilliant designer."
In March 2012, Wu also worked with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. This was for their yearly event, The Heart Truth. Jessi Cruikshank, a host for eTalk, wore a Wu design as the opening dress. Later that month, Dina Pugliese, host of Canada's Got Talent, wore a custom Wu dress. This was for the 2012 Dare to Wear Love Fashion Show. It was another fundraiser for the Steven Lewis Foundation.
Wu has dressed many famous people. These include Jessi Cruickshank, Keshia Chanté, Dina Pugliese, Kreesha Turner, and Christine Avanti.
Other magazines and newspapers have written about Wu. These include The Globe and Mail, Flare, Fashion, and the National Post. Television shows have also featured Wu. These include FashionTelevision, CBC's Creative Block, and CNTV's Culture Express.
Wu designed a special tutu for the National Ballet of Canada. This was for their 60th anniversary. It was shown in late 2012. Wu also created a dress from Canadian company Kruger Inc.'s Cashmere toilet paper. Kruger planned to launch this "White Cashmere Collection" in September 2012. In 2012, Wu also became a spokesperson for Perrier.
Personal Life and Advocacy
In 2015, Wu shared that they are neutrois. This is a non-binary gender identity. They started using "they/them pronouns." The next year, Wu wrote an article on Medium. They explained what it means to be non-binary. They also talked about how it is different from other transgender identities.
Wu has openly joined Trans Fusion drop-ins. These are at the Sherbourne Health Centre in Toronto. They speak up for non-binary identities. They want to make sure these identities are seen and understood. In 2016, Wu posted video updates about their transition journey. These were on their personal YouTube channel. By December 2017, Wu changed their first name to Adrienne.
In 2015, Wu started working with Toronto's Supporting Our Youth organization. This group helps young people in the LGBTQ+ community.
