Adrienne Wu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adrienne Wu
|
|
|---|---|
Adrienne Wu in 2020
|
|
| Born | 9 August 1990 Burlington, Ontario, Canada
|
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
Adrienne Wu (born August 9, 1990) is a Canadian fashion designer. They are known for their unique designs and their work as an advocate for diverse identities.
About Adrienne Wu
Adrienne Francis Wu Ming Bong was born in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. This was on August 9, 1990. Wu is a Canadian fashion designer. In 2015, Wu shared on their YouTube channel that they identify as non-binary. This means they do not identify as strictly male or female. They began using "they/them" pronouns. Wu also started working with Toronto's Supporting Our Youth (SOY) group. This group helps young people.
Wu began their career in fashion in 2008. They taught themselves how to design. They first posted 50 outfits online. This led to chances to create fashion shows and collections. These shows took place across Canada. Wu has worked with famous people and organizations. These include author Margaret Atwood and the National Gallery of Canada. They also worked with Freed Development's Fashion House Condos. These collaborations were shown at fashion weeks in Vancouver, Ottawa, and Toronto.
Since 2015, Wu has focused on several projects. They work on design through fleecer.ca. This is a company that makes wearable technology. They also use their YouTube channel, @wumingbong. This channel is a platform to support transgender and non-binary people. Wu also wrote a column for the Huffington Post. This column explored ideas about identity and the future of humanity. Wu is currently working with art critic Matthew Grimm. Their project, @grimmxwu on Instagram, looks at modern art and human identity.
Early Life and Education
Wu often says their mother, Jean Carole Wu, was a big inspiration. Their grandmother, Joan Davis, was a top designer. She worked for Tai Ping Carpets in Hong Kong in the 1960s. Wu went to Hillfield Strathallan College. In 2009, they attended the University of Toronto. They left after one year.
After building their design portfolio, Wu was accepted by the Istituto Marangoni. This is a famous fashion school. However, Wu decided to start their own company instead. This happened in September 2010. In 2011, they opened their first fashion store. It was located in downtown Toronto.
Fashion Career Highlights
Wu learned to sew in 2009. This was after leaving 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 helped launch their career as a fashion designer.
In October 2010, Wu showed their Spring-Summer 2011 Collection. This was at the National Gallery of Canada during Ottawa Fashion Week. That same month, they met Shawn Hewson. He was from Project Runway Canada. Hewson became Wu's mentor for a year. He also introduced them to the Fashion Design Council of Canada.
In November 2010, Wu got their first corporate project. They worked with The Allan Candy Co. Wu was asked to create dresses from Allan Candy wrappers. These dresses were for an online advertisement. This was the first time Allan Candy worked with a fashion designer. The advertisement helped launch their DOPS candy line.
Wu 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, featured Wu. She 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 at the Dare to Wear Love Fashion Show. After the show, Wu's work was displayed. It was at the Textile Museum of Canada. This was part of Canada's first Fashion Exhibition. The show was called Dare to Wear Love. It supported the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
At twenty-one, Wu showed their Spring-Summer 2012 Collection. It was called "Creatures of the Photons." This collection was shown at Toronto Fashion Week. Critics praised Wu's designs. The Ottawa Citizen said Wu had "remarkable silhouettes." The Huffington Post called their designs "dramatic and breathtaking." Both the Ottawa Citizen and Toronto Star called Wu "a fashion wunderkind."
In January 2012, Wu worked with Margaret Atwood. This was for the Book Lovers Ball. The event supported the Toronto Public Library. Wu created designs inspired by Atwood's 2011 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 annual event, The Heart Truth. Jessi Cruikshank, a host from eTalk, wore a Wu design. It was the opening dress for the event. 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 publications have featured Wu. These include The Globe and Mail, Flare, Fashion, and the National Post. Television shows have also covered Wu. These include FashionTelevision, CBC's Creative Block, and CNTV's Culture Express.
Wu designed a 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 Kruger Inc.'s Cashmere toilet paper. This was for Kruger's "White Cashmere Collection." It launched in September 2012. In 2012, Wu also became a spokesperson for Perrier.
Personal Journey
In 2015, Wu shared that they identify as non-binary. This means their gender identity is not only male or female. They started using "they/them" pronouns. The next year, Wu wrote an article on Medium. It explained what it means to be non-binary. It also explained how it is different from other transgender identities.
Wu has openly participated in groups that support diverse gender identities. They have attended Trans Fusion drop-ins. These are at the Sherbourne Health Centre in Toronto. They advocate for non-binary identities to be seen and understood. In 2016, Wu posted video updates about their personal journey on their YouTube channel. By December 2017, Wu changed their first name to Adrienne.
In 2015, Wu also began working with Toronto's Supporting Our Youth organization. This group helps young people.
