It's Official: Alexander Wang to Take Reins at Balenciaga

Wang's modern and sleek aesthetic has made him one of the biggest rising stars in the American fashion scene.  He is very edgy and will be a definite change from Ghesquière's couture-like approach.  Balenciaga's choice to name him as creative director suggests that they want to bring in a broader audience and infuse their brand with youth and energy.

“Although we are an American brand, I think that is more to the sense of what is American sportswear, and things that feel very accessible and easy to wear,” Wang said in an interview earlier this year. “But at the same time we really see our audience and our consumer as a global citizen, someone who isn’t defined by where they live or what kind of music they listen to, things like that. It’s a sensibility that is much more individual.”

About Alexander Wang:

Born to Taiwanese-American parents and raised in San Francisco, Wang studied fashion at Parsons School of Design but dropped out in his sophomore year.  He created his signature label in 2005, then predominantly knitwear, according to his Web site.

2008 marked the launch of his full women's collection and has since expanded into men’s wear, leather goods and a second line called T by Alexander Wang.