George Wu
Brisbane designer, George Wu, hit a publicity high recently when the host of the US ‘So you Think You Can Dance' television show wore a George Wu design. It was the ‘Fairchild design' and out of hundreds of dresses the TV production could choose, they chose to wear one of George Wu's design. "I felt very blessed,' said George.Di's Designer Q&A
Di Cant recently chatted with George Wu, the 2008 NRA Australian Fashion design "New Generation" designer.
Q: What's been your most exciting career moment so far? A: Our most exciting moment was when Cat Deeley from ‘So You Think You Can Dance' wore our dress in a recent episode. Another highlight was being invited to show our spring/summer collection at Sydney's Australian Fashion Week and Brisbane's Mercedez Brisbane Fashion Festival this year.
Q: Who is the George Wu customer? A: George Wu customers are women who like a point of difference in fashion but one that's not too loud or makes you feel out of place. Our pieces are always elegant and timeless with a hint of experimentation. And there's no age brackets in our customer base either. It's for women who appreciate the finest fabrication, innovative cut and time consuming garment construction.
Q: Who is your most influential designer? A: My favourite designer at the moment is Jean Pierre Braganza. He is a true pioneer in cutting edge fashion but doesn't compromise on the fit, finishing and fabrication. Braganza's design is heavily involved around pattern construction and an architectural feel. It's very avant-garde and very wearable.
Q: Whom (in a perfect world) would you love to dress? A: I'd love to dress Cate Blanchett. She has everything I look for in a muse; the elegance that can not be bought, you either have it or you don't and the unusual beauty she possesses.
Q: Do you have a muse? A: A muse? I met a journalist from Channel 10. Her name is Amelia Charlton, I guess she would be my muse?! She is beautiful, bright, positive and exudes elegance.
Q: Does international travel influence your take on design? A: I travel internationally when I have the chance. Experiencing different cultures and human interaction really influences my view on design. I travelled to New York City earlier this year and found the American sportswear aesthetics really inspirational. So my latest collection is a reflection of this. I have combined sports like golf, sword fencing, equestrian and croquet into my inspiration.
Q: What is the #1 piece (your favourite) from the next collection? A: My number one piece would be the Coulè dress, it's made of metres of silk tulle and all gathered into a neck band falling all the way to the floor. The silk tulle is very soft and flowy and feels like a cloud around you when you walk. Each piece of our new collection is named after a word used in sword fencing fights. It's very special to me how we constructed the pattern, it was the most fun challenge for us so far.
Q: Where can ourbrisbane.com readers see the complete George Wu collection for the season? A: See it online at www.georgewu.com.au or visit our Queensland stockists which are Tribune at Brisbane's New Farm and Adrenaline at Gold Coast's Australia Fair shopping centre. Both boutiques have cutting edge new designers, plus established international labels.
Q: What is the price range for a George Wu item this summer? A: Our price range is $160 to $680. I recommend the silk dresses because they are time consuming pieces with intricate pattern work.
Q: Do you also design clothes for young men? A: I like designing for women and haven't had much opportunity to design for men. But occasionally I do design a thing or two for myself and I'll get orders from my close friends straight away. I guess there has been some interest in starting a menswear area, but it's not on my map at the moment, not for a while...
Q: Where do you see your brand in five years time? A: I am planning to establish ourselves as more of a experimental design house in the Australian fashion scene in the next five years. We experiment a lot but not too much. The business has still got to be able to sell well. My aim is to have my own workspace and retail site in the one place.
