VFW Bio -
ALEX S. YU creates collections of garments that explore the fine line between reality and fantasy. His aesthetics rollick the happy emotions of childhood, nostalgia and wanderlust; and ponder the very definition of femininity in a modern, quirky way through garments. The ALEX S. YU girl loves to have fun, and isn't afraid of trying new things. They love colour, prints, quirky shapes, textures, and most importantly, values comfort. They are eccentric, lively, nonchalant and views life through a pair of rose tinted glasses. ALEX S. YU creates a line of contemporary womenswear with a twist of avant garde experimental attitude. He plays with proportions, colour blocking and unusual silhouettes while mixing and using different colours and fabric weights in one garment.
Fashion Week and PARK show Calgary. His works had been featured in various international presses such as Vogue UK, Vogue Italia, Glamour UK, Elle Canada, Elle Italia, i-D, Indie, V Magazine, Fuckingyoung, GQ, Aether Magazine, Zine Magazine, and many more. His works has also been featured in various music videos such as ‘Ghosts’ by Charlie and ‘BAE’ by Bestie. ALEX S. YU has dressed various international celebrities such as Malia Baker, Sandra Oh, Jordan Claire Robbins, Mia Zhu and many more. His work has also been featured in an independent film, INDIGO, that has shown at Cannes and Berlin Film Festival. His line is sold at his bi-annual pop up shops and various stockists around the world in cities such New York, London, Vancouver, Taipei and Miami. ALEX S. YU is made with dream and love.
Fashion Week and PARK show Calgary. His works had been featured in various international presses such as Vogue UK, Vogue Italia, Glamour UK, Elle Canada, Elle Italia, i-D, Indie, V Magazine, Fuckingyoung, GQ, Aether Magazine, Zine Magazine, and many more. His works has also been featured in various music videos such as ‘Ghosts’ by Charlie and ‘BAE’ by Bestie. ALEX S. YU has dressed various international celebrities such as Malia Baker, Sandra Oh, Jordan Claire Robbins, Mia Zhu and many more. His work has also been featured in an independent film, INDIGO, that has shown at Cannes and Berlin Film Festival. His line is sold at his bi-annual pop up shops and various stockists around the world in cities such New York, London, Vancouver, Taipei and Miami. ALEX S. YU is made with dream and love.
Interview -
Please share a bit about your journey to embrace fashion design as a career.
Since secondary school, my passion for fashion ignited through exposure to Fashion TV, the internet, and various magazines. The captivating world of models, fashion designers, and their creations became my obsession, fueling my aspirations to become a designer or stylist. This dream materialized with the launch of my label, ALEX S. YU, following my graduation from the London College of Fashion in September 2014 where I debuted my first full collection at Vancouver Fashion Week, where I clinched the title of Emerging Designer of the Year by Victoria's Niche Magazine. Since then, I have consistently unveiled two collections annually, establishing a creative and evolving presence in the fashion landscape.
How did you learn your skills?
I earned my diploma at Blanche MacDonald Centre and pursued my graduate degree in womenswear at the London College of Fashion. The journey through fashion design education demanded an immense amount of effort and sleepless nights. Prior to Blanche, I lacked any sewing skills, unable to distinguish a seam from a hem or comprehend the purpose of a bobbin. The intensive pace at Blanche forced me to exert additional effort and dedicate substantial time to practice, ultimately overcoming the significant challenge of sewing.
Transitioning to the London College of Fashion, the primary hurdle shifted to the course's central objective – self-discovery as a designer and defining one's voice in the industry. This phase involved profound introspection, requiring me to delve deeply into my aspirations and contemplate the direction I wanted to take with my unique voice in the fashion world.
Who are you as a designer? Aesthetic? Customer? Brand?
ALEX S. YU is an eminent creator of womenswear collections that intricately navigate the delicate boundary between reality and fantasy for the everydaydreamer. His design aesthetics are a jubilant celebration of the joyful emotions of childhood, infused with elements of nostalgia and wanderlust. A contemplative exploration of modern femininity takes center stage in his collections, presenting a whimsically quirky perspective through meticulously crafted garments. The ALEX S. YU woman is characterized by her adventurous spirit, embracing novelty with enthusiasm. She revels in a palette of vibrant colors, dynamic prints, unconventional shapes, and varied textures, placing paramount importance on comfort and functionality. With an essence that is eccentric, lively, and nonchalant, she perceives life through a lens tinted with rosy optimism.
What comes easiest for you as a designer? What is hardest?
As a designer, the storytelling process comes naturally to me, facilitated by my penchant for daydreaming. Imagination flows effortlessly, allowing me to weave intricate narratives and convey my unique perspective. Conversely, the greatest challenge I encounter lies in navigating the delicate balance between creativity and the practicality of garment wearability.
In recent seasons, I've assumed a dual role — one that indulges my unrestrained imagination and another that serves as a vigilant guard, compelling me to step into the customer's shoes. This dynamic requires me to both unleash my creativity and exercise restraint, ensuring that my designs not only captivate the imagination but also resonate with the practical preferences of those who wear them.
I don't confine myself to a single source of inspiration. Instead, I draw inspiration from a diverse array of contrasting elements, employing my unique style to seamlessly merge these varied sources into my designs. My creative influences often stem from youth subcultures, contemporary arts, films, and different historical periods. Emphasizing the significance of color in my collections, I consistently incorporate a spectrum of hues to enhance the vibrancy and depth of my designs.
Readers would love to hear about the collection you will be showing on the runway at Vancouver Fashion Week SS26? Inspiration, fabrics, palette, etc.?
Mezzo Melancholies lingers in the hazy space between adolescence and adulthood—where the restless yearning to grow up clashes with the ache for what’s been lost. Inspired by the dreamlike melancholy of Shunji Iwai’s All About Lily Chou-Chou and the raw nostalgia of early 2000s East Asian youth and pop culture, the collection captures fleeting moments of teenage longing, both tender and turbulent.
Fabrics like delicate tulles and Chinese brocade contrast with sturdy nylon and flannels, weaving memory and modernity into a soft rebellion. The palette shifts from muted browns and greys to electric blue and lime green, then blooms into bursts of pink and sparkle—mirroring that fragile threshold between innocence and experience.
Mezzo Melancholies is for the everyday dreamer, the one who carries the past like a whispered secret.
Where can readers purchase your designs?
My designs are available at select retail shops in Vancouver (Tran5cend, Commonplace), London (Wear that Walk), and New York (Red Velvet Boutique, S&W). Additionally, the ALEX S. YU online shop carries the collection. We are in the process of a significant rebranding and repositioning initiative in celebration of our tenth-year anniversary.
What's next for you as a designer and your brand?
I aspire to keep creating collections and expand the presence of my clothing line in boutiques worldwide. My ultimate long-term goal is to establish my own flagship store showcasing the entire collection. Having my own store would provide a platform to present my ideas comprehensively, encompassing not just the clothing but also the interior design and layout of the store.
In closing is there anything else you'd like to share with readers?
In 2024, ALEX S. YU will mark its tenth anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, we are organizing a celebratory event that will include a runway show, performances, and a retrospective review of the brand's remarkable 10-year journey. Stay tuned for updates on our official Instagram account @alex.s.yu.
Links -
Website – www.alexsyu.com
Instagram – @alex.s.yu
Facebook – www.facebook.com/pg/alexsyualexsyu/
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