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Alexander Wang on His 10 Year Anniversary: 5 Things You Need To Know About the Designer

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Do you remember what the fashion world was like before Alexander Wang’s casual-yet-edgy-yet-refined creations hit the scene? Neither do we. It seems like he’s been around forever, but Alexander Wang’s eponymous brand is turning 10 this month! In celebration of Mr. Wang’s big anniversary, we’re rounding up 5 things you may not know about the designer.

Alexander WangCourtesy Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

He’s as charitable as it gets
To celebrate the 10-year milestone, the designer decided to give back. Wang is reintroducing the ten most beloved pieces, handpicked from all his collections, which are available now on his website and at his Soho store in N.Y.C. The capsule collection was voted on by fans via social media using the hashtag #WANG10. Wang is also teaming up with the organization DoSomething.org, for which he released a campaign featuring 38 of his most famous friends (like Kim Kardashian and Cara Delevingne) modeling the exclusive hoodies and t-shirts. The best part? 50% of the retail price will go to DoSomething.org.

Next up, Wang is partnering with Beats by Dre (again!) to bring back the Beats X Alexander Wang Studio headphones. The matte black and gold accessory is available online (and at his NYC flagship) now. And he’ll be donating 90% of the retail price to DoSomething.org!

Lastly, Wang is the latest designer to partner up with Evian. His exclusive packaging of the bottle will be available at his spring ’16 fashion show, after party, and will be available at select retailers, WWD reports.

Wang won the CFDA’s Fashion Fund award in 2008 — even after rebuffing judge Diane von Furstenburg
In 2007, Wang launched his first ever collection, which received widespread critical acclaim. But how does one know that his collection has received Anna Wintour-worthy praise? You win the CFDA/Vogue’s annual Fashion Fund award, which Wang did — only one year later! Before he won, Diane von Furstenburg had asked him to design sweaters for her after seeing one of his designs on someone else — and he said no (politely, of course). The year he won the CFDA award, DVF wound up not only on the panel, but also as his mentor, Wang told Yahoo Style. (No bad blood there.)

His collaboration with H&M crashed the website’s server
Ten minutes before the Alexander Wang for H&M collection went live on H&M’s website, it crashed due to such high levels of traffic. The collection sold out worldwide in minutes and you’d be lucky to nab a piece off eBay, even today. Wang’s sporty-chic line received immense praise, and the creations got a lot of fashion insiders thinking: Will he be tapped to design the uniforms for the 2020 Olympics? Unclear, but we can’t think of anyone cooler (or more talented) to represent American athletic wear.

After only 3 years, he’s saying goodbye to Balenciaga
After Nicolas Ghesquière’s departure in 2012, the fashion world was taken by storm when the label announced that street-style pioneer Wang would be replacing him. Wang presented his first collection as Creative Director in February 2013, bringing a fun and sporty edge to the legendary house of Balenciaga. However, Wang will be departing as Creative Director this year,  and his last show for the label will be on October 2, in Paris.

He hangs with the coolest kids downtown
Judging by his DoSomething campaign, it’s no surprise that Alex Wang has a really fashionable squad — but he has a particular affinity for models of the moment Anna Ewers, Lexi Boling, Binx Walton and Hanne Gaby Odiele. The foursome, known to themselves and fans alike as the “bad girls club,” are often featured in his campaigns. Get to know them, below.

Instagram Photo

@annaewers: Perhaps the closest to Wang, Ewers is consistently photographed alongside the designer, whether it be at high-profile Galas, music festivals, or in numerous Instagram shots. She recently graced the cover of Vogue Paris, was included in this years Pirelli calendar and is a runway staple at all fashion shows. (If you didn’t already follow her on Insta, now you are!)

@lexiboling: You might recognize Boling’s name from a downplayed controversy this past February in which “bad girl” member Lexi was accused of bullying Kendall Jenner due to a comment made on a Vogue Germany Instagram post Kendall. With that in the past (the two models have been photographed together since), Boling continues to reign as one of the high-fashion models of the moment, featuring in campaigns for Mugler and Sacai — and most recently, she appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia.

@binxwalton: Walton is known for her versatile, androgynous appeal, which is perhaps what makes her so in demand. Walton couldn’t be any more perfect for the high-fashion world, although she recently appeared next to Gigi Hadid on the cover of Teen Vogue, proving that she can do more commercial fashion just as well (she also just appeared pretty-in-pink on Elle France’s September issue). Alongside Anna and Lexi, she’s ranked as one of the top 50 models by Models.com.

@hannegabysees: Since 2005, Belgian model Hanne Gaby Odiele has retained her place as the queen of cool. A street style trendsetter (you’ll find countless Tumblr’s dedicated to her), Odiele has appeared on almost every major runway and in numerous high-fashion campaigns. Most recently? Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang! If you’ve been trying to master the model-off-duty look, you now know exactly who to Google.

Do you love Alexander Wang? Are you sad to see him leave Balenciaga? Share your thoughts in the comments, below!

RELATED VIDEO: Here’s Your New York Fashion Week Backstage Pass with Kelly Cutrone!

–Adeline Duff

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Artist

Dee-1 Calls Raheem DeVaughn To “Purify My Eyes”

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Fresh off his Breakfast Club appearance after having “Lines Drawn” with help from Billboard and successfully migrating From The Hood To Harvard, NOLA native Dee-1 taps Soul singer/songwriter Raheem DeVaughn for “Purify My Eyes.” Continuing his theme of counter-culture centered messaging the timely track, which was produced by Anonymous, urges listeners to replace images of corruption and cynicism with lifegiving content to reprogram our thinking for the better.

“This is easily one the most important songs I have ever done because it provides Hip-Hop with a solution-based perspective meant to combat some of the problems we face as a culture. It’s honest, raw, and transparent. I’ve been friends with Raheem Devaughn for a long time, so to finally collaborate on a song feels great. When I played the record for him, he fell in love with it and instantly added his parts; which took the song to another level,” say’s the David Found His Slingshot author in a exclusive statement to Medium Creative Agency.

Award-winning rapper. educator, host, activist, business owner, and keynote speaker are synonymous with Louisiana’s Dee-1. The Nasir “Nas” Jones Hip Hop Fellow at Harvard University is a Billboard Top 10 charting, game-changing MC with a persona to match his penmanship. He’s transitioned from being a middle school math teacher in The Boot to a Hip-Hop heavyweight with much more to accomplish. He has released 10 albums and 21 projects thus far in his career.

Dee-1’s music is part of a bigger lifestyle movement called Mission Vision, which centers around three core principles: Be Real. Be Righteous. Be Relevant. In 2020, Dee received the prestigious NAACP “Power of Influence Award,” highlighting his community activism and commitment to inspiring the youth. In 2021, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on “The Manhattan Project,” but he lost to Michelle Obama. Later that year, Dee was appointed to the “Louisiana Council for the Success of Black Men and Boys” by Governor John Bel Edwards, making him the first rapper in Louisiana history to become a governor’s appointee.

After addressing critics and fans alike in the official music video for the Danny Beats-produced single for “Lines Drawn” and following his viral interview on Sway In The Morning centered around industry hypocrisy, Emmy-nominated educator turned entertainer Dee-1 released his latest project to date From The Hood To Harvard. The 8-track body of work includes guest features from Skyy Brooks as well as P3RK and is anchored by supporting records “Impostor Syndrome” & “Dr. Freshh.”

Stream “Purify My Eyes” on your DSP of choice below and watch Dee-1‘s interview with The Breakfast Club | HERE.

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Chelsea Pastel Releases Motivative New Single “Price Going Up”

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To celebrate “Greener” pastures, following the announcement of her joining Kid Cudi’s ‘Insano World Tour,’ Cleveland native Chelsea Pastel releases the Cassius G-produced single “Price Going Up.” Marking CP’s explosive entrance into 2024, the empowering anthem resonates with anybody pushing forward with resilience and determination. With infectious beats and powerful vocals, she asserts her presence as a rising star to watch. Setting the stage for an exciting year ahead, the brand-new track is a bold declaration of Chelsea’s unwavering commitment to excellence.

“I jumped off that porch, I’m not going back to that house and I mean just that. I’m never looking back. I took a leap of faith and where I land is where I’m staying,” says the talented triple threat in a press statement to Medium Creative Agency about her latest release.

Born and bred in Forest City, Chelsea found her passion for music early on, which led her to enroll in the Cleveland School of Arts. After graduating, Chelsea begin to make a name for herself throughout the Midwest and beyond. Her unique sonic style, catchy hooks, and lyrical prowess have earned her the title of Cleveland’s Next Up talent.

Apart from accolades, which include spotlight spots regionally on WKYC and Dirty Glove Bastard as well as national recognition on top-tier entertainment networks like BET, Chelsea is a self-taught instrumentalist who often handles her production, writing, and engineering. Her unique brand of ballads can be best classified as a fusion of Rap and Pop with a touch of Rock accented by old-school flavor.

Press play on “Price Going Up” on your DSP of choice below and watch the visual for “Greener” | HERE via Pastel Productions LLC / Vydia.

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Music

Chill Vibes and Sultry Melodies: Exploring iazY’s Latest Release “Pink Leaf”

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Hailing from the vibrant city of Irvine, the rising artist iazY is making waves with her latest single, “Pink Leaf,” released under her own label, iazY Music Ent. This track, produced by The Real Mapa and engineered by Troy “R8dio” Johnson, introduces listeners to iazY’s signature sound—a fusion of Urban pop rock melodies.

iazY shared her motivation behind crafting “Pink Leaf,” revealing, “I just had this vision of just a chill vibe, something for my ladies.” This intention shines through in the song’s laid-back groove and sultry lyrics, creating an irresistible atmosphere that invites listeners to unwind and groove along.

What sets “Pink Leaf” apart for iazY is not only its sound but also the emotions it evokes. She explains, “I think just how the song sounds and how it makes me feel. It just puts me in that ‘have fun chill’ vibe.” With its catchy hooks and lush production, “Pink Leaf” effortlessly captures iazY’s essence as an artist, marking a milestone in her musical journey.

As iazY continues to captivate audiences with her unique blend of genres and infectious energy, fans eagerly anticipate upcoming shows and releases. To stay updated on iazY’s latest endeavors, follow her on Instagram @iazyofficial and keep an ear out for future announcements from iazY Music Ent.

Visit iazyMusic.com

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