'I’m really not into age defining how you dress': Alexander Wang on making your own style rules

Despite being widely credited with the popularisation of the ‘athleisure’ trend as we know it, designer Alexander Wang says he isn’t exactly fond of the term. “I hate to use that word!” he laughs, acknowledging that the market for said styles has exploded in the last few years under his influence, “but it’s a word that everyone now has an immediate connection to.”

Wang celebrates 12 years in business this year, a career that has seen him consistently push the boundaries of what we consider to be high fashion, bringing streetwear and sportswear into the luxury lexicon, and making his catwalk shows into democratic, public experiences. Wang has 3.6million Instagram followers and is now one of fashion’s most recognisable faces - and haircuts.

“Sportswear has always been so deeply rooted in my work, and how I personally dress,” he considers. “I obviously didn’t invent streetwear so I can’t take credit for the whole movement, but it has been incredible to see the blow up of athleisure and now we’re seeing sportswear and streetwear really evolve even more.”

“I’ve always said the most luxurious thing in your closet doesn’t have to be the most expensive. It can be a t-shirt, it can be something that has sentimental value - it’s how you wear it and how you put it together that I find most exciting.”

Wang, who this week announced that he was stepping down as CEO of his eponymous label, has had the opportunity to push his sportswear design techniques further this year as he has partnered with Adidas Originals for a second collection of experimental clothing and trainers. He’s enlisted Juergen Teller to snap gritty images on the streets of London, capturing the show-off pieces (tracksuit tops that can zip together with a pal’s) as well as the practical ones (slogan tops and new takes on classic three-stripe joggers).

“I personally always love the more excessive fantasy pieces like the day-glo tracksuits,” he says. “Also the footwear is so exciting to do because Adidas has so much innovation, especially around their Boost technology.”

“It’s never about just slapping our logo on something,” he says of his ethos when it comes to choosing who to collaborate with. “They have to offer something that we wouldn’t be able to do on our own.”

As for what inspires him, Wang says that he’s way more interested in what you or I are wearing than in what a celebrity has been dressed in on the red carpet. “You can appreciate the red carpet from afar, but how does that relate to your everyday?” he asks. “It’s pretty straightforward for someone to get dressed up, but how they are when they’re dressed down and they’re not getting photographed or going out, that’s what I find more inspiring. Those are the times that you’re relaxed, experimental and more undone, and obviously sportswear and streetwear have such a relation to that because that’s how people dress in their day to day lives.”

Wang is only 33 himself, and many of his greatest fans are the youngest, coolest kids on Instagram. But his designs also appeal to another more sophisticated customer - Madonna, Kristen Wiig, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman have all been spotted in pieces from his eponymous line, as well as his tenure at the helm of Balenciaga.

“For me age is nothing but a number,” he says, “I’m really not into age defining how you dress. Style is a frame of mind, it’s how you want to look at something. I think people are much more into looking after their bodies and being health conscious in today’s world, so fashion really follows that. Anyone can wear anything, you make your own rules.”

Seeing people wearing his designs out and about is, Wang says, the biggest thrill of all. “Especially when I know that they don’t recognise me and they’re not wearing it just to show me,” he says. “That piece of clothing resonated with them enough that they took the time to buy it and wear it - that’s an incredible thing. I get really nervous, though, I’m actually socially awkward when I see someone wearing it. I could never go up to them in the street and be like, ‘Hey I designed that!’”

Be warned, though, the one time he will approach you is if you need a little prompting when shopping. “If I’m in a store though and someone doesn’t recognise me and they’re looking at something I’ll definitely be like, ‘oh you have to get that,’” he adds. “‘You need that item in your closet!’”

Alexander Wang's London flagship store can be found at 43-44 Albemarle St, Mayfair  

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