Adrienne Wu

Adrienne Francis Wu Ming Bong is a Canadian fashion designer who was born on August 9, 1990, in Burlington, Ontario.{{Cite web|title=Adrienne Wu|url=https://www.huffpost.com/author/adrianwu-705|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410004037/https://www.huffpost.com/author/adrianwu-705|archive-date=2019-04-10|access-date=2020-11-07|website=HuffPost|language=en}} On their YouTube channel in 2015, Wu came out as Neutrois (Non-Binary) Transgender, began using gender-neutral pronouns, and began advocating with Toronto's (SOY) Supporting Our Youth group. Wu began their self-taught career in 2008, when they posted 50 outfits on social media, which led to possibilities to produce fashion shows and collections across Canada. Margaret Atwood, a display at the National Gallery, and Freed Development's Fashion House Condos were among the business collaborations featured during Vancouver, Ottawa, and Toronto Fashion Week. Wu has concentrated on design through fleecer.ca, a wearable technology firm, @wumingbong on YouTube, a transgender and non-binary advocacy platform, and a Huffington Post column researching queer theory, trans studies, and transhumanism since transitioning. A collaboration with art critic and scholar Matthew Grimm @grimmxwu on Instagram, which investigates the intersections between Meta-Modernism and Post-Humanism, is now in the works.

Wu credits most of their inspiration to their mother Jean Carole Wu.{{Cite web |last=Whittier |first=Keith |date=2011-10-17 |title=Adrian Wu: Canadian Born, Internationally Raised and Europe Bound |url=https://www.ottawalife.com/article/adrian-wu-canadian-born-internationally-raised-and-europe-bound/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Ottawa Life Magazine |language=en-US}} Their maternal grandmother Joan Davis was the head designer of Tai Ping Carpets Hong Kong in the 1960s.{{cite news|last=Vizi|first=Stephanie|title=Fashion designer Adrian Wu reflects on early success|url=http://www.insidehalton.com/news/business/article/968470--fashion-designer-adrian-wu-reflects-on-early-success|access-date=17 May 2011|newspaper=Inside Halton|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326162440/http://www.insidehalton.com/news/business/article/968470--fashion-designer-adrian-wu-reflects-on-early-success|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 March 2011}} Wu attended Hillfield Strathallan College and, in late 2009, they attended the University of Toronto aiming to go into a career of sex therapy. They dropped out after one year.{{cite web|date=2011-06-29|title=Ones to watch: Adrian Wu could be the next homegrown great|url=https://fashionmagazine.com/style/ones-to-watch-adrian-wu/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107110947/https://fashionmagazine.com/style/ones-to-watch-adrian-wu/|archive-date=2020-11-07|access-date=29 June 2011|work=Fashion Magazine}}

After creating their portfolio, they were accepted by the Istituto Marangoni, but deferred the offer to start their own company in September 2010. In 2011, they opened their first boutique in downtown Toronto.

Wu learned to sew in 2009 after they dropped out of the University of Toronto. Their first break was being offered a position at MuchMusic in April 2010 as a Fashion Correspondent, where they worked for half a year.{{cite web |title=Much on Demand |url=http://www.muchmusic.com/tv/mod30/schedule.aspx |work=MuchMusic |publisher=Bell Media}} The same day that Wu was offered the position, they received an invitation to show their Fall Winter 2010 Collection at Vancouver Fashion Week.{{cite news |last=Crawford |first=Holly |date=2010-11-10 |title=Adrian Wu |newspaper=WEST of the City |url=http://www.westofthecity.com/article/100166/Adrian-Wu |url-status=dead |access-date=10 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110222624/http://www.westofthecity.com/article/100166/Adrian-Wu |archive-date=10 November 2013}} Wu was nineteen years old. They showed their very first time at Vancouver Fashion Week, which kick started their career as a fashion designer. Wu participated in the Spring-Summer 2011 Collection at the National Gallery of Canada during the Ottawa Fashion Week in October 2010.{{cite web |title=Adrian |url=http://ottawafashionweek.ca/Adrian.php |work=Ottawa Fashion Week |access-date=16 April 2012 |archive-date=15 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115152607/http://ottawafashionweek.ca/Adrian.php |url-status=dead }} In the same month, they met Shawn Hewson of Project Runway Canada through the Alumni Association of Hillfield Strathallan College. Hewson mentored Wu for a year and introduced them to the Fashion Design Council of Canada.{{cite web |title=Adrian Wu |url=http://worldmastercardfashionweek.com/adrianwu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315175300/http://worldmastercardfashionweek.com/adrianwu/ |archive-date=2012-03-15 |access-date=1 March 2012 |work=World Mastercard Fashion Week |publisher=Fashion Design Council of Canada}} In 2009 artist Mehrnaz had illustrated a painting of one of Wu's earlier pieces.{{cite web |title=Adrian Wu |url=http://torontostyles.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/adrian-wu.jpg |publisher=Toronto Styles |access-date=5 September 2012}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In November 2010, Wu was offered their first corporate collaboration, with The Allan Candy Co., based in Hamilton, Ontario. Wu was commissioned to create dresses out of Allan Candy wrappers for an online advertisement. This was the first time Allan Candy had collaborated with a fashion designer and used the advertisement to launch its DOPS candy line.{{cite web |last=Hannam |first=Lisa |title=What's in a name? |url=http://www.thespec.com/living/style/article/263799--what-s-in-a-name |website=thespec.com |access-date=4 October 2010 |archive-date=3 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603034808/http://www.thespec.com/living/style/article/263799--what-s-in-a-name |url-status=dead }}

Quickly known as the 18-year-old-boy who modelled their own dresses, Prestel published Wu internationally in a book called Style Diaries: World Fashion from Berlin to Tokyo in February 2011. The author, Simone Werle, featured Wu as "one of the most influential forces behind tomorrow's trends".{{cite book |last=Werle |first=Simone |title=Style Diaries: World Fashion from Berlin to Tokyo |year=2010 |publisher=Prestel Publishing |location=New York |isbn=978-3-7913-4474-4 |id= {{ASIN|3791344749|country=ca}}}}

In March 2011, R&B singer Keisha Chanté modelled Wu's dress in the Dare to Wear Love Fashion Show.{{cite web |last=Hall |first=Diane |date=2012-02-10 |title=Designer Q&A with Adrian Wu |url=http://www.daretowearlove.com/d2wl-blog-entries/designer-qa-with-adrian-wu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121070432/http://www.daretowearlove.com/d2wl-blog-entries/designer-qa-with-adrian-wu/ |archive-date=21 January 2013 |access-date=16 April 2012 |work=Dare to Wear Love}} After the show, Wu's work was featured at Textile Museum of Canada as a part of Canada's first Fashion Exhibition, called Dare to Wear Love, in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.{{cite web |title=Dare to Wear Love Info |url=http://www.textilemuseum.ca/apps/index.cfm?page=exhibition.detail&exhId=331 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226162645/http://www.textilemuseum.ca/apps/index.cfm?page=exhibition.detail&exhId=331 |archive-date=2012-02-26 |access-date=8 February 2012 |work=Textile Museum of Canada}}

At twenty-one, Wu debuted their Spring-Summer 2012 Collection, titled "Creatures of the Photons", at Toronto Fashion Week; the collection featured dresses resembling "large testicles and penis shapes jutting".{{cite news |last=Atkinson |first=Nathalie |date=2011-10-21 |title=Fashion Shows: Adrian Wu |newspaper=National Post |url=http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/10/21/fashion-shows-adrian-wu/ |url-status=dead |access-date=22 October 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712085636/http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/10/21/fashion-shows-adrian-wu/ |archive-date=12 July 2012}} Wu has been critiqued as having "remarkable silhouettes", as quoted by the Ottawa Citizen.{{cite news |last=Beun |first=Julie |date=2010-11-04 |title=Capital city's got fashion worth flaunting |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |url=http://www2.canada.com/story.html?id=3778097 |url-status=dead |access-date=4 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407073234/http://www2.canada.com/story.html?id=3778097 |archive-date=7 April 2014}} Huffington Post said Wu had "dramatic and breathtaking designs."{{cite news |last=Kelsey |first=Sarah |date=2012-03-13 |title=How To Wear Runway Looks in Real Life |work=Huffington Post |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/03/12/toronto-fashion-week-2012-day-two-recap_n_1340360.html |url-status=live |access-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317202051/https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/03/12/toronto-fashion-week-2012-day-two-recap_n_1340360.html |archive-date=2012-03-17}} Wu was also called "a fashion wunderkind" by both the Ottawa Citizen and Toronto Star.{{cite news |last=Li |first=Anita |date=9 March 2012 |title=First look at Adrian Wu's fall collection |newspaper=Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/life/fashion_style/2012/03/09/toronto_fashion_week_first_look_at_adrian_wus_fall_collection.html |url-status=live |access-date=9 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307120403/https://www.thestar.com/life/fashion_style/2012/03/09/toronto_fashion_week_first_look_at_adrian_wus_fall_collection.html |archive-date=2016-03-07}}

Wu had the opportunity to collaborate with Margaret Atwood at the Book Lovers Ball, hosted in support of the Toronto Public Library in January 2012.{{cite news |last=Flinn |first=Sue Carter |date=2012-02-09 |title=Fashion designer Adrian Wu dresses up Atwood's in Other Worlds for the Book Lover's Ball |magazine=Quill & Quire |url=http://www.quillandquire.com/blog/index.php/2012/02/09/fashion-designer-adrian-wu-dresses-up-atwoods-in-other-worlds-for-the-book-lovers-ball/ |url-status=dead |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212220538/http://www.quillandquire.com/blog/index.php/2012/02/09/fashion-designer-adrian-wu-dresses-up-atwoods-in-other-worlds-for-the-book-lovers-ball/ |archive-date=2012-02-12}} Wu created designs inspired by Atwood's 2011 book In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination. Margaret tweeted that Wu is "a brilliant designer".{{cite tweet |last=Atwood |first=Margaret |title=Hi Adrian Wu, brilliant designer of In Other Worlds for #bookloveresball2012: send pics so T-fans can share your visions! @soimadrian |access-date=10 February 2012 |number=167980265535311874 |user=MargaretAtwood |date=2012-02-10}} In March 2012, Wu was also involved with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada in their annual event, The Heart Truth. Jessi Cruikshank, eTalk's host, modeled a Wu creation as event's opening dress.{{cite web|date=February 2012|title=Heart Truth Fashion Show |url=http://thehearttruth.ca/fashion-show/2012-2/jessi-cruickshank-wearing-adrian-wu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110180202/http://thehearttruth.ca/fashion-show/2012-2/jessi-cruickshank-wearing-adrian-wu/ |archive-date=10 November 2013 |access-date=16 April 2012 |work=Heart and Stroke Foundation}} Later that month, Canada's Got Talent host Dina Pugliese modeled Wu's custom designed dress for the 2012 Dare to Wear Love Fashion Show, again serving as a fundraiser for the Steven Lewis Foundation.{{cite web |last=Hall |first=Diane |title=NO. 5: TRIPLE THREATS—THE DTWL TOP 10 |url=http://www.daretowearlove.com/blog/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826012544/http://www.daretowearlove.com/blog|archive-date=2012-08-26 |access-date=27 March 2012 |work=Dare to Wear Love}}

Wu has dressed celebrities such as Jessi Cruickshank, Keshia Chanté, Dina Pugliese, Kreesha Turner, and Christine Avanti.{{cite news |title=Photogallery: Toronto Fashion Week |url=http://photogallery.thestar.com/1145812 |access-date=15 March 2012 |newspaper=Toronto Star }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Other publications which have covered Wu include The Globe and Mail, Flare, Fashion and the National Post.{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=Dierdre |date=2011-10-29 |title=True north strong: Canadian Designers unite at Toronto Fashion Week |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/fashion-and-beauty/fashion/fashion-features/true-north-strong-canadian-designers-unite-at-toronto-fashion-week/article2216165/|url-status=live|access-date=29 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102003342/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/fashion-and-beauty/fashion/fashion-features/true-north-strong-canadian-designers-unite-at-toronto-fashion-week/article2216165/ |archive-date=2011-11-02}}{{cite news |last=Halbert |first=Mosha Lundström |date=2012-03-14 |title=Adrian Wu Dreams Big for Fall 2012 |magazine=Flare |url=http://www.flare.com/blog/post/58653--adrian-wu-dreams-big-for-fall-2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=14 March 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730030317/http://www.flare.com/blog/post/58653--adrian-wu-dreams-big-for-fall-2012 |archive-date=30 July 2012}}{{cite news |date=2011-10-25 |title=Adrian Wu's overwrought LG Fashion Week debut fails to impress |magazine=Fashion |url=https://fashionmagazine.com/style/tfw-diary-adrian-wus-overwrought-lg-fashion-week-debut-fails-to-impress/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107122536/https://fashionmagazine.com/style/tfw-diary-adrian-wus-overwrought-lg-fashion-week-debut-fails-to-impress/ |archive-date=2020-11-07}}{{cite news |last=Atkinson |first=Nathalie |date=2011-10-21 |title=Fashion Shows: Adrian Wu |newspaper=National Post |url=http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/10/21/fashion-shows-adrian-wu/ |url-status=dead |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712085636/http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/10/21/fashion-shows-adrian-wu/ |archive-date=12 July 2012}} Other television news and fashion programs to cover WU include FashionTelevision, CBC's Creative Block and CNTV's Culture Express.{{cite news |title=InFashion Collections: Canadian Designers Talk Oscars |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqr6H1o3u2c |access-date=9 March 2011 |work=FashionTelevision |via=YouTube}}{{cite episode |date=2012-02-21 |title=Choreographer Marie Chouinard; fashion designer Adrian Wu; and jewellery designer Jasmine Virani |series=Creative Block |season=5 |work=CBC |url=https://www.facebook.com/197241526959251/videos/178535605589502/ |access-date=26 February 2012}}{{cite news |last=Goodman |first=Aaron |date=2012-04-09 |title=Canadian designers seek global market |work=China Network Television |url=http://english.cntv.cn/program/cultureexpress/20120409/107098.shtml |url-status=dead |access-date=9 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414070425/http://english.cntv.cn/program/cultureexpress/20120409/107098.shtml |archive-date=14 April 2012}}

Wu designed a tutu for the National Ballet of Canada's 60th anniversary celebration which is to be debuted late 2012. Wu has also recently been commissioned to their second corporate collaboration recently.{{cite web |title=The Tutu Project |url=http://national.ballet.ca/interact/virtual_museum/The_Tutu_Project/#Designers-tab |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317155743/http://national.ballet.ca/interact/virtual_museum/The_Tutu_Project/#LearnMore-tab |archive-date=2012-03-17 |publisher=National Ballet of Canada}} Wu was to create a dress out of Canadian company Kruger Inc.'s Cashmere toilet paper. Kruger planned to launch this "White Cashmere Collection" in September 2012.{{cite web |title=The White Cashmere Collection 2012 |url=http://www.cashmere.ca/english/wcc/2011/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406160956/http://www.cashmere.ca/english/wcc/2011/|archive-date=2013-04-06 |publisher=Kruger Inc.}} Wu became a spokesperson for Perrier as an official social influencer in 2012.{{cite web |last=St-Pierre |first=Kelly |date=2011-11-12 |title=Adrian Wu: Toronto |url=http://societeperrier.com/toronto/articles/adrian-wu-toronto/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120040620/http://societeperrier.com/toronto/articles/adrian-wu-toronto/ |archive-date=20 January 2012 |access-date=11 December 2011 |work=Societe Perrier |publisher=Mirrorball Group LLC}}

After Wu's debut at Toronto Fashion Week in late 2011, Natalie Atkinson of the National Post criticized them for "threads hanging from the seam" and sending "unabashedly hairy-legged boys" down the runway. She concluded the review with "...if Wu is earnest, I would urgently refer Wu to land an internship at Comme des Garçons or Margiela".

Fashion called Wu "overwrought", while Flare felt Wu's work contributed to "[o]ne of the most unforgettable shows we saw this season".{{cite news |last=Halbert |first=Mosha Lundstrom |date=2011-10-24 |title=Show Review: Adrian Wu Spring 2012 |magazine=Flare |url=http://www.flare.com/blog/post/48774--show-review-adrian-wu-spring-2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=24 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025072759/http://www.flare.com/blog/post/48774--show-review-adrian-wu-spring-2012 |archive-date=25 October 2011}}

In early 2012, Wu had their "Hierarchy of Needs" FW12 show at Toronto Fashion Week, which involved models wearing Guy Fawkes masks. This caused controversy, with the Toronto Star stating that the "message baffles audience". Wu also caught the attention of Gawker, which questioned Wu's judgment for citing the group Anonymous.{{cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Maureen |date=2012-03-16 |title=Fashion Show with Hacker Masks 'Baffles Audience' |website=Gawker |url=http://gawker.com/5894007/fashion-show-with-hacker-masks-baffles-audience |url-status=dead |access-date=16 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318153312/http://gawker.com/5894007/fashion-show-with-hacker-masks-baffles-audience |archive-date=18 March 2012}}

In 2015, Wu came out as neutrois, a non-binary gender identity, and started going by they/them pronouns.{{cite web |last=Wu |first=Adrienne |date=2016-02-08 |title=Starting HRT! (Hormone Replacement Therapy) - MTN - Non-Binary Transition - Neutrois Transgender |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnNLDKdnD7A |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605070328/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnNLDKdnD7A |archive-date=2016-06-05 |access-date=2016-05-09 |website=YouTube}} In the following year, Wu wrote an article on Medium explaining the concept of being non-binary and how it differs greatly from other transgender identities.{{Cite web |last=Wu |first=Adrienne |date=2016-02-28 |title=Explaining a Non-Binary Transition |url=https://medium.com/gender-2-0/explaining-a-non-binary-transition-751f8d897778 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611055339/https://medium.com/gender-2-0/explaining-a-non-binary-transition-751f8d897778 |archive-date=11 June 2016 |access-date=2016-05-09 |website=Medium}} They have since openly participated in the Trans Fusion drop-ins at the Sherbourne Health Centre in Toronto, advocating for the visibility of non-binary identities within the vast spectrum of gender diversity. During 2016, Wu posted video updates about their transition journey on their personal YouTube channel.{{cite web |last=Wu |first=Adrienne |date=2016-04-04 |title=Male to Neutrois {{!}} Non-Binary Transition Timeline |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMqh7H-y0jI |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416143254/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMqh7H-y0jI |archive-date=2016-04-16 |access-date=2016-05-09 |website=YouTube}}{{Update inline|date=November 2020|reason=}} By no later than December 2017, Wu changed their first name to Adrienne.{{cite web |title=Not Identifying as Human? |first=Adrienne |last=Wu |date=2017-12-01 |work=HuffPost Contributors platform |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/i-dont-identify-as-human_b_5a21e594e4b05072e8b56944 |access-date=2022-04-11}}

In 2015, Wu began advocating with Toronto's Supporting Our Youth organization.

In 2011, Fashion reviewed Wu's debut collection saying it "...failed to impress". It added: "While the gowns themselves were quite striking in a palette of muted colours and constructed to Wu's signature voluminous style, it was not the focus of the audience, and apparently not that of its either. On more than a few pieces, faulty zippers and rogue hem threads stuck out like sore sartorial thumbs."

In 2013, Canadian fashion ranking aggregate website Canadian-Fashion.ca rated Wu 2 out of 5 stars for their body of work.{{cite web|url=http://canadian-fashion.ca/fashion/labels/ |title=Canadian-Fashion.ca Ranking page |publisher=Canadian-Fashion.ca |access-date=15 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301180528/http://canadian-fashion.ca/fashion/labels/ |archive-date=1 March 2013 }}{{cite web | url=http://canadian-fashion.ca/fashion/designer/adrian-wu/ | title=Canadian-Fashion.ca Adrian Wu review page | publisher=Canadian-Fashion.ca | access-date=15 April 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115101616/http://canadian-fashion.ca/fashion/designer/adrian-wu/ | archive-date=15 January 2013 | url-status=dead}}

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Category:1990 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Burlington, Ontario

Category:Canadian people of Hong Kong descent

Category:Canadian fashion designers

Category:Canadian women fashion designers

Category:Fashion stylists

Category:LGBTQ fashion designers

Category:Transgender non-binary people

Category:21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people