Winter’s Night – Diwon Fall/Winter 2010: An Interview with Shuo Wang
In a time where the term “luxury” is just carelessly thrown into the vocabulary of some designers, Shuo Wang redefines the word and transforms it into a completely new way of looking at contemporary menswear. As the lead designer of Diwon, which is based in New York, Shuo follows a strong set of modern aesthetics that are driven by absolute quality, functionality, and a keen attention to detail. For Fall/Winter 2010, Diwon’s upcoming collection is undoubtedly rich in style and substance. The suits are seamlessly constructed, giving off a very crisp and clean look. The outerwear, consisting of overcoats and leather jackets are designed with a sense of minimalism, but can still be looked at as having a dramatic appeal. Materials such as mink, baby cashmere, and raw silks are also present in some of the pieces, proof of Shuo Wangs dedication to quality. With the release of his new Fall/Winter 2010 collection, we asked Shuo some questions about himself, the brand, and the new pieces that will be releasing this coming winter season.
Continue reading to read the rest of the feature.
How did the Diwon label come about? Where is it based? Who were involved in bringing into fruition the whole brand itself from concept to execution?
Diwon’s roots lay in providing a refined voice for youth growing into the new contemporay man. It works on an alter ego concept, with the clothing providing an escape from the mundane.
We are based in New York. Behind the scenes, I work with a great ensemble of tailors, craftsmen and artisans to bring the concepts behind Diwon to life.
As the lead designer of Diwon, could you tell us a little bit about yourself? How did you get started in fashion, and now Diwon?
Of course. Who doesn’t like talking about themselves!
I grew up around the arts. My mother was a great cinematographer, and our family friends and relatives all turned out to be pretty awesome musicians and directors. But I always loved fashion. How someone dressed and what they wore can absolutely define who that person is. That interested me.
I started by apprenticing under tailors. In the workshops is where fashion starts. It’s where true quality, craftsmanship and knowledge is obtained. I also directed fashion shoots, and sharpened my senses about fit and styling.
Diwon has always been with me, so as I grew, so did its concepts and philosophies. Once everything came together, I thought it was time to launch.
What would you say in essence is the overall direction of the Diwon label? Who or what are its influences? What type of man are Diwon designs for?
It would be hard to pinpoint one or two influences. However, I can tell you that our influences always evoke an innate sense of inspiration. This emotionality is the appeal of the Diwon Man, as someone who stand outs, who’s sophisticated but not old and stale; edgy and opinionated, but not over the top.
You consider yourself a contemporary luxury label. At this moment in the industry, how do you differentiate yourself from the other “luxury” menswear labels currently out in the market? What challenges do you see in trying to separate yourself from the rest?
Tough one!
There are some great labels out there, but the philosophy behind Diwon and our dedication in true quality will create a cushion in the market. The hard part is conveying our message across because of the mass of the audience.
Spring 2010 looks to be very promising. There is an amazing balance of suits and casual pieces that are relaxed yet still edgy in style. Moving on to Fall/Winter 2010 however, we get a better sense of Diwon’s superb outerwear designs. Coats and jackets are grand in fit and construction, and the suits are crisp and neat. What was the thought process behind the making of the Fall/Winter 2010 range?
Why, thank you! A clean and seamless aesthetic. Unburdened, ease of wear, functionality, luxury and modernity.
The lookbook’s narrative is set during a winter’s night? What was the inspiration behind the making of the lookbook?
Correct. It was an impromptu inspiration, and I wanted to express the “put it on and forget about it” attitude of this fall/winter collection, while focusing on the ease of wear and the avoidance of the bulky multi-layered look. We thought that the snow and the natural movements helped conveyed this message across.
The lookbook is all pictured in black and white. Is it safe to assume that the entire collection will either be in black or in greyscale?
Definitely! with some hints of camel.
For this Fall/Winter 2010 collection what types of materials, patterns, designs should we expect? Did you favor certain materials more for the designs of some of the pieces? Were there any new materials that you experimented with to bring about the completion of the collection?
We selected the best raw materials and fabrics for this FW10. Baby cashmere lined calfskin jackets, nappa bombers with mink collars, camel hair coats with tussah silk lining are all good representatives.
Very subtle woolen plaid linings were used to contrast the stark neutral outer palette. Lots of camel hair for outerwear, due to its natural sheen, which screams luxury! Tussah silk is a new material we are experimenting with. It is quite heavy and warm, but still very durable and doesn’t have piling issues that cashmere would.
As the lead designer for Diwon, what are your personal expectations for Fall/Winter 2010? Did you have any specific goal in mind when you were designing this particular collection?
I expect to create an emotional tie with our customers and speak to their need for a sophisticated individuality. As far as goals, I wanted to create great pieces that people would not want to live without.
What do you envision Diwon’s future to be? Will you continue producing clothes with the same contemporary aesthetics? Do you have ambitions to produce other items in the range such as footwear or other accessories?
Sure. I envision Diwon at the forefront of contemporary fashion.
I’m a fiend for great footwear and accessory. I will definitely look to slowly incorporate footwear and other accessories along the way.
We believe that every fashion designer has a philosophy when it comes to design and fashion itself. Do you have any words of wisdom or advice you’d like to give our readers pertaining to fashion?
Fashion moves at an fast pace, but not everyone should feel the need to keep re-inventing their look or keep up with the current trend. Be yourself, and react to what speaks to you. If you have a point of view, do not be afraid to show it off!
Any other last words you’d like to leave us with? And more importantly, when and where should we expect the Fall/Winter 2010 collection to drop?
We are looking to have bi-coastal availability. So stay tuned!
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Comments ( 3 )
mike added these pithy words on 
Paul added these pithy words on amazing work! Love the pictures and the collection looks awesome!
Phoebe added these pithy words on
Feb 22 10 at
1:14 pm
