RSS
Home
Angel Chang – fashion for real women
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Some of you might know Angel Chang from Bravo TV’s The Fashion Show, others might have seen her namesake collection ANGEL CHANG before she appeared on the show or perhaps you saw some of her handy work whilst she was Design Assistant for the womenswear team at Donna Karan. However you have heard of Angel Chang, or in the slightest chance this is the first time you are hearing of the talented young designer, she is soon to become a household name.
A New York based fashion designer, Angel has become known as one of the experimental designers on TFS, creating versatile trendy fashion for women of all ages. Don’t make the mistake of thinking her ‘experimental’ tag means outfits with an un-wearable structure or foil covered space suits! Angel designs outfits for the ‘real’ woman, outfits that can be worn to work and to play. She breathes sense into a sometimes’ dysfunctional TFS family.
ANGEL CHANG founded in 2006 offers innovative materials - including color-changing prints, light-up fabrics, and self-heating linings. Within the first year of designing the company received two major industry awards: Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award and the Cartier Women’s Initiative Award.
Looking back at past collections you can see the pieces actually being worn in the real world, flattering the female body. The collections use of color each season is well placed with neutral pieces that can be mixed into an already existing closet and striking colored pieces that can update an already established look.
Currently as a design contestant on The Fashion Show you can see Angel design a different outfit each week relating to the shows task. To coincide with Angel’s appearance on TFS limited edition tees are being sold on ANGELCHANG.com, oversized tees relating to each weekly episode. Or if you want a little Angel with you at all times take a look at her ‘Word Necklace’ collection. Each episode she wears a word necklace relating to that day that you can now buy as the episode ends.
Two of my favorite tees from the ANGEL CHANG collection are the Coloring Tee and the Recession Tee.
The Coloring Tee has the fifteen contestants from “The Fashion Show” named on the front. Grab a marker and color your favorite names in or cross names off as they get eliminated. Though I think I might be tempted to draw in my own name and doodle stars around myself! The oversized style means this will look great during the summer over your swimwear, the new fad of jeggings or summer shorts.
The Recession Tee is for those magpies that like shiny jewelry but due to the economic downturn perhaps cannot afford such luxuries at the moment. Wear this tee and gain instant pearls, emeralds and diamonds!
Siamese Twin Shirt Dress $295.00
I got the chance to talk to Angel in the midst of The Fashion Show mayhem and find out what she really thinks beyond the show edits:
When did your interest in fashion begin? Can you take us through your experience within the fashion industry?
I first learned how to sew when I was 9 years old, but it wasn’t until I was 13 that I started watching the CNN TV show “Style with Elsa Klensch” and became enamored by the glamorous world of fashion. Once I moved to New York for college, I started interning at all my favorite fashion companies: Viktor & Rolf, Marc Jacobs, Anna Sui, and Visionaire. I then became a Design Assistant for womenswear at Donna Karan Collection where I learned everything about getting a collection made. After a few years, I felt I was ready to start my own collection!
What was the process to enter The Fashion Show?
It was really a matter of luck and timing. The fashion industry was struggling at the time (because of the economy), so I was very open to new opportunities. A friend at GenArt sent me info about the casting for the show – which happened to be just a few blocks away from my design studio. So many people had auditioned, so it was a great surprise for me when they asked me to be a part of the show!
What were the timelines on the show like to deal with compared to the real working world?
The challenges were 14 hours or less. In that time frame, we had to make a pattern, a muslin, do the fitting, and then make the finished sample. It was quite crazy to do all of that in less than two days. Normally for my own collections, it takes two days for a professionally trained patternmaker to do a pattern!
Do you or did you see anyone else on TFS as competition?
The work of the other contestants was so different from mine that it was hard to feel any sort of competition. Some designed for mass-market manufacturers while others did one-off couture pieces. I focused on pushing myself as a designer within those time constraints and viewed the other contestants more as colleagues than as competition.
The designs in your collections scream comfort to me. How would you describe Angel Chang fashion?
The ANGEL CHANG woman is a smart and savvy globe-hopping fashionista. She leads a stimulating, cosmopolitan life and embodies a duality of: fun but serious, stylish but substantive, relaxed but sophisticated. She could be equal part energetic socialite and accomplished entrepreneur. As a cultural sophisticate, she appreciates design innovation, and seeks clothes that complement her fast-paced lifestyle. She needs clothes that look good without crimping on style. A crisp white shirt dress, for example, is lightweight for breathability, has a slight stretch for comfort, and doesn’t wrinkle so she always looks fresh.
Do you have a 2009 collection out in-stores or online?
Right now, I am selling a line of limited-edition pieces (t-shirts, dresses, necklaces) on my website that are cheap, fun, and easy to wear for the summer. They are different than my main collection because of the price point and the younger customer.
These pieces also allow me to interact directly with online consumers. I can blog about the inspiration and design process behind each one. It has been fun chatting on Twitter and Facebook about who is wearing which tee, and what accessories they have been pairing them up with.
Watch out for my next ANGEL CHANG collection coming out this September during New York fashion week.
What is your vision for Angel Chang fashion?
My design philosophy balances art, travel, and technology activities that inspire me. My line converges innovation with commercial relevance in a way that speaks to both style mavens and brainy intellectuals.
What would your advice be to young kids wanting to start out in the industry?
Gain experience and develop connections. Do lots of internships and meet as many people in the industry as possible early on. Success in the fashion industry is often a matter of being at the right place at the right time, and one must be exposed to and be prepared for those opportunities.
Who in the industry would you say has taught you the most?
Experience and failure have taught me the most.
Angel Chang – Could she be the winner of The Fashion Show? My fashion sense tells me she could … I am looking forward to TFS tonight on Bravo TV!
Related Articles:
Comments
