Victor Wong: a rising star in the fashion industry

Posted by Bengtsson on September 30th, 2015

Strutting down the catwalk in fantastically funky sunglasses, the models posed in the spotlight before hundreds of eager fans: that was a scene from last week’s London Fashion Week show.

The sunglasses' shiny metals, sharp edges, and eccentric designs are all the brainchildren of 27-year-old Chinese fashion designer Victor Wong.

As one of the few Chinese designers to be featured in the world-famous fashion show, Wong has brought a breath of fresh air to the fashion industry.

Inspiration for sunglasses

For Victor Wong, breaking into the fashion industry with his innovative sunglasses was both a coincidence and a certainty.

Growing up in a small county named Xupu in China’s culturally diverse Hunan province, Wong always enjoyed walking along the Xushui River in his hometown. On its banks, he saw many vendors selling their beautifully-made handicrafts.

The bright colours, the tinkling sounds of their metals, and the unique hawking styles of the sellers all fascinated him.

“I can still recall the scene near the river, and I feel so attached to my hometown,” says the designer. “Every day when I went to school I would walk past that river and take a look at the crafts. They have definitely influenced my designs in a way that I didn’t even notice. I guess it’s in my blood now.”

However, the decision to make sunglasses the flagship products of his brand was a chance event.

While Wong was studying product design at the UK's University for the Creative Arts, he enjoyed looking for inspiration in shops and exhibitions. One day, as he walked out of the department store Harrods in London, something shiny in a nearby shop window caught his eye.

The powerful and piercing light reflected from the mystery object was visible even from a distance. Wong approached the window with great curiosity, and was surprised to discover he was looking at a pair of sunglasses.

“It certainly stood out, and I realized right then that sunglasses were going to be the first things that I designed,” says Wong, recalling the special day when he got his inspiration. “At the end of that day, I dreamt of that sharp, shiny metal pattern – as if it was reminding me of something. So when I woke up, I immediately drew the design.”

Chinese heart, global vision

Victor Wong’s sunglasses designs combine the modesty of the east with the boldness of the west. As a Chinese man, he is proud of China’s long cultural traditions; but he also wants to be a “global citizen” with a broad horizon.

“As a fashion designer, I constantly get new inspirations from all around the world,” he says Victor Wong. He has travelled to a lot of places. “I don’t want to confine myself to Chinese or British designs in particular; fashion is without boundaries.”

Through his work with Chinese factories, Wong has discovered that sunglasses made in China still have room for improvement in terms of quality, and he is determined to make a change – starting with his own brand.

“I don’t want people to think about low-quality, cheap products when they hear ‘made in China’,” he says. “I’d like to see more ‘created in China’ products. And to achieve that, we must first get our own house in order by guaranteeing the high quality of our own products. From that foundation, we can gradually change the whole industry.”

The road of fashion

Currently living in London, Wong feels the city's diverse fashion scene has provided him with endless possibilities. He has already helped to design an album cover for former X-Factor finalist Lucie Jones, been a judge in Miss Great Britain – South East 2015, and been involved in visual support for a documentary film called Life is Beautiful.

“London is open-minded and tolerant, and there are so many opportunities for the creative arts here. The city always gives feedback on your work but will never judge you by your work,” says Wong, with a palpable sense of gratitude. “I especially want to thank Dr. Vincent Wong, an aesthetics doctor who helped me greatly when I had just entered the industry.”

“My definition of fashion is being unique,” he continues. “No matter what kind of design you create, it’s an interpretation of your mind and how you see the world around you.”

For Victor Wong, after the glamour of appearing in London Fashion Week, it'll be time to get back down to earth. He feels this is just the first page of a new chapter in his life.

“Sunglasses are just the key for me to open the door to the fashion industry. While I am currently sticking to one thing to make my brand famous, I will soon expand my business into other areas of fashion,” says Wong. “Nobody knows what the future holds, and that makes it even more fascinating.”

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