New York Fashion Week: Who is Ashlyn So, and how did the 12-year-old designer get to NYFW?
The young Asian-American designer’s first time at New York Fashion Week was when she was just 9 years old in 2017
Do you remember the crazy ambitions you had when you were 12 years old? How many of those dreams actually came to fruition? For child prodigy Ashlyn So, those aspirations became a reality.
The San Francisco native was one of the youngest Asian-American designers to join New York Fashion Week from February 4-12 and present a collection she designed on her own. It was the second time Ashlyn had presented at New York Fashion Week; the first was in 2017. The couture collection followed a theme called “Shapes in Space”, and presented 15 looks in total.
“I didn’t want to do a traditional fashion show. So to create a sense of wonder and surprise, I added something at the beginning of the show,” Ashlyn says about her second show.
“We asked for the whole room to be dark, then four models came out and threw giant balloons internally lit by LED lights into the audience.”
Among the audience members was the most recent Project Runway champion Kentaro Kameyama, who presented his collection on the same day at the Art Hearts Fashion show.
A thrilled Ashlyn said: “I couldn’t believe I actually met him. His clothes are very avant garde and he is a very artistic person.”
Her sophomore NYFW line sent ethereal shapes and silhouettes down the runway. She was inspired by cosmic elements, such as planets, rivets and rocket ships, to guide her in creating the apparel.
“This show has taught me to not let anyone stop me from pursuing my ideas. Life will keep testing you, and the key is to look forward,” she says.
Watch the full show here:
Creativity seems to be innate in the young designer. She began sewing at the age of six, and a year later, her mother, architect Angela Wu, permitted her to attended a sewing camp. Together, mother and daughter started a company called Pin2gether, and Ashlyn served as head designer. Later, she developed her own personal style and began creating matching ready-to-wear clothing for mothers and their daughters. She also offers bespoke custom pieces, which she sews herself.
Aside from presenting at New York Fashion Week, Ashlyn took part in the Kidfash San Antonio Fashion Show, San Francisco Community Fashion Show and Sacramento Fashion Week. She also trained under the creative wing of Project Runway finalist Alexandria von Bromssen during a season at Sacramento Fashion Week in 2017.
What’s next for the young go-getter? Ashlyn dreams of one day studying at the Parsons School of Design in New York. For now, she continues to raise funds for charity, and this includes working closely with the Samaritan House in San Mateo, California. Apart from donating her own pieces, Ashlyn has played a part in the foundation’s fundraiser gala. Her contributions have gone on to help the non-profit organisation’s fight against poverty.