Jason Wu named artistic director at Boss

New York-based fashion designer Jason Wu has been named artistic director of Hugo Boss’ Boss womenswear label, it was announced today. The 30-year-old Taiwan-born designer, who founded his own label in 2007, will take up the newly established

position from June 15. Best known for dressing America’s First Lady Michelle Obama for both of President Obama’s Inaugural Balls, Wu will be responsible for the creative direction for the womenswear line from Hugo Boss, including all product and image related aspects of the ready-to-wear and accessory lines.

In addition to continuing to work on his namesake label, which is based in New York, Wu will oversee his Hugo Boss team at the German fashion house’s headquarters in Metzingen, Germany, and will open a secondary design studio for the brand in NYC.

Jason Wu joins Hugo Boss

“I have long been a fan of Hugo Boss’ vast tradition and lineage in extraordinary tailoring,” said Wu. “With the state-of-the-art facilities that are unique to the Hugo Boss design labs, I plan to develop a strong, feminine womenswear collection that reciprocates the brand’s authority in menswear.”

His first Boss womenswear collection will debut in pre-fall 2014, and he will stage his first Boss catwalk show during New York Fashion Week next February, moving the brand from Berlin Fashion Week.

"We are absolutely delighted to have an outstanding talent like Jason Wu on board," added Hugo Boss CEO Claus Dietrich Lahrs. "This will generate a powerful and creative statement for Boss Womenswear and show our commitment to focus even more on the female side of the brand."

In the short statement, it confirmed that Wu will “continue to grow” his eponymous line, which currently comprises of ready-to-wear and accessories including shoes and handbags, and is stocked in more than 169 points of sale in 39 countries.