[Asia Society] Jason Wu: My Own American Journey

Fashion designer Jason Wu went from a dreaming, mediocre student in Taiwan to the designer of both of Michelle Obama’s inauguration gowns.

Even though I am not an avid follower of fashion, Jason’s story trickled down to me because of the similarities between his immigrant background and mine, as well as my interest in success stories among Asians in the arts, which are often rare finds, though increasingly less so.

I particularly like some of the advice he had to offer, which he learned from his mother, “Don’t kill yourself. You’re not machinery.” Even though he jokes that he’s quite good with sewing machinery.

While Jason always had a keen interest in fashion and devoted his time just to making it in the cut-throat industry, he explained, “I didn’t know I would be a part of American history someday. It’s something that never occurred to me.” His dress is now an artifact at the Smithsonian.