# Fashion designer Jason Wu wants to be the next Ralph Lauren

  * Thrust into the spotlight after Michelle Obama wore his gowns to her husband's inauguration balls, Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu now aims to have an empire as big as Ralph Lauren's. -- FILE PHOTO: JASON WU

  * Thrust into the spotlight after Michelle Obama wore his gowns to her husband's inauguration balls, Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu now aims to have an empire as big as Ralph Lauren's. -- FILE PHOTO: JASON WU

  * Thrust into the spotlight after Michelle Obama wore his gowns to her husband's inauguration balls, Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu now aims to have an empire as big as Ralph Lauren's. -- FILE PHOTO: JASON WU

  * Thrust into the spotlight after Michelle Obama wore his gowns to her husband's inauguration balls, Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu now aims to have an empire as big as Ralph Lauren's. -- FILE PHOTO: JASON WU

  * Thrust into the spotlight after Michelle Obama wore his gowns to her husband's inauguration balls, Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu now aims to have an empire as big as Ralph Lauren's. -- FILE PHOTO: JASON WU

  * Fashion designer Jason Wu walks onto the runway to applause after showing his Fall 2013 collection on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

  * Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

  * Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

  * Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

  * Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

  * Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

  * Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

  * Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP




http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/27413132e.jpg

Thrust into the spotlight after Michelle Obama wore his gowns to her husband's inauguration balls, Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu now aims to have an empire as big as Ralph Lauren's. -- FILE PHOTO: JASON WU

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/27413128e.jpg

Thrust into the spotlight after Michelle Obama wore his gowns to her husband's inauguration balls, Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu now aims to have an empire as big as Ralph Lauren's. -- FILE PHOTO: JASON WU

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/27413120e.jpg

Thrust into the spotlight after Michelle Obama wore his gowns to her husband's inauguration balls, Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu now aims to have an empire as big as Ralph Lauren's. -- FILE PHOTO: JASON WU

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/27413118e.jpg

Thrust into the spotlight after Michelle Obama wore his gowns to her husband's inauguration balls, Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu now aims to have an empire as big as Ralph Lauren's. -- FILE PHOTO: JASON WU

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/27329221e.jpg

Thrust into the spotlight after Michelle Obama wore his gowns to her husband's inauguration balls, Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu now aims to have an empire as big as Ralph Lauren's. -- FILE PHOTO: JASON WU

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/26958019e.jpg

Fashion designer Jason Wu walks onto the runway to applause after showing his Fall 2013 collection on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/26957986e.jpg

Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/26957985e.jpg

Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/26957958e.jpg

Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/26957957e.jpg

Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/26957953e.jpg

Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/26957951e.jpg

Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/26957771e.jpg

Fashion from the Fall 2013 collection of Jason Wu is modeled on Friday, Feb 8, 2013 in New York. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

  


By Rohaizatul Azhar

First, the White House. Now, the world.

Thrust into the spotlight after Michelle Obama wore his gowns to her husband's inauguration balls, Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu now aims to have an empire as big as Ralph Lauren's.

"Fashion is what I do but design is what's important to me. So, I want to have perfumes, furniture, the whole works with my name on it," says Wu, 30, in a recent interview with Life! at his New York studio.

Having already launched successful collaborations with mass-market store Target and Brazilian footwear label Melissa Shoes, Wu will launch his own make-up line with Lancome later in 2013.  
  
For the full story, read Life! on Saturday.