Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne

(image from nytimes.com):

the designer duo behind menswear fashion label

Public School

scooped the

for their autumn/winter 2013 collection.

The award was bestowed by the

Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

CFDA awards are the Oscars of the fashion industry;

an accolade to excellence.

…

Chow and Osborne are both native New Yorkers whose

entry into fashion design was influenced by other factors.

During his final two years at New York University (NYU)

Chow interned for Sony Records.

His ambition was to  work in the music industry.

He grew up listening and loving  ’90s hip hop tunes.

After completing his university studies he worked as a journalist,

writing for Blaze and Vibe magazines.

For Chow, “music was essentially (his) introduction to fashion.”

He was drawn to the style and imagery

projected by hip hop music artists,

whose novel sound and novel attire commanded attention:

urban

unique

attitude

…

Osborne’s road to fashion also had its detours.

He attended art school then law school,

but neither was the right fit.

While working as a sales associate at Tommy Hilfiger

he became intrigued with clothes.

He interned at Sean John, the clothing label owned by

music mogul P. Diddy.

While there, Osborne learned a great deal about the

business of running a successful fashion label.

…

Chow and Osborne meet when both were with Sean John.

They established a design/business partnership and in 2008

launched their label, Public School:

a menswear clothing line,

 interpretive of their NYC upbringing.

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Public School, a/w 2013

The Collection

(images from hypebeast.com):

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