The record was dated Monday, June 7, the same day as the auspicious CFDA Awards, but did not appear in city records until Thursday morning. The one-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment at landmarked 39 Worth Street features all the faux-former factory aspects of the pseudo-industrial rusticity Tribeca buyers go gaga for: exposed brick, original tin ceilings, even mullioned windows. The floor plan includes a "huge" open dining/living room; a handsome-size office; and a "sun-splashed" master bedroom with a chef's kitchen featuring—what else?—industrial stainless steel and hardwood with a double-wall oven and Gaggenau cooktop. The building also features a luscious roof deck and "abundant" storage. Brown Harris Stevens' agent Dennis Mangone had the listing but declined to comment for this article.

Mr. Wang, who moved to the city from San Francisco at age 18, debuted his first collection during his sophomore year at Parsons in 2005, the same year he bought a $675,000 one-bedroom loft at 175 East Second Street (sold last September for $750,000). It looks like the consecutive CFDA winner (last year he snagged Women's Designer of the Year) may need to scrape the bottom of the barrel for inspiration in his new neighborhood. 

"Alex resides in New York City's Lower East Side, where there is never a shortage of inspiration in music, life, reality and culture," the biography on his Web site notes. He might be in for a rude awakening with his move to Gotham's richest and least lively dominion.

cmalle@observer.com